About us

Inspire. Empower. Cultivate Partnerships.
These are our strengths.

From the outset, FOOD AND WINE CULTURE has stood for profound connections with our clients, our industry, and society at large.
Hand in hand with trailblazing minds and visionaries, we shape the future together and effect changes that truly matter.

Industries

Services

Expert Team

Contact

Who We Are

Partners for the F&B industry

FOOD AND WINE CULTURE offers a wide range of consulting services for food producers and retailers of all sizes along the entire food value chain. As part of the → CLATU Group, we have a network of over 35 experts and partner offices in Austria, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and England, with headquarters in Germany. The focus of our advisory work is on

Strategy development
Realignment and product range strategies
Development of new markets / market entry
Product development
Digitalisation
Process optimisation
Change management
Implementation of growth and efficiency programmes

We also provide HR training, workshops, webinars, and keynotes. For producers outside the EU, our experienced sales team offers assistance with market entry and key account management services. → Find out more about our FB experts here.

A little bit
different from other consultants.

Here’s how:

Our corporate culture is based on these core values:

Entrepreneurship (opportunity orientation, implementation, proactive action)
Excellence (top performance, above average, appreciation) and
Empathy (the ability to put oneself in the shoes of the company, to empower people and companies)

We feel committed to these values. They shape the way we work as a management consultancy, the way we work with our customers and our corporate culture. Needless to say, passion, reliability, vision, cultural understanding, loyalty and discretion are also part of it.

Our recipe for success isn’t solely comprised of hard work: It also requires a healthy dose of fun! If you’re not enjoying your job or industry, it’s likely time to stop and try something else.

At FOOD AND WINE CULTURE, we’ve built a culture from the outset that not only allows for fun but actively encourages it. This focus on enjoyment and our passion for good food have set us apart from other consultancies since day one. Our playful spirit has driven intelligent disruption, sparked innovations, created brand love, built trust, helped people feel connected, and fostered the best relationships between our clients, their customers, and ourselves1.

In Numbers

countries in which we are active. In addition to our headquarters in Germany, we have partner offices in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and England.

industry fields. In the areas of food, beverages, wine, food retail, gastronomy and catering, there is hardly a management consultancy that is as well positioned and specialized as we are.

consultants. We create transparency across all profiles of our affiliated experts – offering you the best comparability.

hours until project start. Our efficient quotation process speeds up the project assignment and you have the exact matching expert at your side in the shortest possible time.

more than 0

successfully completed consulting mandates in different companies.  (Follow-up projects or new contracts with already existing clients are not included)

at your side. FAWC and the CLATU Group support you as a reliable partner and trustworthy solution provider at eye level.

WHY?

In business, it doesn’t matter what we do, it matters WHY we do it. For example: Why does it make sense to work with a management consultant? The answer is: Because a consultant offers a valuable external perspective and specific expertise to support you with current challenges and growth processes.

The food industry is currently undergoing a profound transformation that encompasses all sectors: digitalisation, transparency and traceability, saturated markets, innovative production technologies, sustainability and environmental protection – to name but a few. Many companies face the challenge of fundamentally realigning themselves. It is crucial to recognise these developments early on and understand their significance.

We empower food and beverage companies to realise their visions and thrive in an ever-changing industry. Through strategic consultancy and practical solutions, we support you in:

transforming challenges into opportunities
implementing innovative ideas successfully
recalibrating strategic plans and achieving sustainable growth

Your success drives us – together, we shape the future of your food business.

Meet our founder

Cyrus Schultz

The origins of FOOD AND WINE CULTURE and CLATU

Cyrus Schultz is the driving force behind everything we offer. With over 30 years of experience and an expert team of 35 consultants, he offers:

Expertise and Services

Strategy and Management Consulting: Providing guidance on strategic planning and business management.
Market Research and Analysis: Conducting in-depth studies of market trends and consumer behaviour.
Digital Transformation: Assisting businesses in adapting to the digital age.
Workshops and Training: Offering educational sessions to enhance skills and knowledge.

Focus Areas

Assortment Strategy: Developing optimal product ranges for businesses.
Export and Internationalisation: Helping companies expand into global markets.
Business Development: Identifying growth opportunities and new business ventures.
Growth and Brand Building: Strategies for scaling businesses and strengthening brand identity.

Cyrus advises associations, organisations, and companies across Europe, from organic family businesses to food retailers. He is a sought-after speaker at industry events and corporate conferences.

Background

Banking apprenticeship.
Studied Business Administration and Computer Science.
Worked in the IT and robotics industry before he discovered his passion for the food and beverage sector.
More than 10 years work experience in North and South America, Asia, and Europe.
Since 1993, interim mandates and management positions in various sectors of the food industry and hospitality sector.

Language Skills

Consulting services provided in German, English, Spanish, and French.

In addition to his consulting work, Cyrus holds → TED talks, lectures and workshops. He is the editor of the German food blog → “Culture Food”, publisher of → CLATU Gourmet-Travels, author of several publications about food, nutrition and organic products and has been supporting the international → “Slow Food” movement since 2006.

Say ‘hello’

Meet the expert-team