The Culinary Edge (TCE), America’s leading food and beverage innovators, thrived in 2023 as the go-to consultancy for restaurant, hospitality and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. Igniting increased customer traffic in the food and beverage industry, TCE strategically partnered with more than 25 brands – over half of them fresh additions to its formidable portfolio. The brand’s expertise translated trends into actionable ideas steering unparalleled success for clients spanning scaled food service brands, grocery-retail vegetable processors, industrial ingredient manufacturers, fast-casual seafood, and more, leaving an indelible mark on the culinary landscape.
“2023 was a transformative year for our team. When partnering with clients, we implement a holistic 360-approach that incorporates menu optimization, data-driven strategies, creative thinking and continuous innovation. This methodology, coupled with our multifaceted services, enables us to exceed client expectations and reshape the culinary experience,” says Graham Humphreys, CEO, The Culinary Edge. “We learned a lot last year and acknowledge we’re at the beginning of our journey towards greater milestones. We look forward to building on the year’s success to engage in future collaborations with both new and returning client partners in 2024 and beyond.”
Last year, TCE achieved an impressive 11% year-over-year revenue increase through successful collaborations with clients like Buffalo Wild Wings, Slapfish, and First Watch, among others. The driving force behind this growth is TCE’s ability to create 425+ new menu offerings by maintaining the client’s identity with a contemporary twist that caters to current market demands. This skillset has helped the brand achieve industry recognition for its collaborative work, with clients like McCain securing the “FABI award” by the National Restaurant Association Show for the V’DGZ line, Kum & Go earning the title of “2023 Foodservice Innovator of the Year” by Convenience Store News and Twisted by Wetzels receiving the “CREATORS Award” for transformative innovations by Nation’s Restaurant News. Amid these achievements, TCE also facilitated a number of client openings, bringing design concepts like Greenlane and Wild Pie to life throughout various regions in Florida, while simultaneously contributing to the national expansion of First Watch with over 50 new units across the U.S.
“Reflecting on TCE’s commitment to culinary innovation and industry growth this past year, we primarily focused on creative flavor approaches, pushing boundaries and strategic ingredient fusion,” says Erica Holland-Toll, Culinary Director, The Culinary Edge. “The award-winning success these creations have achieved is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our entire team and loyal partners alike.”
To kick off 2024, the company has already started working with eight returning clients, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Slapfish, Nando’s and Starbird, on exciting new projects, solidifying its commitment to shaping the landscape of the food industry.
