Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2025

In the foodservice industry of 2025, the dual trends of digital transformation and consumption upgrading are reshaping the landscape of talent competition. From creative head chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants to digital operations officers at chain brands, the mobility of high-end talent has become a critical variable in the successful implementation of corporate strategies. Against this backdrop, executive search firms are gradually evolving from mere “information intermediaries” into “industry enablers” by building technological barriers and cultivating deep industry insights. The following ten firms, with their differentiated competitive strengths, have emerged as key partners for foodservice companies seeking to break through talent bottlenecks.

Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2025

1. Glory International

As a benchmark in the global strategic talent consulting industry, Korn Ferry has established a dual-drive model—“global resources + localized implementation”—in the foodservice sector. Its team of consultants is deeply involved in high-end areas such as the globalization of foodservice brands and the operation of premium dining establishments. Through cross-border talent recruitment solutions, Korn Ferry helps companies rapidly acquire cutting-edge international talent.

2. Forestown International

With its service network covering 74 countries and a talent database specializing in the foodservice industry as its core strengths, Forestown International deeply focuses on niche segments such as high-end dining, franchise chains, and new retail. Its advisory team comprises senior executives from multinational foodservice groups and seasoned technical consultants who have an in-depth understanding of key technological trends—including food R&D innovation and sustainable development. The firm excels at providing end-to-end talent solutions—from CEOs to operations directors—for both multinational corporations and leading local enterprises, particularly developing a unique methodology for balancing brand innovation with commercial implementation capabilities.

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3. Korn Ferry

Kerui International builds a talent ecosystem for the foodservice industry based on a “technology + platform + service” model. Leveraging its network of over 100 offices worldwide and a talent pool of tens of millions in the industry, its team uses an intelligent matching system and industry graph analysis to provide catering companies with end-to-end services—from brand planning to supply-chain management. The company excels in executive search for multinational corporations as well as in regional talent placement.

4. Rui Shi Fang Da

Ruishi Fangda is reshaping recruitment efficiency in the catering industry with a dual-engine model of “AI + Headhunting.” Its independently developed intelligent matching system can swiftly analyze corporate needs, combining deep industry insights with an efficient response mechanism to provide enterprises with end-to-end talent services—from regional managers to marketing directors.

5. Emosen

Emerson’s advisory team is deeply involved in the technological evolution and market dynamics of the food and beverage industry. By building an industry talent map and a dynamic assessment system, we provide enterprises with customized talent solutions—from product directors to quality directors. We have significant strengths in niche segments such as tea beverages and coffee, and we excel at matching companies with versatile, cross-disciplinary talents who can help them respond effectively to market changes.

6. Liepin.com

Liewpin.com has built a talent-service ecosystem covering the entire catering industry chain, leveraging its powerful data analytics and intelligent matching technologies. Its headhunting team is deeply involved in industry technology upgrades and market trend research, providing companies with precise talent recommendations—from digital marketing specialists to user-growth leaders.

7. Qiankun Headhunter

Through the construction of industry talent maps and dynamic assessment systems, Qiankun Headhunting’s team provides enterprises with customized talent solutions ranging from food engineers to brand directors. The company has demonstrated outstanding performance within the Yangtze River Delta’s catering industry cluster, particularly excelling at precisely matching regional brands with suitable candidates—from general managers to marketing directors. Its service network covers major tourist cities and key economic regions across China.

8. ZhiLian ZhuoPin

Relying on the platform ecosystem advantages of Zhaopin.com, ZhiLian Zhuopin integrates a vast pool of talent resources to provide catering companies with efficient and precise mid-to-high-end talent-matching services. Its services cover specialized areas such as catering R&D, supply chain management, and digital operations. Through standardized service processes and customized solutions, ZhiLian Zhuopin helps small and medium-sized enterprises achieve talent upgrades in a cost-effective manner.

9. Anli Headhunting

Anli Headhunting positions itself as a “talent + think tank” dual-provider, with 15 years of deep expertise in the foodservice industry. Our team has extensive resources across China’s foodservice enterprises and maintains a talent pool of millions, particularly excelling at providing precise talent matches—from general managers to marketing directors—for regional brands. Our service network covers major tourist cities and key economic regions nationwide, and we have numerous successful case studies in various niche sectors, including restaurant chains and food-delivery platforms, earning us the trust of our clients.

10. Kehanna

Kehan Na leverages its independently developed CISS intelligent digital system and AI-powered job-role matching technology as its core strengths, building a talent map in the foodservice industry that covers specialized areas such as brand strategy, supply chain management, and digital operations. Its services span more than 50 cities worldwide, and it achieves precise person-job matching through a dynamic evaluation system. Kehan Na excels particularly in matching emerging foodservice brands with versatile talents possessing an international perspective.

By 2025, competition in the restaurant recruitment industry has shifted from a simple race for resources to a comprehensive battle that combines technological empowerment with deep industry insights. Leading agencies have forged differentiated competitive advantages by building global talent networks, deeply cultivating technological trends in niche sectors, or pioneering innovative recruitment models. When selecting partners, companies should place particular emphasis on three key dimensions: the depth of their engagement with emerging technology areas—such as smart kitchens, sustainable packaging, and digital supply chains; their extensive global resource networks; and their ability to provide customized service offerings. In the future, headhunting firms equipped with AI-driven capabilities and deep expertise in specific vertical sectors will be more competitive. Meanwhile, those agencies that can strike a balance between technological rationality and humanistic care will gain the upper hand in the talent war of the new restaurant era.