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Introduction
Celebrity chefs have acquired prominence in the UK and other countries in recent decades, some becoming well-known public figures; they possess a commercial importance individually and collectively. This paper is concerned with the celebrity chef phenomenon and seeks to identify and explore the key attributes and income-generating activities of chefs who can be thus categorised. Business models are also examined with particular attention given to the international dimensions of chef fame and operations that can be understood as an expression and consequence of globalisation.
After an opening introduction to the rise of the modern high-profile chef within the context of globalisation, reference is made to circumstances in the USA, which has been deemed the birthplace of the trend. Brief summaries of selected cases from the UK are then presented and defining qualities of celebrity chef activity and their business models are identified. An impetus towards internationalisation is observed and illustrated by the situation in the more economically advanced societies of East Asia, exemplified by Singapore. Finally, the challenges inherent in the celebrity chef business and expanding abroad are summarised and the factors critical to success are outlined.
The paper is a general review and findings are derived from analysis of material in the public domain collected from assorted print and electronic media, encompassing academic and practitioner perspectives. Specific examples of celebrity chefs for discussion were selected on the grounds of their degree of exposure, through television broadcasting and book publications, and length of time in the public eye as well as commercial reach. Full details about organisational and financial structures and policy-making were, unfortunately, not available to the author. Nevertheless, it was judged that the assembled data was adequate for the purpose of an exploratory study of the distinguishing characteristics of celebrity chefs and their functioning as an industry.
The celebrity chef phenomenon and globalisation
Globalisation is a "restructuring process that works across units and affects all aspects of human life: from capital flows, through political collaboration, to the flow of ideas" ([25] Hjalager, 2007, p. 438). One measure and vehicle of globalisation is the internationalisation of markets whereby consumers can purchase an immense variety of goods and services produced worldwide by businesses which are seeking to enlarge market share, build brand awareness and...