Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Kost.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2006, I had an epiphany- what if there was a way to try all of Chicago’s most authentic and delicious foods in just a few hours? That’s how Chicago Food Planet was born. Since then, we’ve partnered with hundreds of specialty food stores, restaurants, ethnic delis and more to bring walking food experiences mixed with historical, cultural and architectural anecdotes in Chicago’s premiere neighborhoods. Think of it as a well-choreographed food ballet that mixes a variety of foods (enough for lunch or dinner) with facts, fun and a little bit of exercise. I originally started as the first and only tour guide and have slowly built the brand to over 20 employees and servicing more than 20,000 people per year.
Has it been a smooth road?
Running a business means a lot of change- and change is pain. It’s not always been smooth and we’re constantly challenging ourselves to improve our products and services, our team and how we look at our brand. In the world of food, a constant struggle is finding what the new trends are and what people are most interested in. We’ve seen the demographics of our customers changes from originally being mostly tourists to now where we have more locals and natives taking our experiences. That’s required our team to think about what types of products to create to meet and exceed the expectations of clients ranging from somebody who has never been to Chicago before to somebody that was born and raised in the city.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chicago Food Planet – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Chicago Food Planet put food tourism on the map in Chicago. Before our first experiences launched in 2006, there were no companies offering tours, events and/or experiences that focused solely on Chicago’s food in a way that allowed you to interact with it, taste and touch it, meet and greet the purveyors who create our food scene all while learning about the path that our city has taken to greatness. Each of our experiences range from 2-3 hours in length and are operated in premiere neighborhoods that allow both locals and tourists the opportunity to feel and eat like native Chicagoan’s do. We’re most proud of the impact we’ve had on the neighborhoods and especially the partners we work with. As a result of our experiences, a large percentage of our clients return to their favorite tasting locations and become lifelong customers. That has real economic impact on our neighborhoods, helping to pull locals and tourists off the beaten path and spending time (and money) in places they’ve never been to or even heard of.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Without a doubt, our food and dining scene in Chicago is what makes people so jealous about wanting to live here. At Chicago Food Planet, our mission is to curate experiences that highlight Chicago as the greatest food city in the world, and we take that role very seriously. If we had to choose what we’d like least about our city- look no further than winter and construction.
Pricing:
- Chicago Food Planet tours and experiences range in pricing from $50-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chicagofoodplanet.com
- Phone: 312-932-0800
- Email: support@chicagofoodplanet.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/ChiFoodPlanet
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/ChicagoFoodPlanetFoodTours
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChiFoodPlanet
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-food-planet-food-tours-chicago
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g35805-d1024052-Reviews-Chicago_Food_Planet-Chicago_Illinois.html
Image Credit:
All images are copyright Chicago Food Planet, Inc.
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