Range Media Partners wants a piece of the celebrity chef pie.
The management firm is getting into the food business, acquiring FRESH MGMT and launching a new division called Range Culinary.
FRESH MGMT was founded by Andrew Chason and Danielle Kim, who previously led CAA’s culinary division. Its clients include chef and humanitarian José Andrés and Top Chef host Kristen Kish.
Chefs and food and drink tastemakers have become a hot commodity in the entertainment business, with unscripted concepts that touch on the subjects continuing to become a critical format for streaming services and TV networks, while more traditional cooking shows continue to thrive.
And celebrity chefs are in high demand in other areas, like licensing, live events, endorsements and social content. Range Culinary will be able to tap into the company’s other divisions, like Range Digital (which has a roster of creators and influencers in the space); Range Studios (which is behind shows on Max and Prime Video); and Range Access (focused on hospitality and other business ventures) to help their clients expand their work.
“On behalf of the entire leadership of Range, we have the utmost respect for Andrew and Danielle, who are widely respected as the industry leaders in culinary entertainment,” Range CEO Peter Micelli says. “Their focus on the intersection of food and culture fully aligns with how we have approached building a multi-vertical, full-service offering for our clients to catapult their careers in the broader culture. We also share a mission to push the boundaries of what is possible for clients.”
“For us it’s about the caliber of the people and we couldn’t be more excited to join our friends at Range and tap into the extraordinary ecosystem they’ve built,” Chasen and Kim add. “Their unique combination of prioritizing quality over quantity, shared services, collaborative culture, and excellent taste, made this the ideal home for our team and clients.”
Range has used M&A as an expansion tool. Last year it acquired a management firm to expand its sports division.
The company raised capital in 2022 in a round led by A+E Networks, and earlier this year in a round that included John Malone’s Liberty Global, TPG founder David Bonderman’s Wildcat Capital, and the family entertainment company Playground Productions.
The company is also embroiled in a legal battle with CAA, which has argued that Range (which was founded by former CAA staffers) violated the Talent Agencies Act.