About

The founder of Food Tour Pros, Shane Kost, started Chicago Food Planet Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tours in April of 2006. Since then, Chicago Food Planet Food Tours has grown from a solo entrepreneurial venture achieving just shy of 650 total participants its first year to a self-sustaining, profitable business surpassing more than 10,000 participants just three short years later. As the nations largest, seasonal Food Tour Business, Chicago Food Planet now offers three food tour products encompassing 6 different neighborhoods, over 20 food tasting locations and a staff of more than 20 tour guides.

Over the years, Chicago Food Planet Food Tours saw the demand for local culinary tourism and “foodie” culture explode. As a result, they were often approached by individuals interested in the Food Tour concept and wished to start their own city food tours. Food Tour Pros was founded in 2009 as a way to fill the knowledge gap, allowing clients to benefit from the wealth of first-hand experience gained as the industry leader operating Chicago Food Planet.

Food Tour Pros believe that Food Tours can be successful, profitable, self-sustaining businesses that are responsible to yourself, your customers and your local community. Our goal is to raise the awareness of food and culinary tourism both domestically and internationally, while helping industrious individuals start and operate profitable food tours in their own cities.