Aaron Allen is a globally recognized restaurant industry strategist and advisor to the senior leadership of many of the world’s most influential foodservice and hospitality companies. Over the last two decades, he has led more than 2,000 engagements across more than 100 countries, representing over $300 billion in combined client revenue. His work spans every stage of the business and investment lifecycle and ranges from growth and turnaround strategies to M&A, IPO preparation, and portfolio value creation.
What sets Aaron apart is not just the scale of his experience, but the depth and diversity of it. Having lived and worked across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, he brings a rare, firsthand understanding of global foodservice dynamics — and the cultural nuance required to navigate them. His clients include multinational restaurant chains, restaurant technology companies, private equity firms, institutional investors, and sovereign wealth funds with interests in foodservice, seeking more than reports or recommendations — they seek clarity, confidence, and the kind of insight that only comes from decades of direct exposure and performance at the highest levels.
Aaron is the founder of Aaron Allen & Associates, a strategy advisory firm, and Aaron Allen Capital Partners, an investment platform focused on funding the future of foodservice. Known for his integrity, discretion, and ability to orchestrate purpose-built teams with speed and precision, Aaron is often called upon when the stakes are high, the timelines are short, and the right answer really matters.
What makes Aaron Allen unique is his rare combination of operational know-how, global scale, and strategic depth. Having held nearly every role in both front and back of house — and having personally led high-impact consulting projects in more than 70 countries — he brings unparalleled global experience enriched with local market insights.
Unlike generalist consulting firms, Aaron Allen & Associates is laser-focused on foodservice and hospitality. This specialization enables deeply informed strategic work in areas like competitive positioning, brand strategy, menu pricing, market entry, and turnaround planning.
Every engagement led by Aaron Allen is backed by proprietary frameworks and a rigorous blend of qualitative insight and quantitative intelligence. His recommendations are not only innovative — they’re tailored, actionable, and grounded in a deep understanding of each brand’s operational context.
More than strategy alone, Aaron and his team stay involved through implementation, helping bring bold ideas to life alongside client teams. From M&A and growth strategies to digital transformation and crisis recovery, Aaron Allen has a proven track record of real-world execution that drives measurable results.
Aaron Allen is often a behind-the-scenes force advising boards, CEOs, private equity firms, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds. Known for his discretion and clarity, he’s served as a confidant on critical decisions that shape the future of the global foodservice industry.
He has been featured as a Top Voice in the Restaurant Industry by LinkedIn and cited in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC, Forbes, and Fortune.
Aaron Allen is also a frequent keynote speaker and sought-after expert on foodservice industry trends. He has given the keynote speech in several of the leading industry associations and shows including Pizza Expo, the European Foodservice Summit, the Restaurants Canada Annual Show, the Blue Roof Franchise Association Annual Conference, and many others.
Aaron Allen’s work is driven by a lifelong love of the industry. From the dish room to the boardroom, his career has been dedicated to helping the world’s leading foodservice and hospitality organizations grow stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.
He leads with integrity, clarity, and conviction — and is driven by a lifelong passion to help hospitality businesses be brilliant at business and hospitality.
We are focused exclusively on the global foodservice and hospitality industry. You can think of us as a research company, think tank, innovation lab, management consultancy, or strategy firm. Our clients count on us to deliver on our promises of meaningful value, actionable insights, and tangible results.
Founded and led by third-generation restaurateur, Aaron Allen, our team is comprised of experts with backgrounds in operations, marketing, finance, and business functions essential in a multi-unit operating environment.
We bring practical, relevant experience ranging from the dish room to the boardroom and apply a holistic, integrated approach to strategic issues related to growth and expansion, performance optimization, and enterprise value enhancement.
Working primarily with multi-brand, multinational organizations, our firm has helped clients on 6 continents, in 100 countries, collectively posting more than $300b in revenue, across 2,000+ engagements.
We help executive teams bridge the gap between what’s happening inside and outside the business so they can find, size, and seize the greatest opportunities for their organizations.