The Gastronomic Consultant as an Agent of Sustainable Tourism Change: An Applied Case Study

Abstract

The restaurant industry faces challenges that jeopardize the stability and survival of establishments, creating a need to transform traditional forms of gastronomic consulting. This article proposes a model based on the concept of an "intellectual active investor"—inspired by Warren Buffett’s strategic approach—and applies it to an independent restaurant in San Andrés Cholula, Puebla. Through a qualitative, exploratory case study, a gap analysis was used to compare the consultant's empirical practice against active investment criteria. The results revealed an overall alignment of 41.5%, with the most significant gaps found in information quality and profit growth. Based on these findings, a five-pillar model is proposed to strengthen the management, sustainability, professionalization, and growth of independent restaurants.