From 2009 to 2015 was a crucial expansion period for Gastón Acurio and the holding company Acurio Restaurantes under which he combined the creation and day-to-day operations of his Peruvian restaurant empire. The case gives an overview of Peruvian cuisine and of how Gastón, starting from a single restaurant, built a food empire. Between 1994, when he founded his first restaurant Astrid y Gastón in Lima, and 2005 Gastón Acurio quietly established himself as a star chef and a leader in the international culinary scene. He also gained experience not only running a restaurant but also establishing a local supply chain and working with producers and suppliers. In 2005, Acurio Restaurantes began expanding internationally – first in Latin America and then overseas, creating different restaurant concepts for different customer segments and dining experiences. The case describes the challenges associated with expanding to new markets each with its own culinary specificities and practices, the need for local partners, and the financial aspects of an aggressive expansion strategy. Gastón Acurio is the central figure, with his quest to replicate for Peruvian cuisine the global expansion that Italian cuisine had enjoyed a few decades earlier. His strong values and leadership style contributed significantly to the success of the past 10 years. After stepping back from running his flagship Astrid y Gastón in Lima, how could he continue to realize his vision for Peruvian cuisine and facilitate access to the world markets for Peru’s farmers and manufacturers?.
