Young Chefs Academy - Franchise

About Us
Cooking is hot. One look at the sheer volume of cooking programs on television illustrates the ongoing and increasing public interest in learning how to cook — and cooking as a sport. Cooking-show competitions have made rock stars out of amateur chefs, putting many on the path to national and even global stardom. And it’s not just adults taking part. Junior versions of popular programs and competitions, as well as those created exclusively for children and teens, are on the rise.

That’s why Young Chefs® Academy is a popular and growing business. Through classes, workshops and camps, it takes kids into the kitchen and teaches them not just how to cook, but how to work independently and as a team to master new skills. Along the way, they earn patches toward a coveted black chef’s jacket! Young Chefs Academy programs are a fun, rewarding enrichment opportunity that kids and parents love — and that are the platform for a scalable, profitable business.

Reasons to Own a Young Chefs Academy Franchise

• Life lessons - Cooking is a lifelong skill that heavily affects how and what we eat, and kids who master the basics early in life are well-positioned to make healthy choices about nutrition and meal prep throughout childhood and beyond.
• Enrichment is important - Young Chefs Academy provides the opportunity for kids to learn hands-on cooking skills, as well as how to collaborate and work as a team should they pursue a career in the culinary arts as a chef, restaurant owner or even dietician.
• Cooking is a sport - Not all kids are athletically inclined, but they love watching kids’ cooking competitions on TV and YouTube. Young Chefs Academy gives them an arena of their own while also helping them build valuable skills.

What is Driving This Business?
Parents want their kids to have the magic combo of having fun and learning important skills.

Anyone with children knows the impossible dream of getting them to do things that are “good for them.” Snacks are more popular than vegetables, and playing usually trumps schoolwork.  With Young Chefs Academy, the best of both worlds come together for a fun, dynamic learning experience.

This is not a babysitting business; you are engaging with kids, you are teaching them and they are learning while they enjoy themselves,” says Roger Schmidt, president. “Parents are always looking for meaningful enrichment opportunities for their kids, and we are in an amazing space because everybody is interested in cooking today.

Rise of Cooking Shows, Competitions Fuels Interest Across All Ages
The explosion of reality-TV types of cooking shows, especially competitions, has brought Americans back to the kitchen in a big way. And as the adult shows have spun off their junior editions, kids have become engaged. They devour YouTube videos of their contemporaries battling it out, and they begin to dream of becoming skilled competitors. Enter Young Chefs Academy.

“Most schools have done away with what used to be called home economics, which had a cooking component,” Schmidt says. “We can fill that gap and do it in such a way that the kids are having a great time and actually doing some".

Adult Interest in Creating Another Engagement Opportunity
Many parents enjoy watching their kids learn and cook, and when they see a birthday party in full swing they wonder if adults can join in the fun. The answer is a resounding yes.

Scalability at Young Chefs Academy doesn’t just mean more kitchens and locations; it also means more programs,” Schmidt says. “One thing we have been exploring and having some success with the addition of our Young Chefs At Heart program which is geared toward adults. Young Chefs Academy is finding ways to capitalize on everyone’s interest in cooking shows and cooking in general. It’s never too late to learn the basics, and also learn that cooking can be fun and not a chore.