Chefs' Table Society of BC

What Chefs' Table Society of BC does

Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia (CTS) is a chef-administered, non-profit society founded in 2001 in Vancouver, BC, dedicated to creating a foundation for the exchange of information between culinary professionals across British Columbia. The organization serves BC's professional chefs, cooks, independent restaurant operators, culinary students, and local producers through a portfolio that includes signature culinary competitions (Spot Prawn Festival, Chowder Cup, False Creek Crab Fest, Curry Cup, BC Culinary Apprentice of the Year), a twice-yearly 6-month mentorship program, scholarships, the annual COOKSCAMP industry gathering, the Mise en Place podcast (launched February 2020), the free Restaurant Culture Shift Toolkit (June 2025), and The Commons by CTS — a brick-and-mortar community hub opened October 2025 at 1250 East Georgia Street that includes a reference library, archive of menus and restaurant memorabilia, event space, podcast studio, continuing education facilities, and a not-for-profit incubator.

The society's revenue is derived from five primary streams: annual membership fees, donations, event ticket sales, product sales (notably CTS chocolate bars at $9.95 produced with Cacao Barry and Chez Christophe), and fundraiser partnerships (e.g., Two Rivers Meats holiday boxes with 15% of sales donated). Educational programs are funded in part through grants such as the Community Workforce Response Grant, which supports cohort training with Camosun College and Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Technology infrastructure consists of a WordPress-based website with membership and event functionality, Buzzsprout podcast distribution, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). CTS also maintains an active Assessment Tool web application supporting its Restaurant Culture Shift initiative.

Governance is provided by an Advisory Council including ex-officio directors Sid Cross and Jamie Maw, with Robert Belcham serving as President and Shawna Gardham as Executive Director. The organization is member-supported with no identified parent company, institutional investors, or external ownership stake, and operates with a lean staff of 5 employees.

Name

Chefs' Table Society of BC

Legal name

Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia

Website

https://chefstablesociety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chefs' Table Society of BC is a chef-administered, province-wide non-profit society serving BC's culinary professionals through signature competitions, mentorship, scholarships, the Mise en Place podcast, the Restaurant Culture Shift Toolkit, and The Commons by CTS community hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary Professional Association Services

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223), Caterers (72232)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG), Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills) (THAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Culinary professional association
• Hospitality industry networking
• Culinary education programs
• Food industry events
• Chef mentorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for culinary professionals and hospitality workers seeking to join the society's network and access resources.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through its website, including a dedicated donation page for supporting culinary education and programs.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from ticket sales to culinary events including Curry Cup, Spot Prawn Festival, Chowder Cup, and other competitions.
4. Product Sales: Sale of specialty items including CTS chocolate bars, and merchandise to raise funds for the Culinary Library project.
5. Fundraiser Partnerships: 15% of sales donated from partner fundraisers with suppliers like Two Rivers Meats and Organic Ocean during specific campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Chefs' Table Society of BC is a chef-administered, province-wide non-profit collaborative that provides membership, mentorship, scholarships, continuing education, signature culinary events (Spot Prawn Festival, Curry Cup, Chowder Cup, BC Culinary Apprentice of the Year, False Creek Crab Fest, COOKSCAMP), and workplace culture resources for culinary professionals across British Columbia. It operates The Commons by CTS, a brick-and-mortar community hub in Vancouver, and produces the Mise en Place podcast celebrating professional cooks.

Product overview

Chefs' Table Society of BC is a chef-administered, province-wide collaborative that offers a portfolio of programs and events for culinary professionals. The core offerings include the Mise en Place Podcast (audio content featuring industry discussions), The Commons by CTS (a physical community hub with education and event facilities), the Restaurant Culture Shift Toolkit (free workplace culture resources), COOKSCAMP (annual mentorship event), mentorship and scholarship programs, and signature culinary competitions including the BC Culinary Apprentice of the Year and Spot Prawn Festival. These products collectively serve to foster camaraderie, support local producers, and create a positive legacy for culinary professionals in BC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Commons by CTS: Brick-and-mortar community hub at 1250 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, featuring a reference library, event space, podcast studio, continuing education facilities, and not-for-profit incubator for culinary and hospitality professionals.
• Mise en Place – the Podcast

Products and services

• Mise en Place Podcast A weekly podcast series celebrating professional cooks with honest discussions about the complexities and creativity of the culinary industry, featuring interviews with chefs and hospitality leaders; available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Buzzsprout.
• The Commons by CTS A physical community hub in Vancouver offering a reference library, archive of menus and restaurant memorabilia, event space, continuing education facilities, a podcast studio, and a not-for-profit incubator for culinary and hospitality professionals throughout BC and Canada.
• Restaurant Culture Shift Toolkit A free downloadable resource with over 30 practical tools designed to help small independent foodservice businesses (1-2 locations, up to 99 staff) strengthen policies, improve retention, support staff, and build positive workplace culture.
• COOKSCAMP An annual two-day industry-only event bringing together cooks from across Canada for in-person discussions, seminars, mentorship, and the largest family meal.
• Mentorship Program A 6-month mentorship program offered twice a year to cooks wanting to grow in the culinary industry, providing valuable industry insight, skill development, and networking opportunities.
• Scholarships Financial awards for aspiring cooks and culinary students to build careers in restaurant kitchens or non-traditional culinary roles.
• BC Culinary Apprentice of The Year Annual competition showcasing local BC culinary talents, hosted at Vancouver Community College since 1982.
• Spot Prawn Festival Annual festival founded in 2006 to foster a domestic market for sustainable spot prawns, featuring cooking demonstrations, live music, and spot prawn sales. Celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026.
• Chowder Cup Chowder competition where local BC culinary talents showcase sustainable BC seafood for the title. Inaugural Chowder Cup held in 2026.
• False Creek Crab Fest Annual celebration of BC Dungeness Crab held at False Creek Fishermen's Wharf, entering its 4th year in 2026.
• Annual Membership Annual membership for culinary professionals and hospitality workers across BC providing access to the CTS network, resources, mentorship, scholarships, and member events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 meals provided to families in need during COVID-19 through LunchLAB partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Two Rivers MeatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for frozen meat pack fundraiser with 15% of sales donated to CTS. Fundraiser offered Surf & Turf Boxes, Meat & Seafood Grillers, and specialty boxes during holiday seasons to support CTS scholarships.
• Organic Ocean SeafoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeafood supplier partner for Spot Prawn Festival and LunchLAB collaboration. Donated 100lbs of spot prawns to families in need during COVID-19. Committed to sustainable seafood practices and food security.
• Les Dames d'Escoffier BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Women Leaders in Hospitality podcast series featuring four incredible women from the culinary community. Joint scholarship support for women in hospitality.
• LunchLAB: Chefs for FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fresh Roots and Growing Chefs! providing over 5,000 meals weekly to 260 families. Brought Spot Prawn Festival to families in need during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Camosun CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for fully funded Professional Cook 1 cohort training program. CTS recruiting passionate aspiring cooks for January 2026 cohort.
• Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for 12-week Baking and Pastry Program supported by Community Workforce Response Grant funding. Training for 20 eligible individuals.
• Vancouver Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Annual Culinary Apprentice of the Year competition. Competition hosted annually at VCC showcasing BC culinary talents.
• R&B BrewingminorOthersCraft beer supplier for Curry Cup event providing beverages for the competition.
• Evolve CellarsminorOthersWine partner for Curry Cup event providing wine pairings for the competition.
• RATIONAL CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous sponsor of Mise en Place podcast production, supporting industry dialogue and education.
• Cacao BarryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChocolate donation for CTS chocolate bar fundraiser supporting Culinary Library project.
• Chez ChristopheStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss pastry chef and chocolatier partnership for specialty CTS chocolate bar production (35% Blanc Caramel).
• Legends HaulminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-commerce partner for direct-to-consumer delivery of CTS chocolate bars to homes across Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky region.
• Pacific Prawn Fishermen AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore sponsor and fishermen partners for Spot Prawn Festival since inception, supporting sustainable spot prawn market development.
• BC Crab Fishermen's AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for False Creek Crab Fest celebrating BC Dungeness Crab.
• Western Canadian Culinary FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for Western CCFCC Conference and spread word about Restaurant Culture Shift grant program and COOKSCAMP.
• Culinary Tourism AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Taste of Place Summit 2025 with CTS Marketing Co-Chair Robert Belcham as panelist.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Chefstablesociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/chefstablesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chefs-table-society-of-bc
• Instagraminstagram.com/chefstablebc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Chefs' Table Society of BC