Young Chef Academy teaches kids to cook
Headquartered in Texas Young Chef Academy YCA has secured a significant capital investment from private equity firm ABACO, the organizations announced today. The funding is part of a broader partnership that YCA founder and CEO Julie Burleson hopes will help the franchise-based business accelerate its expansion in the coming months and years.
Burleson launched the business in 2004 with the goal of helping children and young people improve their culinary skills. “At the time, I was running a catering business and preparing meals for busy working mothers, but my 4-year-old son kept asking me to help him in the kitchen,” Burleson recalls. “I had a classic eureka moment: I realized this could make a big difference.”
Initially, Burleson thought there would be an existing franchise business he could join, but he couldn’t find a suitable fit, so he built YCA from the ground up, starting by running cooking classes in a local restaurant kitchen in his hometown of Waco.
The goal is to give kids the opportunity to learn basic culinary skills and explore their passion for food. Some of our graduates have gone on to work professionally in the industry and even competed on the TV show “The 1000.” MasterChef Junior Burleson says the broader goal is to “teach a life skill: cooking. Kids also develop teamwork skills, gain self-confidence, become more socially literate and learn to appreciate cultural diversity,” she adds.
Burleson is the first to admit that it’s taken time to expand: “I often refer to us as an established emerging brand,” she says. The company’s business model is based on franchising agreements that allow it to deliver the YCA curriculum across the country, but Burleson has always been adamant about recruiting the right ambassadors.
“I realized early on that franchising was the only way to expand my business, but I also wanted to attract franchisees who shared my passion for what YCA does,” she explains, “My role is to help franchise owners focus on delivering an exceptional experience.”
YCA offers different types of experiences. Some kids sign up for weekly courses, while others attend cooking camps during their school holidays. The company also offers cooking class-themed birthday parties and exclusive courses for adults.
This combination has allowed YCA to grow slowly but steadily over the past 20 years. Burleson estimates that tens of thousands of students have taken the company’s courses. Today, the company has 27 franchises across the U.S., with nine more set to open in the coming months. Burleson expects the company’s annual revenue to top $10 million for the first time this year.
But today’s deal with ABACO may signal accelerated expansion. The private equity firm, led by prominent franchise investor Michael Abdi, has a track record of investing in mid-market companies.
Neither company disclosed the size of their investment, but Burleson stressed the broader value of bringing in investors with relevant experience. He will continue as CEO of the company, while Abdi will become chairman. YCA currently expects to add 10 to 15 new franchisees per year.
“Michael brings operational expertise to the business,” she says. “Access to capital is key, but we also have support with strategic planning, shared services and network connectivity.”
Burleson added that one of the early initiatives to come out of the partnership was the rebranding of YCA, with the company introducing a new logo and brand identity, despite not having invested in the space since its inception.
Meanwhile, Abdi says he was attracted to YCA’s continued growth record: “It was clear to me that Julie had an exceptional concept, great culture and training, and an established network of committed franchise partners,” he explains.