Paul Finney
Founder of Culinary IQ Consulting
Our Story
Paul Finney : A Legacy of Culinary and Operational Excellence.
Paul Finney has spent 40 years in the restaurant, food service, and food manufacturing industries. His culinary journey began in 1986 at a culinary magnet school where he excelled in an advanced culinary arts program. His talent earned him a scholarship to Johnson & Wales University, where he obtained an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.
Paul has worked with businesses of all sizes, from small neighborhood restaurants to nationally recognized food service companies. At just 27 years old, he became the head chef at Main and Hopewell in Glastonbury, Connecticut, where he earned an excellent review in The New York Times in 1997.
In 2000, Paul founded October Kitchen, a small personal chef service that he grew into the premier meal delivery service in Connecticut, serving over 5,000 clients. Long before meal delivery services became a national trend, Paul pioneered an innovative hybrid model that blended meal production with retail and delivery, optimizing food cost management and streamlining operations. His expertise in logistics, large-scale production, and consumer meal solutions set a new standard in the industry.
Over the years, Paul has worked with independent restaurant owners and large-scale meal delivery brands to refine operations, enhance food quality, and scale efficiently. He understands the challenges of running both small businesses and high-volume kitchens and tailors his consulting services to meet the unique needs of each client.
After 24 years of running and growing October Kitchen, he and his wife sold the company to a private investor group and semi-retired. Since 2022, Paul has been consulting for a wide range of food businesses—from small mom-and-pop restaurants to national meal delivery services—helping them streamline operations, reduce costs, and maximize profitability. There’s nothing Paul enjoys more than solving problems, finding opportunities, and helping food businesses succeed at every level.
Referral Quotes
Paul Finney of Culinary IQ Consulting was instrumental in helping us streamline our menu and inventory, making our operations more efficient and profitable. He not only optimized our menu to increase margins but also helped us lower labor costs without sacrificing quality. His industry knowledge, practical solutions, and no-nonsense approach made a huge impact on our business. Plus, he’s just a great guy to work with—professional, insightful, and genuinely invested in his clients’ success. Highly recommend!
Paul Finney of Culinary IQ Consulting helped us streamline our menu operations, making our daily service more efficient and profitable. He not only improved our workflow but also guided us in bringing our individual chef flair and ideas to market in a way that was both creative and lucrative. His expertise and strategic approach have been a game-changer for our business. If you’re looking for someone who truly understands the culinary industry and knows how to maximize your potential, Paul is the guy to call.
I’m a bona fide Paul Finney superfan. He started with us as a consultant, who knew a thing or two about prepared meals. Little did I know that he has 100% pure entrepreneurial blood pumping through his veins and that he can’t tolerate inefficient operations. Paul has the scars to show for a career-altering conversion from a talented chef to running and scaling a business in the health care food-as-medicine realm. His engine runs hot and his curious brain works overtime.