Sarah and Jim Gagliardi joined the Young Chefs® franchise family in 2024. In May, they assumed ownership of Young Chefs Academy of San Antonio, and in September they opened a new location, Young Chefs Academy of Austin Southwest.
With a degree in Psychology and Sociology, Sarah first gained experience as a pre-school teacher, then pursued a career in the insurance industry. Here she became a Six Sigma Black Belt leading corporate process improvement projects, while also earning an MBA and an associate’s degree in Human Resources.
Jim has a degree in communications and an MBA. He has spent more than 20 years in corporate leadership positions, most recently working as Chief Product Officer for a company that provides technology solutions to school districts.
Sarah and Jim moved from Minnesota to Austin in 2013, With two children, four dogs, two cats, and a bearded dragon, there’s never a dull moment in the Gagliardi household!
Below, Sarah shares insight into what attracted them to the Young Chefs franchise opportunity and how it’s going so far.
What first attracted you to the YCA concept?
Young Chefs encompasses my passion for children, lifelong learning, cooking, and giving back to the community in a meaningful way.
Did you always have a passion for cooking?
I inherited my love of cooking from my dad, a life-long cattle rancher who enjoyed cooking from scratch over a hot cast iron skillet and making sourdough bread and pancakes.
What is most appealing to you about owning a Young Chefs Academy franchise?
I could envision my own children, Hugh (9) and Olivia (11), learning to cook at YCA. There was no one else offering this type of program in Austin; living in a “foodie” town, loving to cook, it just made sense. When I traveled to Fort Worth for training and I met the corporate team, they felt immediately like family members, and it seemed like a perfect fit.
What is your favorite thing about being a YCA owner so far?
The kiddos! I love seeing their excitement about what our lessons are for that day, and I love talking to parents and hearing about their children’s excitement about coming to class. But, ultimately, it’s the sparkle in the young chef’s eyes that makes it all worth it.
What are you most looking forward to?
Watching students progress through the programs and building a long-term relationship with them and their families.
What has been the most beneficial part of being part of a franchise system?
Having a process and physical blueprint. We would never have done this on our own from scratch.
If you’re interested in the Young Chefs Academy franchise opportunity, get in touch with us and download our franchise report!
