The Golden Circle Gmbh

What The Golden Circle Gmbh does

The Golden Circle GmbH is a Stuttgart-based direct-to-consumer culinary platform that bundles premium online cooking education with a curated e-commerce shop. Its core product is the Premium Zugang subscription (from €15/month or €180/year with a 14-day free trial), which unlocks more than 230 on-demand masterclasses and over 165 step-by-step recipes, plus a 20% member discount on a 76-SKU gourmet catalog that includes 20+ proprietary chef-formulated spice blends, oils, vinegars, ready-to-eat items, wines, spirits, cookbooks, and accessories. Individual courses are also sold à la carte from €65, and digital or physical gift vouchers (€25–€500) plus a €60 three-month gift box extend the offering into gifting.

The platform is technically a two-pillar stack: a uscreen.tv-powered video streaming environment (tv.thegoldencircle.com, accessible via web and native iOS/Android apps) for the masterclasses and live workshops, and a Shopify storefront (thegoldencircle.com) for product commerce, supported by Stripe and PayPal payments, Klaviyo email automation, Cloudflare and AWS WAF security, and Hotjar and Google Analytics. Content is structured didactically across Kitchen Knowledge, Basics, Craft, Recipes, and Documentaries, with live in-person and virtual workshops hosted by the chef network.

The company monetizes through five streams: recurring Premium subscriptions, individual course purchases, gourmet product sales (priced at premium levels, e.g., €150–€526/kg for spices), gift cards and vouchers, and corporate/group offerings, with a free Young Talent Program for culinary apprentices. Commercial activity is concentrated in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) under founder Mario Stockhausen, with logistics handled by BOS FOOD and GO! General Overnight, and brand associations with bulthaup, Breuninger, Dorling Kindersley, Frischeparadies, and Olavson reinforcing its premium positioning. No revenue, funding, or headcount figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

The Golden Circle Gmbh

Legal name

The Golden Circle GmbH

Website

https://thegoldencircle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Golden Circle GmbH is a Stuttgart-based D2C culinary platform offering a Premium subscription (from €15/month) plus à la carte courses that grant access to 230+ online masterclasses taught by eight Michelin-starred chefs, alongside a 76-SKU shop of chef-formulated spices, oils, wines, and ready-to-eat gourmet products, serving food enthusiasts across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary Education and Gourmet Foods

NAICS

Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Specialty Food Retailers (4452)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills) (THAJAKAE), Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA), Celebrity/Influencer-Led Virtual Brands (THAFAJAE)

Keywords

• Online cooking masterclasses
• Gourmet food products
• Culinary education platform
• Chef-curated ingredients
• Premium spice blends

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Premium Subscription (Premium Zugang): Monthly or annual subscription providing unlimited access to all 230+ masterclasses, documentaries, and recipes. Members receive 20% discount on all gourmet products in the shop and a complimentary Welcome Box with 3 Signature Spices (€62 value) upon 12-month enrollment. Free 14-day trial with no commitment. Starting at €15/month or €180/year.
2. Individual Course Purchase (Einzelkurs): One-time purchase of individual masterclass courses for €65 per course with unlimited lifetime access. Targets users who prefer not to commit to a full subscription.
3. Gourmet Product Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of gourmet products including spices, oils, vinegars, sauces, ready-to-eat items, wines, spirits, cookbooks, and kitchen accessories. Products are priced at premium levels (e.g., spices at €200–€526/kg, oils at €50–€117/l). 20% member discount available. Gift boxes and bundles (Signature boxes, Essential collections) also sold.
4. Gift Cards and Vouchers: Sale of digital value vouchers (€25–€500) and merchandise gift cards (€25–€500) for Premium Zugang access, redeemable for masterclasses, premium subscriptions, or individual courses.
5. Corporate and Group Partnerships: Tailored offerings for companies and groups, as well as free access program for young culinary talents in apprenticeships and higher education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Golden Circle operates a culinary platform integrating three pillars: (1) Premium Zugang, a subscription-based membership (from €15/month or €180/year) providing unlimited access to 230+ online masterclasses, documentaries, recipes, and live workshops led by eight Michelin-starred celebrity chefs; (2) a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop selling more than 76 chef-curated gourmet products including signature spice blends, oils, vinegars, sauces, ready-to-eat items, wines, spirits, cookbooks, and kitchen accessories, with members receiving a 20% discount; and (3) exclusive live in-person and virtual workshops with the star chef mentors. Individual courses can also be purchased one-time starting at €65. The company also runs a free "Young Talent" program giving culinary apprentices and students access to the Premium Zugang.

Product overview

The Golden Circle Gmbh operates a culinary platform combining three interconnected offerings: (1) A premium subscription-based learning platform called 'Masterclasses' offering 230+ online cooking courses taught by Michelin-starred chefs including Jan Hartwig (3 stars), Vitus Winkler (2 stars), Alexander Wulf (1 star), Sascha Stemberg (1 star), Andi Schweiger, Heiko Antoniewicz, Franzi Schweiger, and Jochen Gaues, with categories covering Documentation, Basics, Vegetarian, Fish, Meat, Baking, Bread, and Desserts; (2) An e-commerce shop selling signature gourmet products including 20+ spice blends, 7 oils and vinegars, 14 ready-to-eat products, 16 wines, 6 natural aperitifs, accessories, and cookbooks created by the star chefs; (3) Live workshops and cooking events. Membership options include monthly (from €15/month), annual (€180/12 months), and single course purchases (from €65). Premium members receive a welcome box with 3 signature spices and 20% discount on gourmet products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premium Zugang Membership Subscription membership providing unlimited access to 230+ online masterclasses, documentaries, recipes, live workshops, and a 20% discount on gourmet products. Available monthly from €15/month or annually at €180/year with a 14-day free trial and complimentary Welcome Box (3 Signature Spices, €62 value) for 12-month subscribers.
• Masterclasses (Online Cooking Courses) Over 230 online cooking courses taught by Michelin-starred chefs covering techniques, recipes, and culinary knowledge, available via tv.thegoldencircle.com and via individual €65 one-time purchase.
• Live Workshops Exclusive in-person and virtual live cooking workshops hosted by star chefs with Q&A and shared dining, including topics like Alpine Cuisine (Vitus Winkler), Fermentation & Umami (Heiko Antoniewicz), and BBQ on Konro Grill (Alexander Wulf).
• Signature Spice Blends Over 20 proprietary spice blends created by star chefs, each with up to 34 ingredient components, hand-filled in glass jars with no fillers or flow agents. Includes Alpines Curry (Vitus Winkler), Beef Umami Paste (Heiko Antoniewicz), and Chilimelange (Alexander Wulf).
• Oils & Vinegars Gourmet oils and vinaigrettes for salads, vegetables, fish, and meat, including Kräuteröl, Basilikumöl, Orangenöl (Sascha Stemberg), and various vinaigrettes (Heiko Antoniewicz, Alexander Wulf).
• Ready-to-Eat Products Gourmet ready-to-eat specialty products including fermented herring preparations (Heiko Antoniewicz), risotto products (Alexander Wulf), and other prepared foods from star chefs and partner manufacturers.
• Wine & Aperitif Collection Exclusive wines and aperitifs curated with star sommelier Ronny Schreiber, including Chardonnay 120 (Weingut Poss), TRY Sweet, and TRY Riesling (Weingut Siener).
• Natural Aperitifs (Gin, Rum, Liqueurs) Craft spirits including Gin varieties (Brennnessel by Vitus Winkler, Cannabis by Andi Schweiger, Limette by Sascha Stemberg), Rum Bodensee (Andi Schweiger), and Liqueur Zwetschge (Franzi Schweiger).
• Chutneys & Sauces Gourmet condiments including Currywurst Sauce (Sascha Stemberg), Beef Umami Paste (Heiko Antoniewicz), Demi Glace (Sascha Stemberg), and various chutneys.
• Gift Boxes & Bundles Curated gift collections including Signature Cubes (from €19.90), Essential Sets (€59–€75), Must-Haves bundles (€69), and gift boxes combining Premium Zugang access with physical products.
• Accessories (Kitchen Tools) Premium kitchen accessories including limited-edition cutting boards (Schneid- & Präsentationsbrett, limited to 348 pieces, €159), copper-core pans from Olavson, and spice boards.
• Cookbooks Culinary books authored by star chefs including Stemberg: Das Kochbuch — Tradition trifft Moderne (Sascha Stemberg) and titles by Heiko Antoniewicz.
• Gift Vouchers Digital value vouchers (€25–€500) and physical merchandise gift cards (€25–€500) redeemable for Premium Zugang subscriptions, masterclasses, individual courses, or shop products.
• Einzelkurs (Individual Masterclass) One-time purchase of an individual masterclass course priced from €65 with unlimited lifetime access, for users who prefer not to commit to a full Premium Zugang subscription.

Quantifiable outcome

• 165+ recipes taught step-by-step with techniques, cooking times, resting times, and plating details
• +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

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BOS FOOD GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBOS FOOD is a key production and logistics partner for The Golden Circle. They handle fulfillment and express shipping of gourmet products, ensuring that food products are packed and shipped with the same quality standards as the company's products. Orders shipped from BOS FOOD appear with their name in tracking information. Products branded as BOS FOOD appear throughout the catalog (e.g., Bos Food GmbH as manufacturer).
• bulthaupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium luxury kitchen manufacturer featured as a brand partner on the homepage and Premium Zugang page, signaling The Golden Circle's positioning in the high-end culinary market. bulthaup is a German premium kitchen brand.
• BreuningerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman premium department store chain featured as a brand partner on the homepage and Premium page, indicating a co-marketing relationship targeting affluent consumers.
• Dorling Kindersley (DK Verlag)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading illustrated book publisher featured as a brand partner. DK Verlag publishes cookbooks and culinary content, and this partnership aligns with The Golden Circle's cookbook sales and culinary content focus.
• FrischeparadiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium German food retailer featured as a brand partner on the homepage and Magazin page. Frischeparadies specializes in high-quality gourmet and specialty food products, aligning with The Golden Circle's market positioning.
• OlavsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium cookware brand Olavson GmbH featured as a brand partner on the homepage, Magazin, and Accessories page. The company sells Olavson cookware products (copper-core frying pans) in the shop, indicating a commercial partnership.
• GO! General OvernightcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGermany's leading express courier service used for all product shipments. GO! General Overnight handles same-day dispatch for orders placed before 16:00, enabling next-day delivery throughout Germany. Orders are trackable via their tracking portal.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe provides payment processing infrastructure for all credit card transactions on the platform, enabling secure checkout without storing credit card data on The Golden Circle's servers. Multiple Stripe cookies (__stripe_mid, __stripe_sid, m, _ab, _mf, id) are used on the website.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayPal is used as a payment method for transactions on the website and streaming platform. The __paypal_storage__ cookie enables secure PayPal transactions.
• KlaviyocoreTechnology or IntegrationKlaviyo powers email marketing automation including the newsletter subscription (offering a 15% discount voucher), abandoned cart emails, and promotional campaigns. The platform collects visitor behavior data (__kla_id) for email personalization.
• uscreen.tvcoreTechnology or Integrationuscreen.tv provides the video streaming infrastructure and platform for hosting masterclasses, documentaries, and course content. The platform is accessed via tv.thegoldencircle.com and powers the mobile app experience.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Williams Sonoma: Large US premium cookware and gourmet food retailer with strong celebrity chef brand partnerships and cooking content. Comparable in premium gourmet positioning and chef-affiliated products, though significantly larger and serving a broader (mainly US) market.
• Sur La Table: Established US premium kitchenware and gourmet food retailer with cooking class offerings in physical locations. Comparable in premium positioning and cooking-class-plus-products model, though primarily US-focused and omnichannel rather than online-first.

Direct peers

• Tastemade: Food-focused media and streaming platform producing original cooking shows, lifestyle content, and recipes. Comparable to The Golden Circle's video streaming and culinary content library, though Tastemade operates at broader scale with ad-supported and subscription tiers.
• Food52: US-based cooking content and premium housewares retail platform combining editorial content, community recipes, and curated product sales. Closely comparable business model to The Golden Circle's integration of culinary content and curated gourmet product retail.
• MasterClass: Online subscription platform offering celebrity-taught video courses across many categories including cooking. The closest direct competitor to The Golden Circle's chef-led masterclass model, with a similar premium subscription price point (~€180/year) but broader global celebrity roster and English-language content.
• NYT Cooking: Subscription cooking platform from The New York Times offering recipes, instructional content, and culinary guidance. Comparable as a paid content platform for cooking enthusiasts, though relies on editorial talent rather than celebrity chefs.
• Goldbelly: Premium food e-commerce marketplace shipping signature dishes and artisanal products from renowned US restaurants and chefs. Comparable to The Golden Circle's chef-curated gourmet product shop and celebrity chef brand association model.

Regional players

• Kochen & Genießen Verlag: German cooking magazine and content brand offering recipes, cooking courses, and culinary lifestyle content in the DACH market. Comparable as a DACH-focused cooking content and educational platform, though primarily editorial rather than celebrity-chef-led.
• Wüsthof: German premium knife manufacturer with strong culinary brand recognition and chef ambassador programs. Comparable as a German premium culinary brand with celebrity chef endorsements, though primarily a cutlery manufacturer rather than content platform.
• eat.de: German recipe and cooking community platform offering free recipe content and cooking inspiration. Comparable as a DACH-focused cooking content platform, though operating a different model (free ad-supported vs. paid chef-led masterclasses).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/the-golden-circle-gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegoldencircle.presents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-golden-circle-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/thegoldencircle_official
• Pinterestpinterest.de/thegoldencirclepresents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Golden Circle Gmbh