Triumph Higher Education Group Acquires Culinary Institute of Barcelona

Triumph Higher Education Group announced the acquisition July 22. Financial terms were not disclosed.

CIB will continue operating from its Barcelona, Spain, campus with no disruption to students or programs. The institute will maintain its distinctive methodology, faculty and industry relationships and operate within Triumph’s culinary division.

CIB joins Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Triumph’s culinary education portfolio. Together, the network will serve more than 8,000 students annually, with an alumni network of more than 25,000 and more than 150 faculty and chef instructors across North America and Europe.

The organizations plan to introduce additional student pathways, including study-abroad experiences in Spain, expanded online learning and shared access to a global faculty of chef instructors and industry experts. Students across the combined network will have access to expanded academic resources, broader employer partnerships and cross-border career pathways spanning North America and Europe.

Founded in 2017, CIB has trained more than 1,300 students from more than 100 nationalities through professional diploma and specialization programs in haute cuisine, pastry arts, advanced culinary techniques, healthy cooking, kitchen leadership and restaurant management.

CIB maintains internship partnerships with more than 200 leading restaurants internationally. The institute was a nominee for Europe’s Best Culinary Training Institution at the World Culinary Awards in 2025 and 2026.

Triumph’s operations include Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Gecko Hospitality, Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and CIB.