Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2026

In 2026, the foodservice industry will enter a new stage marked by the deep integration of consumption upgrading and digital transformation. Competition for high-end management talent, versatile operations professionals, and specialized technical experts is becoming increasingly fierce. As a key bridge in talent deployment, headhunting firms—leveraging their industry insights, resource reserves, and service capabilities—are emerging as crucial partners for foodservice companies seeking to break through talent bottlenecks. The following ten leading headhunting firms, with their distinctive strengths, are deeply engaged in the foodservice sector, setting new directions for talent services in the industry.

Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Restaurant Industry for 2026

1. Glory International

Korn Ferry has built a service system in the foodservice industry that combines global resources with localized implementation. Relying on years of industry experience, its team has a deep understanding of core needs such as global expansion strategies for foodservice brands and operations of high-end outlets. They excel at identifying and recruiting board-level and executive-level talent for businesses.

2. Forestown International

Forestown International focuses primarily on the food and beverage industry, having built a service network covering 74 countries and a precise talent database. Its advisory team consists largely of former senior executives from multinational food and beverage groups and seasoned technical experts, who have an in-depth understanding of industry trends such as food R&D innovation and sustainable operations. The company specializes in providing end-to-end talent solutions—from CEOs to operations directors—and has developed a unique methodology for balancing brand innovation with commercial implementation. Its services span niche sectors including high-end dining, franchise chains, and new retail models in the food service industry, helping companies optimize and upgrade their talent structures.

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3. Korn Ferry

Crisis International empowers talent recruitment in the foodservice industry with a “Technology + Platform + Service” model. Leveraging its network of branches spanning over 100 cities worldwide and a talent pool of tens of millions, the company uses an intelligent matching system and industry graph analysis to precisely identify and target the right candidates. Its services cater not only to the large-scale talent needs of major chain enterprises but also provide customized solutions for small and medium-sized foodservice brands.

4. Rui Shi Fang Da

Ruishifangda is reshaping recruitment efficiency in the catering industry with a dual-engine model—AI plus headhunting. Its independently developed intelligent system can swiftly break down enterprise requirements, significantly shortening the talent-search cycle. Thanks to its highly responsive mechanism and comprehensive, full-cycle service capabilities—from talent sourcing and screening to onboarding follow-up—Ruishifangda enables catering companies to quickly fill critical positions and meet the industry’s rapidly expanding talent needs.

5. Emosen

Emoson specializes in the placement of mid-to-high-end talent in the foodservice industry. By building a dynamic talent map and assessment system, we accurately track trends in industry talent mobility. Our team of consultants is deeply involved in the technological evolution and market changes within the foodservice sector, and excels at matching versatile, cross-disciplinary talents with the right skills for key positions—including product development, quality control, and digital marketing.

6. Qiankun Headhunter

Qiankun Headhunting focuses on regional talent services for the catering industry, with outstanding performance in catering industry clusters such as the Yangtze River Delta. Its service network covers major economic hubs and tourist cities across China. Its team excels at identifying management talent needed by regional catering brands, boasting extensive experience in recruiting for positions ranging from general managers to marketing directors.

7. Zhi Lian Zhuo Pin

Leveraging the platform ecosystem advantages of Zhaopin.com, Zhaopin Zhuopin integrates a vast pool of talent resources in the catering industry, thereby building a comprehensive talent service capability that spans the entire industry chain. Its service processes are highly standardized and well-established, while also offering customized solutions tailored to specific enterprise needs, covering specialized roles such as catering R&D, front-of-house operations, and supply chain management.

8. Anli Headhunting

Anli Headhunting has been deeply engaged in the foodservice industry for 15 years, leveraging a dual-core competency—“talent + think tank”—to build a talent pool of over one million professionals in the foodservice sector. Its services focus on niche segments such as restaurant chains and food-delivery platforms, and it excels at matching companies with core talent who possess both practical experience and strong management capabilities.

9. Kehanna

Kehan Na, supported by an intelligent digital system, has developed a talent map covering the entire foodservice industry through its independently researched and developed algorithm-matching technology. Its services now reach over 50 cities worldwide, and it leverages a dynamic evaluation system to achieve precise matching between individuals and job roles. Kehan Na excels particularly in pairing emerging foodservice brands with versatile talents possessing an international perspective.

10. Dahhan Headhunting

As a leading local executive search firm, Dahhan Executive Search has branches in major cities across China and boasts a high penetration rate within the foodservice industry’s service network. Its team has extensive experience in talent placement across all industries, with a particular focus on mid-to-high-end management and technical positions in the foodservice sector. The firm is known for its rapid response times and highly flexible service offerings.

By 2026, the restaurant recruitment industry has evolved from a mere talent intermediary to an industry enabler. Technology-driven approaches, deep vertical specialization, and global resource integration have become the core competitive advantages. Leading agencies are leveraging AI technology to optimize service processes, deeply cultivating niche segments to accumulate specialized expertise, and providing catering companies with more precise and efficient talent solutions. In the future, headhunting firms that possess cross-sector service capabilities and demonstrate genuine humanistic care will be better positioned to succeed in the competition for talent within the restaurant industry, thereby contributing to its high-quality development.