Apicius International Hospitality School

What Apicius International Hospitality School does

Apicius International Hospitality School, founded in 1997 as part of FONDAZIONE AUF and operated alongside FUA - Florence University of the Arts, is the first international school of hospitality in Italy and is currently ranked among the top three culinary schools worldwide by Ceoworld Magazine, alongside the Culinary Institute of America and Le Cordon Bleu. The institution offers degree programs (Bachelor of Arts in Food and Wine Studies, AA Certificate Career programs in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management), a Summer Pre-College program, study-abroad semesters, and a catalog of non-credit amateur offerings including cooking workshops, market tours, walking tours, and wine lectures. Its core delivery model is experiential learning through student-run CEMI (Center for Experiential Learning Modules and Internships) facilities: Ganzo (restaurant and gallery), Fedora (pastry shop and café), Sorgiva (spa), and Dimora (guest apartments), all housed at the Palazzo dell'Ospitalità campus on Via Ricasoli in central Florence.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: recurring tuition for degree and certificate programs, per-experience fees for remote learning workshops ($130 private / $45 group), amateur program fees (workshops and tours in standard and VIP formats), and certification pathway fees associated with the WACS Fast Track program. Distribution relies on FUA's institutional admissions for degree students, a dedicated e-commerce channel for amateurs (amateur.apicius.it), and virtual classrooms for the Iconic Florence Remote Learning product reaching global consumers. The Apicius Friends initiative integrates 50+ Italian industry partners—wine producers, food artisans, restaurants, and hotels—to provide real-world industry exposure. The school has no disclosed revenue figures, no venture or private equity funding, and operates as a private nonprofit foundation structure with an indicated employee headcount of 1-10 (reflecting direct Apicius administrative staff; FUA-AUF provides broader operational support).

Name

Apicius International Hospitality School

Legal name

FUA - Florence University of the Arts - S.r.l.

Website

https://apicius.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary and Hospitality Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitality & Food Service (EDABALAO), Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC), Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Culinary education
• Hospitality management
• Food and wine studies
• Experiential learning
• Professional certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Florence

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Apicius generates revenue through tuition fees for its academic programs including associate degrees, career certificates, bachelor's degrees, and summer pre-college programs. Fees vary by program length and credit load.
2. Remote Learning Workshops: Revenue from non-credit enrichment workshops including private cooking classes, lectures, and group courses. Priced at $130 per experience or $450 for four experiences for private sessions; $45 per lesson for group courses.
3. Amateur Program Fees: Cooking workshops, food and wine lectures, and market tours for amateur participants. VIP formats available at premium pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Apicius International Hospitality School provides culinary arts and hospitality management education in Florence, Italy. Programs include a Bachelor of Arts in Food and Wine Studies, Associate (AA) Certificate career programs in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, a summer pre-college program, and non-credit enrichment offerings such as remote learning workshops, cooking classes, market tours, and walking tours. Practical training takes place in student-run learning labs including Ganzo restaurant, Fedora pastry shop, Sorgiva spa, and Dimora guest apartments, with graduates eligible for WACS/Worldchefs and City & Guilds professional certifications.

Product overview

Apicius International School of Hospitality is a culinary and hospitality education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and learning facilities. The school operates as a unified platform combining academic degree programs (BA in Food and Wine Studies, AA Certificate programs) with experiential learning labs including Ganzo restaurant and gallery, Fedora pastry shop, Sorgiva spa, and Dimora guest apartments. The institution provides non-credit enrichment through Iconic Florence remote learning, cooking workshops, market tours, and wine lectures. Its Apicius Friends initiative connects students with 50+ Italian industry partners including wine producers, restaurants, and hotels. WACS Fast Track certification offers global credentials in hospitality management, culinary arts, and wine studies. The school also maintains CiboChat, a student-authored food blog, and provides extracurricular activities including field trips, fitness facilities, and cultural events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ganzo: Creative learning lab, restaurant, and gallery run by Apicius students and faculty, offering daily lunches, dinners, themed dinners, and wine club seminars.
• Fedora
• CiboChat

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Food and Wine Studies

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 3 culinary school ranking worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AllegriniminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative, providing students exposure to Italian wine culture and production
• Alois LagederminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Barone RicasoliminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• BertaniminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Castello del TrebbiominorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative - featured in student wine features at Ganzo restaurant
• CottaneraminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• FerrariminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• FontodiminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Marchesi MazzeiminorOthersWine partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Frantoio PrunetiminorOthersFood partner through Apicius Friends initiative - olive oil producer
• Corzano e PaternominorOthersFood partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Best Western Hotel RiverminorOthersHotel partner through Apicius Friends initiative providing industry exposure for students
• The BroadmoorminorOthersHotel partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Hotel RegencyminorOthersHotel partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Acqua al 2minorOthersRestaurant partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• La GiostraminorOthersRestaurant partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Olio & ConviviumminorOthersRestaurant partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• Il Santo BevitoreminorOthersRestaurant partner through Apicius Friends initiative
• SUNY Stony BrookminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the 12th annual FUA-AUF conference - Gardens of Culture: Italo Calvino's Memos for the New Millennium
• City & GuildscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal certification body providing professional credentials for Hospitality Management programs including Food and Beverage Service Supervisor and Reception Professional certifications
• World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational culinary association founded at the Sorbonne in 1928 with 100 chefs' associations and 10 million professional chefs globally. Provides Worldchefs Certified Chef de Partie and Sous Chef credentials through WACS Fast Track program

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine: Italian culinary school founded by Gualtiero Marchesi in Colorno, offering professional culinary and pastry programs with a strong Italian terroir focus. Directly comparable as an Italy-based culinary educator targeting both Italian and international students.
• Institute of Culinary Education (ICE): New York-based culinary and hospitality school offering diploma and degree programs. Directly comparable in curriculum and target student base, and a credible alternative for North American students who might otherwise consider a Florence-based program.
• EHL Hospitality Business School: Swiss hospitality management school offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in hospitality. Most direct peer on the hospitality-management side of Apicius's portfolio, also targeting international students seeking European-based credentials.
• Cast Alimenti: Italian professional culinary school in Brescia offering chef, pastry, and pizzaiolo training programs. Comparable as a domestic Italian vocational culinary educator competing for the same Italian and international culinary student pool as Apicius.
• Les Roches: Swiss-based global hospitality school with campuses in Switzerland, Spain, and China. Closely comparable to Apicius for the hospitality management program and study-abroad positioning, competing for international student enrollment in Europe.
• Culinary Institute of America: The leading US culinary school operating multiple campuses (Hyde Park, Napa, San Antonio, Singapore). Directly comparable degree and certificate programs, and the very institution Apicius is ranked alongside globally; competes for the same international culinary student audience.
• Le Cordon Bleu: Iconic global culinary and hospitality school with a network of campuses across more than 20 countries. Most direct competitor to Apicius in international culinary education, offering comparable chef diplomas and the same WACS-aligned curriculum and credentials.
• Basque Culinary Center: Spain-based culinary school and research center in San Sebastián offering degree programs in culinary arts and gastronomy. Comparable in scale and mission to Apicius — a European culinary institution blending academic instruction with industry-aligned research and credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Johnson & Wales University: US university with one of the largest hospitality and culinary arts programs in North America. Comparable as a degree-granting institution offering culinary and hospitality majors, though broader than Apicius in overall academic portfolio.

Regional players

• Centro Studi Villa Russiz: Italian vocational school in Friuli-Venezia Giulia combining culinary, hospitality, and agricultural training. Comparable as an Italy-based culinary educator but with a regional focus and a different geographic footprint from Apicius's Florence-centric model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ApiciusFlorence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apicius-international-school-of-hospitality

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 Apicius International Hospitality School