Name

The Chefs' Forum

Legal name

The Chefs' Forum

Website

https://thechefsforum.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Networking Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH), Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

Keywords

• Chef networking community
• Hospitality industry events
• Foodservice supplier partnerships
• Culinary education programmes
• Regional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Supplier Partnership and Sponsorship: Foodservice suppliers and brands pay to partner with The Chefs' Forum, gaining access to the network of top chefs and hospitality professionals. Partners receive regional event participation, website branding, sponsored content, social media promotion, and market insight opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chefs' Forum operates a chef networking community and digital platform connecting Michelin-starred, AA Rosette, and Good Food Guide-level professional chefs with catering colleges and quality foodservice suppliers across the UK. The core offerings include a member directory, supplier directory, jobs vacancies board, regional quarterly events, and the Chefs' Forum Academy educational initiative. Revenue is generated through paid supplier partnerships, headline sponsorships, regional event sponsorships, website banners, and sponsored content, while chef membership remains free.

Product overview

The Chefs' Forum operates as a unified networking platform and community for UK hospitality professionals, combining its core chef community platform with The Chefs' Forum Academy (education initiative), a Jobs Vacancies Board (specialist hospitality recruitment), and a Supplier Directory (curated supplier recommendations). Supporting content features include Chef of the Week (weekly chef profiles), Recipes Platform (chef recipe sharing), Films Library (event video archive), The Chefs' Knowledge (supplier showcase), and Member Benefits (exclusive partner discounts). Regional quarterly events tie together the community across eleven geographic regions from Scotland to Cornwall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Chefs' Forum Membership Platform A free membership community for professional chefs working in Michelin-starred, AA Rosette, or Good Food Guide-listed kitchens, providing networking, supplier connections, and access to quarterly regional events across the UK.
• The Chefs' Forum Academy An educational initiative where top chefs deliver guest lectures and curriculum enrichment sessions at partner further education catering colleges across the UK, forging links between industry professionals and the next generation of hospitality talent.
• Supplier Directory

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered headline sponsor, core partner and member benefit partner.

• Chef Worksheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal leader of culinary apparel with over three decades in hospitality style, serving customers in 90+ countries. Provides exclusive discount codes and offers to Chefs' Forum members.
• Aussie Beef & Lambheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgramme designed to promote and market Australian red meat globally, developed by Meat & Livestock Australia. Exports to over 100 countries including UK, EU, Japan, Korea, North America, China, SE Asia and Middle East. Committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.
• Dole Foodserviceheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerOperates from 13 locations spread across the UK providing fresh produce and fine foods to all types of catering customers. Each branch is BRCGS accredited and focuses on locally sourced produce and imported supplies.
• MCS Technical Productsheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished in 1997 to serve the foodservice market with quality equipment supported by great service. Most equipment in stock for next day delivery, covered by comprehensive warranties for up to 5 years.
• First Choice Produceheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred suppliers of fresh produce to hotel and restaurant industry in London and Home Counties. Based in New Covent Garden Market since 2001 with state-of-the-art catering facility.
• Pastry Gelato Equipmentheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK & Ireland distributor of Robo Cream, a revolutionary pastry machine already with over 3,000 installations in France and Italy. Provides cream making equipment for professional kitchens.
• BIG K Charcoal Productsheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerWith over 40 years' experience in restaurant industry cooking over charcoal and fire, Big K supplies finest quality woods and charcoals to enhance menus. Partners range from mobile catering units to Michelin-starred establishments.
• Pure Ionic Waterheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvider of hydrogen-rich alkaline water systems for culinary use. Used by Michelin star chefs who report enhanced organoleptic results and improved cooking practices. Filtration engineered to 0.002μm, reducing contaminants up to 99.98%.
• Purbeck Ice Creamheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily dairy farm based in Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, making ice cream for over 30 years. Made with 60% whole milk and 22% double cream, free from gluten, eggs and nuts with no artificial additives.
• MDCV UKheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommitted to bringing finest English and Provençal wines to UK market. Owns Silverhand Estate, UK's largest single vineyard and only carbon negative audited vineyard without offsetting. Aims to become largest producer in both regions by 2030.
• Gardiff Eposheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted provider of EPOS and payment solutions for hospitality and retail businesses across UK for over 35 years. Delivers technology including complete EPOS systems, integrated payments, mobile ordering, self-service kiosks.
• Frites Atelier by Lamb Westonheadline sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBorn from collaboration with three-Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman to elevate Dutch potato culture. Partnership with Lamb Weston, global leader in potato innovation, resulted in signature crispy crust and velvety interior fries using Agria potatoes from Zeeland.
• Koppert Cresscore partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFresh produce supplier working with The Chefs' Forum for seven years. Uses events for live cookery, plating and assembly demos, gaining chefs' feedback on market insight and new products. Working with Academy to grow network of Centres of Excellence in UK FE Colleges.
• Adandecore partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRefrigerated drawer manufacturer. The Chefs' Forum created and delivered awareness through regional events educating chefs to benefits and applications of Adande technology, as well as promoting via its digital platform.
• Santa Mariamember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides 25% off first order for Chefs' Forum members. Known for doing things differently in food with bold flavors and no rules approach.
• Country Faremember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerDorset's largest family run food wholesaler fulfilling every foodservice need. Established for 16 years. Provides 10% off first order for Chefs' Forum members.
• KC Caviarmember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-run ethical caviar farm in Yorkshire producing world-class Caviar sustainably. Provides exclusive discount to Chefs' Forum members.
• Nutcellarsmember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMacadamia nut supplier. Provides 25% off all orders over £25 for Chefs' Forum members.
• Lucky Saintmember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLow-alcohol beer provider. Offers 20% off first order for Chefs' Forum members.
• Richkins Woodcraftmember benefit partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerArtisan crafters specializing in wood products handmade in Wales from sustainable sources. Provides 10% off first order for Chefs' Forum members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Speciality Food Magazine: UK trade title for the specialty and fine food industry with supplier features, news and events. Comparable supplier-sponsorship and chef-audience dynamics, though anchored in retail/independent food rather than chef community.
• The Caterer: Long-standing UK hospitality industry publication covering hotels, restaurants and catering with news, jobs and supplier content. Wider portfolio but competes directly for foodservice supplier marketing budgets and chef/operator audience.
• BigHospitality: UK hospitality trade news, opinion and supplier-facing content from the William Reed portfolio. Adjacent competitor for hospitality supplier sponsorship dollars and chef/hospitality professional attention.

Emerging players

• Chef's Pencil: Online chef magazine featuring chef interviews, culinary trends and supplier features with global reach. Comparable chef-profiling content (similar to TCF's Chef of the Week) and supplier content marketing model.
• StarChefs: US-based chef community platform covering rising-star chefs, supplier features and culinary content. Replicates TCF's chef-profile + supplier-sponsorship hybrid, providing a cross-market template for potential international expansion.
• Foodservice Footprint: UK foodservice supplier-facing content and networking platform targeting chefs and operators. Emerging community-driven model with overlapping supplier-sponsorship angle and UK foodservice audience.

Regional players

• UKHospitality: UK trade association representing hospitality businesses with networking, policy and event programming. Differs in membership base (operators vs chefs) but competes for industry mindshare and partner relationships in the same UK hospitality ecosystem.

Others

• Caterer, Hotelier & Caterer (CH&Co) industry events: Hospitality trade event organizer and B2B media brand serving UK chefs and operators. Adjacent to TCF's quarterly regional events model and competes for the same sponsor activation budgets.

Direct peers

• Great British Chefs: UK chef-focused media platform showcasing Michelin-starred chefs, recipes, supplier features and chef profiles. Overlaps strongly with TCF's chef-profiling content, supplier showcase (The Chefs' Knowledge), and recipe library.
• The Staff Canteen: UK-based online community for professional chefs featuring news, recipes, jobs, supplier directory and chef profiles. Directly competes with The Chefs' Forum for chef mindshare, supplier sponsorship, and elite-chef community positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thechefsforum
• Facebookfacebook.com/304201316310968
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_chefs_forum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chefs-forum

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 The Chefs' Forum