ATK DESIGN STUDIOS, LLC A FOODSERVICE DESIGN CO.

What ATK DESIGN STUDIOS, LLC A FOODSERVICE DESIGN CO. does

ATK Design Studios, LLC is a woman-owned, Pennsylvania-based boutique professional services firm specializing in commercial foodservice design, founded in October 2016 by Teri Kidwell. The company operates from a single headquarters in Sewickley, PA, and serves clients nationwide across seven vertical categories: Kitchens, Coffee Bars, Café/Servery, Markets, Culinary Teaching Kitchens, Restaurants, and Cocktail Bars. Its client base spans Higher Education, Corporate Dining, Restaurants, Culinary Schools, Food Production, Convention Centers, and Food R&D facilities.

The firm's core offering is a proprietary end-to-end design process structured around four service lines: Schematic Design through Construction Administration (A-Z), Master Planning/Programming/Feasibility Studies, Instructive Documentation for contractors, and Conceptual Imagery (3D renders and walkthroughs). Underlying technical components include a Visual Evolution System, chef-perspective space planning and workflow simulation, and detailed MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) coordination documentation. ATK positions itself as a vendor-agnostic specialist — independently selecting equipment rather than being tied to any manufacturer — and embeds within architect/engineering project teams while serving as health-department liaison. Notable components include proprietary construction quality control checks and post-construction inspection services. Certifications include WBENC, DBE, WOSB, FCSI membership, and CAGE Code registration enabling government contracting.

ATK's business model is project-based professional services with custom-quoted fees, no publicly disclosed pricing, and a sales-led GTM anchored by a stated 95% referral rate, portfolio-driven content marketing, and direct consultation (phone and contact form). The leadership team comprises three named principals — Teri Kidwell (President & CEO), Marisela Smith (Vice President), and Ashley Mauro (Senior Studio Director) — supported by a broader team carrying 40 years of combined foodservice design experience. The firm holds no external institutional investors, operates as an independent LLC, and reports no funding rounds, acquisitions, or M&A activity.

Name

ATK DESIGN STUDIOS, LLC A FOODSERVICE DESIGN CO.

Legal name

ATK Design Studios, LLC

Website

https://atkdesignstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ATK Design Studios is a woman-owned boutique foodservice design firm providing end-to-end commercial kitchen design — from schematic through construction administration — for higher education, corporate dining, restaurants, and institutional clients nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Design Consulting

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Foodservice design consulting
• Commercial kitchen design
• Kitchen layout planning
• Construction documentation services
• Commercial kitchen consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Sewickley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Design Consulting: Professional services revenue generated through foodservice design consulting engagements. Services include schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. Projects range from single restaurant designs to large-scale institutional kitchens. Revenue is project-based with engagement scopes varying by client needs.
2. Master Planning and Feasibility Studies: Early-stage consulting services providing right-sizing of major food areas, estimated equipment costs, and utility requirements for clients considering adding food service to their projects.
3. Instructive Documentation Services: Documentation compilation services for contractors executing food service space modifications, updates, or new builds, providing detailed road maps for construction execution.
4. Conceptual Imagery Services: Visualization services creating eye-catching imagery and operational walk-throughs to assist in project development, funding portfolios, and promotional materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ATK Design Studios provides commercial foodservice design consulting services from concept through construction completion. Their four core service lines include Schematic Design through Construction Administration, Master Planning/Programming/Feasibility Studies, Instructive Documentation for contractors, and Conceptual Imagery. Services span the design of commercial kitchens, coffee bars, cafés/serveries, markets, culinary teaching kitchens, restaurants, and cocktail bars for higher education, corporate dining, restaurants, and institutional clients.

Product overview

ATK Design Studios is a commercial foodservice design firm offering a unified suite of services centered on its proprietary design process. The core offerings include Schematic Design through Construction Administration (covering schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration phases), Master Planning/Programming/Feasibility Studies, Instructive Documentation for contractors, and Conceptual Imagery services. The company applies this proprietary process across seven design portfolio categories: Kitchens, Coffee Bars, Café/Servery, Markets, Culinary Teaching Kitchens, Restaurants, and Cocktail Bars. The company emphasizes designing beyond the floor plan to address operational experience and workflow efficiencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schematic Design through Construction Administration Full-service commercial kitchen design from initial schematic through construction completion, including documentation, coordination with architects and engineers, site observations, and punchlist walk-throughs. Designed for enterprise and institutional clients building or renovating commercial foodservice spaces.
• Master Planning / Programming / Feasibility Study Early-phase assessment service providing right-sizing of major food areas, estimated equipment costs, utility requirements, and concept development for clients considering adding or upgrading food service within their projects.
• Instructive Documentation Contractor-ready documentation and roadmaps for cooking equipment replacement, layout adjustments, upgrades, and branding implementation across one or multiple locations, for clients who want to manage their own construction projects.
• Conceptual Imagery Visual development service creating operational simulations and promotional materials including 3D renders and walkthrough videos to communicate food service space design and functionality. Used to support project development, funding portfolios, and promotional materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% referral rate from satisfied clients
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FCSI The AmericascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCSI (Foodservice Consultants Society International) The Americas is a professional association of foodservice industry consultants. ATK Design Studios maintains membership, indicating professional standing and adherence to industry standards. This membership provides networking opportunities and professional development within the foodservice design industry.
• Architectural and Engineering FirmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATK positions itself as part of a team of professionals required to complete building projects. The company collaborates with architects and engineers on all projects, providing foodservice design expertise and coordinating utility information including electric, gas, water, and equipment specifications as part of the overall design documentation.
• Construction ContractorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerATK works with construction contractors throughout the project lifecycle, providing instructive documentation for contractor execution, conducting periodic construction quality control checks, and performing post-construction inspection services to ensure design compliance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ricci Design Associates: Foodservice design consultancy serving hospitality, healthcare, education, and restaurant operators. Comparable service taxonomy and end-market mix to ATK.
• Stafford-Smith, Inc. Foodservice equipment and design company providing kitchen layout, equipment specification, and project management to operators across multiple sectors. Directly comparable foodservice design capability with deeper equipment-dealer vertical integration.
• Ricca Design Studios: Specialist commercial foodservice design and consulting firm serving restaurants, hospitality, education, and institutional clients across the U.S. Directly comparable to ATK in scope, vertical mix, and project-based delivery model.
• Russell Phillips & Associates: Foodservice design and consulting firm serving institutional, hospitality, and restaurant clients. Comparable project-based consulting delivery and multi-vertical foodservice design orientation.
• Lettuce Consulting Group: Foodservice consulting and design firm offering concept development, kitchen design, and operational planning for restaurants and hospitality. Comparable niche specialist with overlapping higher-end restaurant and hospitality design focus.
• Webb Foodservice Design: Specialist commercial foodservice design firm focused on kitchen and servery design for hospitality, education, healthcare, and restaurants. Closely comparable vertical mix and project-based consulting delivery.
• Clevenger Associates: Foodservice design and consulting firm providing kitchen planning and foodservice facility design across multiple end markets. Comparable to ATK as a specialist design consultancy with similar service taxonomy (planning through construction administration).
• Fricke & Associates: Specialist foodservice facility design and consulting firm focused on commercial kitchen planning for restaurants, schools, healthcare, and institutional clients. Comparable services from feasibility through construction administration.
• TWS Design: Foodservice planning and design consultancy serving chain restaurants, hospitality, education, and institutional clients. Comparable in service scope (planning, schematic design, construction documents) and vertical exposure.

Broad incumbents

• HGA Architects and Engineers: Large integrated architecture and engineering firm with a foodservice design practice serving education, healthcare, corporate, and cultural clients. A broad incumbent that competes for the same institutional foodservice design mandates at greater scale and with full A&E delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ATK-Design-Studios-106217064231342
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atk-design-studios-llc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ATK DESIGN STUDIOS, LLC A FOODSERVICE DESIGN CO.