AG - Accademia Gastronomica

What AG - Accademia Gastronomica does

Accademia Gastronomica is a privately held culinary school founded in 2005 by Italian chef Giuseppe Gerundino in São Paulo, Brazil, delivering 100% practical, hands-on gastronomy education through individual workstations (one student per stove). The school operates two physical campuses: the original Moema location (Espaço Escola and Espaço Gourmet, opened 2005) and the premium Cozinha do 31 at the top of the Farol Santander building in downtown São Paulo (opened 2022). The product portfolio spans single-session thematic classes (R$520-R$590), multi-session special courses, the comprehensive 68-lesson Formação em Gastronomia professional program (R$1,620 enrollment + 12x R$2,500), advanced specialization modules (R$2,100-R$4,200), custom classes, gift vouchers, corporate events, and 7-day gastronomic trips to Italy. Faculty carry credentials from Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Culinary Institute of America, Scuola della Cucina Italiana di Milano, ICIF, and Valrhona, and complement Chef Giuseppe's media presence on Brazilian television channels.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer model with a supplemental B2B corporate events channel. Primary customer segments include food industry professionals, food entrepreneurs, aspiring chefs, culinary hobbyists, and youth (10+ years), with corporate team-building clients including Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Banco do Brasil, Danone, P&G, Itaú, Roche, Abbott, Walmart, Santander, Nubank, and Johnson & Johnson. Distribution is through the school's own website (agastronomica.com.br), three physical locations, WhatsApp/phone sales, and a dedicated corporate events desk. The school is founder-owned and operated with no disclosed institutional investment, no headcount disclosure, and no published financials.

Revenue diversification has been extended through an artisanal product line (La Lamia wine and Puglia extra virgin olive oil produced by Chef Giuseppe in Italy) and ancillary streams including a dedicated student portal (Sponte Educacional) and bespoke lecture engagements. The asset-light, high-touch educational model, combined with chef-driven brand and internationally credentialed faculty, supports premium pricing across course tiers.

Name

AG - Accademia Gastronomica

Legal name

Accademia Gastronomica

Website

https://agastronomica.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accademia Gastronomica is a São Paulo-based culinary school founded in 2005 by Italian chef Giuseppe Gerundino, offering 100% hands-on practical gastronomy education across two physical campuses serving aspiring chefs, food professionals, hobbyists, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG), Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Culinary education
• Cooking school
• Gastronomy training
• Hands-on cooking classes
• Professional chef courses

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Individual single-class courses and multi-session professional programs with tuition fees ranging from R$520 to R$4,160. Fees include all ingredients, wine tasting, and limoncello gift.
2. Professional Gastronomy Formation Program: 68-lesson comprehensive professional program with enrollment fee (R$1,620) plus 12 monthly installments of R$2,500. 7% discount for upfront payment.
3. Gift Certificates (Vale Curso): Gift vouchers for single classes valid for 6 months after purchase. Combo packages for 2 people available at R$1,180 including 2 aprons and 1 bottle of limoncello.
4. Gastronomic Products: Sale of proprietary products including La Lamia wine (R$270), extra virgin olive oil (R$190), and focaccia.
5. Corporate Events and Space Rental: Team-building events, corporate celebrations, cooking challenges, and kitchen space rental for recipe testing, commercial filming, and events.
6. Gastronomic Travel Packages: 7-day culinary travel experiences to Italy guided by Chef Giuseppe, including regional gastronomy, enology, historical sites, and local cuisine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Accademia Gastronomica is a practical culinary school that sells hands-on cooking courses ranging from single 3-hour themed classes (Aulas Monotemáticas) to a comprehensive 68-lesson professional Formação em Gastronomia program, plus advanced specialization modules, gift vouchers, gastronomic travel to Italy, corporate team-building events, and proprietary food products (olive oil and wine from Puglia). All instruction follows a 100% practical methodology where each student works at an individual workstation with personal stove and ingredients.

Product overview

Accademia Gastronomica is a culinary school founded in 2005 by Italian Chef Giuseppe Gerundino, offering practical gastronomy education through multiple course modalities. The core offering includes Aulas Monotemáticas (single-session workshops), Cursos Especiais (multi-session courses), and the comprehensive Formação em Gastronomia (68-lesson professional program). Additional products include advanced specialization modules (Módulos de Especialização), custom-tailored classes (Aulas Sob Medida), gift vouchers (Vale Curso), gastronomic trips to Italy (Viagens Gastronômicas), and corporate event services. The school operates three physical spaces: Espaço Escola and Espaço Gourmet in Moema, and Cozinha do 31 at Farol Santander. The product portfolio also includes artisanal food products such as extra virgin olive oil and red wine produced by Chef Giuseppe in Puglia, Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aulas Monotemáticas (Single-Theme Classes) Single-session 3-hour culinary workshops focused on specific themes (e.g., Italian Week classes, Pasta Date, Risotto da Lola), available as standalone lessons for culinary hobbyists and enthusiasts. Includes hands-on cooking, wine tasting, and artisanal limoncello gift.
• Cursos Especiais (Special Multi-Session Courses) Multi-session courses covering specific culinary topics with more than one lesson, including Technical Domestic Kitchen Course and Intensive Culinary Basics Course.
• Formação em Gastronomia (Professional Gastronomy Formation Program) Comprehensive 68-lesson gastronomy formation course covering 9 modules: Basic Skills, Meats & Poultry, Seafood, Garde Manger, Confectionery, Baking, Brazilian Cuisine, International Classical Cuisine, and Creative Challenge. 100% practical methodology delivered twice weekly in 3-hour sessions with maximum 16 students per class. Includes enrollment fee R$1,620 plus 12 monthly installments of R$2,500.
• Módulos de Especialização (Advanced Specialization Modules) Independent advanced specialization modules covering Food Design, Confectionery, International Chef Cuisine, Sous Vide, Enogastronomy (Wine-Gastronomy), and Japanese Cuisine for deepening culinary expertise.
• Aulas Sob Medida (Custom-Tailored Classes) Customized private cooking classes tailored to individual needs with flexible themes, days, and schedules.
• Vale Curso (Gift Voucher) Gift voucher for cooking classes including one practical lesson, work apron, and artisanal limoncello. Valid for 6 months from purchase date. Available as single class or combo for 2 people.
• Viagens Gastronômicas (Gastronomic Travel Experiences) Seven-day culinary travel experiences to Italy guided by Chef Giuseppe, including regional gastronomy, enology, historical sites, and local cuisine.
• Eventos Corporativos e Locações (Corporate Events and Venue Rental) Corporate event hosting and kitchen rental services for team building, client entertainment, recipe testing, commercial filming, and media productions. Available at three São Paulo locations including the exclusive Cozinha do 31 at Farol Santander.
• Azeite de Oliva Extravirgem (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) Extra virgin olive oil produced by Chef Giuseppe Gerundino in Puglia, Italy, sold directly through the school's online store with shipping and pickup options.
• Vinho Tinto La Lamia (La Lamia Red Wine) Red wine produced from Shiraz, Merlot, and Susumaniello grapes from Puglia, Italy, aged 6 months in French oak barrels and 1 year in bottle. Sold through the school's online store.
• Palestras - Giuseppe Gerundino (Speaking Engagements) Motivational and culinary speaking engagements by Chef Giuseppe Gerundino covering topics including his Italian origins, arrival in Brazil, and gastronomic philosophy.
• Laboratórios Culinários (Culinary Laboratories) Shorter practical sessions with specific themes exclusive to the Cozinha do 31 facility at Farol Santander in downtown São Paulo.
• Jovens Confeiteiros (Young Confectioners) Specialized youth cooking course for children and teenagers from age 10+, focused on fundamental skills development and safe kitchen practices in an engaging environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% satisfaction rate among Formation course graduates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Le Cordon Bleu FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty member Rosny Gerdes holds Le Grand Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu Paris, bringing international French culinary education standards to the school.
• Artemis Up UniformsminorOthersUniform supplier for student chef attire and school apparel.
• NespressominorOthersCoffee partner providing Nespresso for course sessions and tastings. Mentioned in all course descriptions as complimentary beverage.
• Scuola della Cucina Italiana di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian culinary school in Milan linked to La Cucina Italiana magazine. Model and inspiration for Accademia Gastronomica's practical teaching methodology.
• Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty member Daniel Martins specialized at ICIF, representing Italian culinary education standards.
• Scuola Italiana di PizzaioliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPizza school in Italy where instructor Federico Gadaleta received his training, bringing authentic Italian pizzaiolo techniques.
• San Francisco Bakery InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakery and bread-making institute where instructor Federico Gadaleta was certified in artisan baking techniques.
• SennitminorOthersFood industry partner collaborating with Accademia for events and promotions.
• Valrhona ChocolateminorOthersPremium French chocolate brand used in confectionery courses. Instructor Silvana Oliveira trained at Valrhona's École du Grand Chocolat in France.
• Culinary Institute of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstructor Heloisa Rodrigues certified in Confectionery and Baking at CIA, bringing American culinary education standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ALMA - La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana: Italian international culinary school near Parma focused on Italian cuisine for foreign professionals; comparable curriculum focus, faculty caliber, and foreign-student positioning.
• ICIF (Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners): Italian culinary school in Piedmont dedicated to teaching Italian cuisine to international students; closely comparable in mission, Italian-cuisine focus, and foreign-student orientation. Accademia faculty include an ICIF-trained instructor.
• Culinary Institute of America (CIA): Premier US culinary school offering professional and continuing education programs; comparable in curriculum depth, faculty credentials, and premium positioning. Accademia faculty include a CIA-certified instructor.
• Ferrandi Paris: Prestigious French culinary and hospitality school offering intensive professional programs and short courses; comparable in hands-on methodology, international student body, and premium price point.
• Le Cordon Bleu: World-leading culinary institute offering professional chef and hospitality programs globally; directly comparable in target customer (aspiring chefs, hobbyists), curriculum structure, and premium positioning. Accademia faculty explicitly draw on Le Cordon Bleu Paris credentials.
• Scuola della Cucina Italiana di Milano: Milan-based practical cooking school affiliated with La Cucina Italiana magazine; cited explicitly as the inspiration for Accademia's hands-on methodology — making it the most direct methodological peer.
• Escola Wilma Kôhler: Long-standing Brazilian culinary school in São Paulo with similar hands-on practical methodology and amateur-to-professional curriculum, serving as a direct domestic competitor for hobbyist and aspiring-chef segments.
• Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (Gastronomy program): São Paulo university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in gastronomy; competes directly for aspiring professional chefs and food entrepreneurs, and notably shares faculty with Accademia — making it a structural competitor for both students and instructors.

Broad incumbents

• Senac (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial): Brazil's largest vocational education network offering accredited culinary programs across the country with government-linked credentialing; competes for the same São Paulo culinary students at scale, with broader geographic reach and recognized qualifications.

Emerging players

• Gastromotiva: Brazil-based social-impact culinary organization offering professional cooking training for vulnerable youth; competes for a different socioeconomic segment but represents the broader Brazilian culinary training ecosystem and emerging training alternative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@accademiagastronomica6487
• Facebookfacebook.com/AccademiaGastronomica
• Instagraminstagram.com/agastronomica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/escola-accademia-gastronomica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AG - Accademia Gastronomica