Social Gastronomy Movement
The Social Gastronomy Movement is a Zurich-based non-profit foundation operating a global network of 400+ food system organizations across 70+ countries, coordinating campaigns, grants, and learning programs to advance food justice through gastronomy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersZurich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Social Gastronomy Movement does
The Social Gastronomy Movement (SGM) is a non-profit foundation registered in Zurich, Switzerland, operating as a global network connecting food system actors — chefs, grassroots organizations, farmers, academics, activists, and social entrepreneurs — for collaborative action on food justice. Founded in 2017 and incubated by Gastromotiva and Cargill in January 2018, SGM transitioned to an independently registered foundation in July 2020 under the operational leadership of co-founder and chief orchestrator Nicola Gryczka, with David Hertz (Gastromotiva founder) and Patrick Honauer retained as Thinking Partners. SGM coordinates recurring campaigns (the annual Universal Plate campaign), grant programs (Food Solidarity Fund), learning events (Global Summits, Learning Journeys), and content platforms (Food Solidarity Podcast, Knowledge Hub, Echoes of the Unheard Advocacy Blog) across 70+ countries with 400+ member organizations.
SGM's underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal and non-proprietary: a Squarespace-hosted website (socialgastronomy.org), the SGM Map (hosted on Kumu), the Food Solidarity Podcast, and standard digital communication tools (email newsletter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). There is no developer API, no proprietary software products, and no patents or trademarks on record. The platform's value derives from trust relationships, collaborative frameworks, and the decentralized 20-person team closely integrated with SGM Hubs, rather than from technology.
SGM's revenue model rests on three streams: (1) membership fees from its 400+ member network (pricing not publicly disclosed), (2) individual donations via its Support/Donate page, and (3) partnership and grant funding from corporate and institutional sponsors led by Griffith Foods, Cargill Foundation, and The World's 50 Best Restaurants, with Ashoka and BrazilFoundation providing selection-process support and UN World Food Programme acting as a strategic collaborator. Pricing for membership and grants is not publicly disclosed, and the organization has not raised traditional funding rounds. Distribution is executed through the member network itself, with campaigns and grants flowing outward to local NGOs, restaurants, universities, and volunteers across more than 70 countries.
Social Gastronomy Movement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Social Gastronomy Movement
- Legal name
- Social Gastronomy Movement
- Website
- https://socialgastronomy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Social Gastronomy Movement is a Zurich-based non-profit foundation operating a global network of 400+ food system organizations across 70+ countries, coordinating campaigns, grants, and learning programs to advance food justice through gastronomy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Social Gastronomy Movement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Gastronomy Network and Food Systems Advocacy
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (624210), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)
Keywords
Where Social Gastronomy Movement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zurich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Social Gastronomy Movement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: SGM operates a membership program where individuals and organizations can join the movement. While specific pricing is not publicly disclosed, the membership form is available on their website and is described as a way to connect one-on-one with potential members.
- Donations and Fundraising: SGM accepts donations through their Support/Donate page and has conducted fundraising campaigns including the Food Solidarity Fund and partnerships with major organizations.
- Partnership and Grant Funding: SGM receives funding from corporate partners including Griffith Foods, Cargill Foundation, and The World's 50 Best Restaurants. The organization was incubated by Gastromotiva and Cargill in January 2018 and receives support for various programs and initiatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Social Gastronomy Movement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Social Gastronomy Movement is a global non-profit network that connects food actors—including chefs, grassroots organizations, farmers, academics, activists, and social entrepreneurs—across 70+ countries through learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Its core offerings include a Membership Program, the annual Universal Plate campaign, the Food Solidarity Fund grant program, Learning Journeys, Global Summits, the SGM Map, the Food Solidarity Podcast, and a Knowledge Hub aimed at transforming food systems to address hunger, food waste, and social exclusion.
Product overview
The Social Gastronomy Movement (SGM) operates as a global network organization—not a single product but rather a platform of interconnected programs and initiatives. The core portfolio includes: the Knowledge Hub and Learning Journeys for educational content; Global Summits and Events for community convening; The SGM Map for network visualization; Projects Lab for collaborative initiatives with partners like Heineken, Cargill, and 50 Best Restaurants; the annual Universal Plate Campaign for food solidarity action; the Food Solidarity Fund for emergency grants; the Food Solidarity Podcast for storytelling; the Echoes of the Unheard Advocacy Blog; and a Membership Program connecting 400+ organizations across 70+ countries. Together, these offerings enable collaborative action toward just and inclusive food systems through learning, connection, and cultural exchange.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Food Solidarity Fund: Emergency financial assistance program for social gastronomy organizations responding to food insecurity during and post COVID-19
- Universal Plate
- Food Solidarity Podcast
- Projects Lab
- Knowledge Hub
Products and services
- Membership Program Global membership network connecting over 400 members and local communities (chefs, NGOs, farmers, activists, social entrepreneurs) working with food for social change across 70+ countries.
- Universal Plate Campaign Annual global campaign mobilizing people across 70+ countries to cook and share nutritious, locally sourced meals to those in need while advocating for the right to food. In 2023, the campaign saw over 2 million meals shared in one week.
- Food Solidarity Fund Emergency funding program providing USD 10,000 grants to social gastronomy organizations addressing food insecurity in ten different countries during and post COVID-19.
- Learning Journeys Educational programs and learning experiences designed to build capacity among food system actors (chefs, farmers, activists, social entrepreneurs) for social change.
- Global Summits Annual and regional gatherings (Community Reunions) bringing together the global social gastronomy community for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative action.
- Projects Lab Collaborative project space featuring initiatives including Worlds Together with Heineken, the Emergency Fund with 50 Best Restaurants, the Collective Impact Program with Cargill, and UN Food Systems Dialogues with Griffith Foods.
- Food Solidarity Podcast Podcast series featuring stories from social gastronomy organizations worldwide, demonstrating food as a tool for change and community resilience.
Quantifiable outcome
- 74 million+ meals shared in collective actions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Social Gastronomy Movement
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Social Gastronomy Movement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Social Gastronomy Movement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- GastromotivacoreSGM was originally incubated by Gastromotiva and Cargill in January 2018. Gastromotiva built the initial structure and resources for SGM during its first years. David Hertz, founder of Gastromotiva, remains a co-founder and Thinking Partner of SGM.
- Griffith FoodscoreCorporate partner supporting SGM's global initiatives and food systems transformation work. Griffith Foods is described as a key strategic partner in SGM's mission.
- AshokamajorAshoka advisors participated in the technical committee for the Food Solidarity Fund selection process, conducting preselection of applications.
- BrazilFoundationmajorBrazilFoundation advisors participated in the technical committee for the Food Solidarity Fund selection process alongside Ashoka.
- UN World Food ProgrammemajorCollaboration partner; jury member Saul Betmead is Chief Marketing Officer of UN World Food Programme. SGM works toward shared goals of addressing global hunger.
- AshokamajorJury member Candace Lessa represented Ashoka Brasil in the Food Solidarity Fund selection process.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Social Gastronomy Movement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Food Tank: Global nonprofit focused on food systems research, summits, and network-building across agriculture, nutrition, and sustainability. Comparable as a thought-leadership and convening platform for food system change actors.
- Gastromotiva: Brazilian-origin social gastronomy organization that incubated SGM in 2018. Directly comparable in social-gastronomy mission, chef-driven community programs, and food-as-tool-for-change positioning.
- Feedback Global: Global campaigning organization tackling food waste and surplus food redistribution through networks and policy advocacy. Comparable in food-waste focus (SGM's 18,510 kg rescued in 2023) and global network model.
- Slow Food: Global grassroots movement promoting good, clean, and fair food across 160+ countries with a member-based network model. Directly comparable to SGM in mission, network-driven advocacy, and food system transformation framing.
Broad incumbents
- Heifer International: Global nonprofit working to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and smallholder farmer support. Comparable as a larger incumbent in food security and sustainable food systems programming.
- EAT: Global nonprofit platform connecting science, policy, and business to transform food systems, including the EAT-Lancet Commission. Comparable as a larger, science-led convener in food systems transformation.
- Global FoodBanking Network: International network of food banks addressing food insecurity through redistribution across 50+ countries. Comparable as a global network organization in food security and hunger relief with a member-based structure.
- UN World Food Programme: Largest humanitarian organization addressing global hunger, with WFP leadership serving on SGM's Food Solidarity Fund jury. Comparable as a major institutional actor in food security where SGM operates adjacently.
Others
- Ashoka: Global network of social entrepreneurs and changemakers; partnered with SGM on Food Solidarity Fund selection. Comparable as a social-enterprise ecosystem builder and an active SGM partner.
Regional players
- FoodForward ZA: South African food recovery and redistribution organization and SGM network member (Ghana Food Movement neighbor in Africa). Comparable as a regional food-rescue operator with similar surplus-meal mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Social Gastronomy Movement social profiles
Digital presenceSocial Gastronomy Movement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Social Gastronomy Movement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Social Gastronomy Movement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Social Gastronomy Movement M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Social Gastronomy Movement
What does Social Gastronomy Movement do?
Social Gastronomy Movement is a global non-profit network that connects food actors—including chefs, grassroots organizations, farmers, academics, activists, and social entrepreneurs—across 70+ countries through learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Its core offerings include a Membership Program, the annual Universal Plate campaign, the Food Solidarity Fund grant program, Learning Journeys, Global Summits, the SGM Map, the Food Solidarity Podcast, and a Knowledge Hub aimed at transforming food systems to address hunger, food waste, and social exclusion.
Is Social Gastronomy Movement a public or private company?
Social Gastronomy Movement is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Social Gastronomy Movement founded?
Social Gastronomy Movement was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Social Gastronomy Movement based?
Social Gastronomy Movement is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Social Gastronomy Movement make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising and partnership and Grant Funding.
Who are Social Gastronomy Movement's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Food Tank, Gastromotiva, Feedback Global and Slow Food. Broad incumbents are Heifer International, EAT, Global FoodBanking Network and UN World Food Programme. Ashoka is listed as an others. FoodForward ZA is listed as a regional player.
Does Social Gastronomy Movement have an API?
No public API is recorded for Social Gastronomy Movement.
What industry is Social Gastronomy Movement in?
Social Gastronomy Movement's product category is Social Gastronomy Network and Food Systems Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAD, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative), with a secondary code of BPADAJAG, Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition. Its NAICS code is 624210 and its SIC code is 8300.