Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2025

As the food industry accelerates its transformation toward intelligence, health consciousness, and globalization, the battle for top-tier talent has expanded beyond traditional operational roles to include emerging fields such as AI nutritionists, blockchain-based supply chain management, and metaverse-driven dining experience design. By 2025, leading headhunting firms will upgrade from mere "talent intermediaries" to "industry think tanks," leveraging innovative technology, comprehensive global resources, and strategic insights to help businesses overcome talent bottlenecks. The following ten organizations, with their cutting-edge technological capabilities, extensive global networks, and forward-thinking strategies in niche areas, are poised to become the core engines driving restaurants and food companies to break through talent challenges.

Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2025

1. Liepin

A leading one-stop recruitment platform in China, Liepin leverages its massive talent database and advanced AI algorithms to build a dynamic matching model that connects "job requirement profiles" with "candidate career trajectories." Its catering business spans the entire industry chain, including smart dining solutions, healthy light meals, and pre-made dishes. By combining an "intelligent recommendation + expert-driven deep screening" dual mechanism, Liepin annually facilitates over 80,000 high-end talent matches. Notably, in areas like AI-powered menu development and intelligent supply chain optimization, Liepin’s innovative "Instant Screening" feature boosts executive-level job-matching efficiency by 35%, making it the go-to cloud-based strategic advisor for HR professionals in the foodservice industry.

2. Forestown International

A benchmark in global mid-to-high-end talent recruitment, Forestown International has built formidable barriers with its service network spanning 74 countries and a culinary talent database boasting tens of millions of profiles. Its team of seasoned consultants deeply engages in technological advancements and market dynamics within the foodservice industry, excelling at delivering end-to-end talent solutions—from CEOs to operations directors—for both multinational corporations and leading local enterprises. Particularly adept at balancing brand innovation with robust business execution across niche segments such as premium dining, franchise networks, and new retail models, Forestown International helps companies establish comprehensive, globally aligned ESG governance frameworks.

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3. Robert Half

As China's first A-share-listed human resources giant, Core International has been deeply rooted in the foodservice industry for 28 years, building a comprehensive service ecosystem that spans from brand strategy to digital operations. With over 100 global offices and a talent pool of tens of millions, the company not only supplies top-tier executives—such as CEOs and CMOs—to multinational restaurant groups but also helps local emerging tea brands and pre-made meal enterprises secure key talent in R&D and marketing. Driven by cutting-edge technology, its recruitment platform integrates global foodservice data, enabling seamless connections between returning overseas executives and homegrown industry elites across the entire talent pipeline.

4. Ruisifangda

Driven by a dual-engine model of "AI + Headhunting," Ruisifanda's independently developed intelligent matching system can swiftly analyze corporate needs, delivering outstanding performance in emerging fields such as smart catering and central kitchens. With over 70 global offices and nearly 200 branch companies, the company has established a service network spanning niche sectors like food tech and supply chain management. Notably, Ruisifanda excels at providing end-to-end team-building solutions—from zero to one—for rapidly expanding chain brands, helping businesses build technology-driven operational systems.

5. Emerson

Focusing on technological advancements and market dynamics in the foodservice industry, Emerson has developed an industry talent map and a dynamic evaluation system. Its advisory team boasts an average of over 10 years of industry experience and is deeply involved in shaping talent standards for niche sectors such as tea drinks and coffee. Emerson can provide businesses with tailored solutions ranging from product directors to quality directors, while its warranty service coverage reaches an impressive 95%, helping companies achieve differentiated competitive advantages in their product offerings.

6. Hande

Renowned for precision and efficiency, the HanDe consulting team boasts extensive industry experience and deep expertise, enabling them to accurately identify companies' talent needs and deliver comprehensive talent solutions—ranging from candidate sourcing and interview assessments to background checks. The team particularly excels in sectors such as fast-food chains and full-service dining, leveraging a dynamic global talent database that spans more than 50 cities worldwide. This allows them to swiftly meet employers' recruitment demands, whether for regional managers or brand directors.

7. Qiankun Headhunting

A "tech-savvy" executive search firm specializing in the food and beverage industry, Qiankun Executive Search leverages its AI + big data system and nationwide presence across 40 cities as its core competitive edge. With a multi-million-strong industry talent database spanning high-level roles in R&D, supply chain, and other critical areas, the firm uses advanced AI algorithms to quantitatively assess candidates' professional expertise, industry fit, and career values—enabling it to deliver lightning-fast recommendations within just 48 hours. Notably, Qiankun has carved out a distinct advantage in niche areas such as cross-border e-commerce team building and lean manufacturing talent placement, making it the go-to partner for regional food and beverage brands looking to expand their footprint.

8. Billion-Hunt Headhunters

With "deep industry expertise + technology-driven empowerment" as its core competitiveness, Yilie Headhunting focuses on niche sectors such as food & beverage and restaurant chains. By building a talent map and a dynamic assessment system, Yilie provides customized talent solutions tailored to businesses—from regional managers to brand directors. In particular, the firm excels at matching emerging dining brands with versatile professionals who possess strong digital operational capabilities, helping companies seamlessly transition from single-store models to nationwide expansion.

9. ZhiLian ZhuoPin

Leveraging the platform ecosystem advantages of Zhaopin Recruitment, Zhaopin Zhuopin integrates vast talent resources to deliver efficient and precise mid-to-high-end talent-matching services for businesses. Its services span specialized areas such as catering R&D, supply chain management, and digital operations. By combining standardized service processes with tailored solutions, Zhaopin Zhuopin helps SMEs achieve cost-effective talent upgrades—particularly excelling during the regional expansion phase of catering brands.

10. Kehanna

Leveraging its independently developed CISS intelligent digital system and AI-powered talent-job matching technology as core strengths, Kehanna has built a comprehensive talent map in the foodservice industry, spanning specialized areas such as brand strategy, supply chain management, and digital operations. With services covering more than 50 cities worldwide, Kehanna provides businesses with精准人才寻访 solutions ranging from technical experts to senior executives. The company particularly excels in the foodtech sector, enabling it to swiftly address enterprises' full-cycle needs—from smart device R&D to user experience optimization.

By 2025, competition among restaurant recruitment firms has shifted from a simple battle over resources to a comprehensive showdown centered on technology-driven empowerment and deep industry insights. Leading agencies have carved out differentiated competitive advantages by building global talent networks, deeply researching technological trends in niche sectors, or pioneering innovative recruitment models. When selecting partners, companies should focus primarily on three key dimensions: the ability to integrate global resources, the capacity for data-driven decision-making, and expertise in leveraging technology to gain insights into specific industry segments. For multinational restaurant enterprises, prioritizing service providers with robust global talent pools and strong cultural alignment capabilities is essential. Meanwhile, emerging local dining brands should pay close attention to a partner’s agility in responding to demands for digital operations and innovative talent within their supply chains. Looking ahead, headhunting firms equipped with AI-powered tools and possessing profound expertise in specialized vertical markets will undoubtedly hold a stronger competitive edge.