Food influencer marketing agencies play a huge role in helping food brands and restaurants stand out on social media. Influencers create mouth-watering, relatable content that builds trust and engagement, making it a game-changer for brands.
In fact, food influencer campaigns deliver 10× higher ROI than traditional ads, and over 70% of consumers are willing to try a new food brand if a trusted influencer recommends it.
But here’s the challenge: brands struggle to find the right influencers, ensure they have real followers, and track results. That’s where food influencer marketing agencies come in—they handle everything from influencer selection to campaign management.
Below, we’ll dive into the top 10 agencies that connect brands with food influencers and explore why an AI-powered platform like Ainfluencer makes food influencer marketing more cost-effective and efficient!
Top 10 Food Influencer Marketing Agencies
Here’s a list of the 10 leading influencer marketing agencies in the food niche, their key features, pricing, pros, and cons. Keep reading!
1. The Shelf
Our first suggestion is not only a top food marketing solution but also a popular lifestyle influencer marketing agency known for creative, data-driven campaigns.
The Shelf has worked with major brands like Walmart, Neutrogena, and Hanes, demonstrating its versatility in food and fashion.
They also focus on “Interest Graph” targeting and real-time insights to pinpoint niche food audiences.
Key Features of The Shelf
- Data-driven strategies,
- Extensive influencer network,
- Comprehensive campaign management,
- Real-time performance monitoring.
The Shelf Pricing
Their pricing structure includes a minimum project size of $100,000 and an average hourly rate ranging from $150 to $199.
Best For
Mid-sized and larger brands.
The Shelf Pros
- Highly creative campaigns with an emphasis on storytelling,
- Strong analytics and targeting capabilities,
- Experience with big-name food brands.
Cons of The Shelf
- High budget threshold and long onboarding,
- Not ideal for brands with limited budgets or one-off local campaigns.
2. Foodie Tribe
Foodie Tribe is a boutique influencer agency 100% focused on the food & beverage industry. Based in Miami, it acts as an influencer marketing and creative agency.
Foodie Tribe has a “tribe” of 3,000+ food creators in its network—ranging from recipe bloggers and foodie Instagrammers to beverage connoisseurs—which it leverages for brand campaigns.
Key Features of Foodie Tribe
- Authentic storytelling,
- Creative expertise in food campaigns,
- Influencer marketing, social media strategy, and content creation,
- Data-driven campaign performance.
Foodie Tribe Pricing
It works on a campaign basis.
Best For
Small and mid-sized food brands.
Pros of Foodie Tribe
- Deep specialization in food marketing,
- Offers hands-on creative support (e.g., they can pair influencers with in-house content strategy).
Cons of Foodie Tribe
- Smaller influencer pool with limited reach,
- Less suitable for large-scale or multi-country campaigns.
3. CookIt Media
CookIt Media is an influencer marketing and talent management agency with a world-class roster of food & lifestyle influencers.
In other words, CookIt not only runs influencer marketing campaigns for brands but also directly represents top food creators (bloggers, chefs, culinary personalities) as their agent.
This dual role gives CookIt a unique advantage: brands gain access to exclusive influencers and a team that knows how to broker creative partnerships.
Key Features of CookIt Media
- Comprehensive campaign management,
- Custom content creation,
- End-to-end partnership facilitation,
- Data-Driven Insights.
CookIt Media Pricing
It’s not publicly disclosed (custom).
Best For
Mid-sized to large food brands.
Pros of CookIt Media
- Highly curated talent pool of top food influencers,
- Strong focus on authentic, high-quality content,
- Expertise in building brand-creator partnerships.
Cons of CookIt Media
- Selective about projects, not ideal for all brands,
- Higher fees compared to some agencies,
- Limited influencer availability due to exclusivity.
4. The Influencer Marketing Factory
The Influencer Marketing Factory (IMF) is a well-known influencer marketing agency in music, lifestyle, and food. It has delivered campaigns for brands like Bud Light, Google, Amazon, and Hasbro.
They handle all major platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.) and have a strong track record with TikTok in particular. IMF is praised for its end-to-end support – they help define a brand’s objectives and KPIs, identify precise target audiences, select influencers, execute the campaign, and provide in-depth analytics.
With offices in Miami and New York and team members worldwide, they can execute multi-national food campaigns when needed.
Key Features of IMF
- Data-driven strategies,
- Creative concept development,
- Global reach,
- Comprehensive campaign management.
IMF Pricing
The minimum project size is $25,000, with an average hourly rate between $200 and $300.
Best For
Mid-sized to large brands.
Pros of IMF
- Great communication and teamwork,
- Being result-focused and culturally aligned with clients,
- Flexible to client needs and budget-friendly for the value provided.
Cons of IMF
- Challenges in recruiting influencers for very niche or hyper-local campaigns,
- It may not be the best fit for brands with extremely specific influencer criteria.
5. HireInfluence
HireInfluence (sometimes called “Hire Influencer”) is one of the award-winning food influencer marketing agencies founded in 2011, with offices in Houston and Los Angeles.
They have a long history of running campaigns across industries, mainly food & beverage, fashion, tech, travel, and more.
HireInfluence’s services are truly full-service, from crafting strategy to influencer casting and content enhancement.
The agency has managed campaigns for big brands like McDonald’s, Oreo, the NFL, MTV, and Adidas.
Key Features of HireInfluence
- Comprehensive influencer marketing services,
- White-glove user-generated content (UGC) services,
- Web-based augmented reality (WebAR),
- Real-time, customizable analytics.
HireInfluence Pricing
Customized influencer marketing services.
Best For
Medium to large brands.
Pros of HireInfluence
- All-in-one solution for hassle-free influencer campaigns,
- Vast network of vetted influencers,
- Experienced team managing campaigns professionally.
Cons of HireInfluence
- High cost, which may not be affordable for smaller brands,
- Not ideal for low-budget or highly agile campaigns (e.g., local cafes).
6. Obviously
Another top food influencer marketing agency is Obviously, known for executing some of the largest influencer campaigns in the industry.
Headquartered in NYC with teams in San Francisco, Paris, and other cities, Obviously specializes in Fortune 500 clients and large-scale projects.
They’ve run thousands of campaigns and won awards like the Inc. 5000 and AdWeek’s Fastest Growing Agency. Some of their famous clients include Google, Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and Lyft.
Key Features of Obviously
- AI-powered platform,
- Large influencer network,
- End-to-end campaign management,
- Strong analytics.
Obviously Pricing
It offers custom pricing based on the campaign scope.
Best For
Mid-sized to large brands.
Pros of Obviously
- Extensive experience in large-scale influencer campaigns,
- Can activate hundreds of micro-influencers for nationwide campaigns,
- Large team with refined processes for smooth execution.
Cons of Obviously
- High costs with no upfront transparent pricing (requires a proposal),
- A large-scale focus can result in less personal attention for smaller campaigns.
7. The Influence Agency
The Influence Agency is one of the best food influencer marketing agencies specializing in performance-based campaigns.
Founded in Toronto in 2017, this Canadian influencer agency offers a comprehensive suite of services, including influencer marketing, social media management, content creation, SEO, paid media strategies, and brand photography.
They have worked with notable companies such as Cruuzy, Harbour Sixty, Napoleon, and Staples Canada.
Key Features of The Influence Agency
- Customized content creation,
- Extensive influencer network,
- Comprehensive campaign management,
- Strategic planning.
The Influence Agency Pricing
Custom pricing based on factors like influencer reach and engagement.
Best For
Mid-sized to large food brands.
Pros of The Influence Agency
- Diverse influencer partnerships,
- Full-service offerings,
- Industry recognition.
Cons of The Influence Agency
- Potential high costs,
- Variable pricing structure,
- Not ideal for small-scale campaigns.
8. Famesters
With over 8 years in influencer marketing, Famesters is a full-service influencer marketing agency specializing in creating and scaling effective ad campaigns through digital content creators.
The agency serves over 1,000 brands worldwide, offering a comprehensive range of services, including market analysis, campaign preparation, influencer selection, negotiation, and real-time performance monitoring.
Famesters has worked with many brands, including Opera, Yager, Netease, and FxPro.
Key Features of Famesters
- User-generated content (UGC) & influencer-generated content (IGC) for paid ads,
- Brand ambassadorship,
- Situational influencer marketing,
- Fraud protection.
Famesters Pricing
Custom with a minimum budget of $10,000.
Best For
Brands of all sizes.
Pros of Famesters
- Comprehensive services,
- Specialized expertise,
- Data-driven approach.
Cons of Famesters
- Potentially high costs,
- Limited public information and case studies.
9. Amra & Elma
Based in New York City and founded by sisters Amra and Elma Beganovich, Amra & Elma is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in influencer marketing.
The agency offers a range of services, including media buying, social media management, branding, content creation, public relations, and search engine optimization (SEO).
Amra & Elma have collaborated with many clients, including mid-sized brands and Fortune 500 companies like Nestle and Nicole Miller.
Key Features of Amra & Elma
- Campaign strategy development,
- Influencer identification and outreach (a database of over 800k influencers),
- Content creation oversight,
- Event coordination.
Amra & Elma Pricing
Their pricing structure includes:
- Minimum Project Size: $75,000,
- Average Hourly Rate: $300 or more.
Best For
Mid-sized to large brands.
Pros of Amra & Elma
- Diverse clients (both mid-sized brands and Fortune 500 companies),
- Featured by major media outlets such as Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and Marie Claire.
Cons of Amra & Elma
- High minimum investment,
- Not ideal for smaller clients.
10. The Goat Agency
Last but not least on the list of top food influencer marketing agencies is The Goat Agency, founded over 8 years ago and recognized as Europe’s fastest growing agency.
The agency has also run campaigns in the US and APAC regions.
They combine creative campaign ideation with a data-driven approach – Goat is known for using analytics to inform influencer selection and content strategy and even offers guaranteed results to some extent.
It has created successful campaigns for brands like M&M’s, Tesco, TRIP (a CBD beverage), and Zaxby’s (a restaurant chain).
Key Features of The Goat Agency
- Centralized campaigns and guaranteed results,
- Integrated paid media,
- Data-driven strategies,
- Global reach (over 70 countries and 28 languages).
The Goat Agency Pricing
Custom-based.
Best For
Medium to large brands.
Pros of The Goat Agency
- Awarded titles like The Drum’s Social Media Agency of the Year, proving its credibility,
- Creative + data-driven approach.
Cons of The Goat Agency
- Higher costs,
- Limited focus on niche campaigns.
What Are the Disadvantages of Food Influencer Marketing Agencies?
While the top agencies we explored offer something different for food brands, they have the following downsides:
- Expensive: High costs that may not fit smaller brands’ budgets,
- Rigid Contracts: Long-term commitments that limit flexibility,
- Overpromising: Some agencies fail to deliver the expected results,
- Less Control: Brands rely on the agency’s process rather than managing campaigns directly,
- Mixed Reviews: Some marketers even feel agencies don’t add enough value compared to DIY platforms.
That’s where a cost-effective solution with no long-term contracts steps in!
Ainfluencer: The Best Alternative to Traditional Food Influencer Marketing Agencies
Ainfluencer is an AI-powered influencer marketplace that is rapidly emerging as the go-to solution for brands – especially food and beverage brands – looking to scale influencer marketing without the typical agency overhead.
This platform connects brands with a vast network of influencers (+5M) on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube through a self-service platform.
In fact, instead of building a big team to search for and manage influencers, Ainfluencer does the heavy lifting for you. Its AI smart-matching system helps you find the perfect food influencers in no time.
Key Features of Ainfluencer
- 100% free to use for influencers and brands,
- A rich influencer list of over 5M vetted creators,
- Easy, smart influencer matching based on the type of content, audience, and engagement,
- Direct communication through a built-in chat inbox,
- Detailed influencer info, including their past work, audience details, and brands they’ve worked with,
- Detailed reports on key metrics like engagement rates, reach, and sales.
Ready to connect with top food influencers and run campaigns at no cost?
How to Choose Between Food Influencer Marketing Agencies and Platforms
With so many options—from traditional agencies to AI-driven platforms—how do you find the right fit for your food brand? Here are some key factors to consider:
- Budget: Agencies charge big fees ($10K+), while platforms like Ainfluencer let you spend directly on influencers, making smaller budgets go further.
- Brand Needs: Big brands may need agencies for large-scale campaigns. Smaller brands can manage micro-influencer marketing easily with DIY platforms.
- Influencer Type: Want celebrity chefs? Agencies have connections. Need lots of micro-influencers for UGC? AI platforms are more efficient.
- Campaign Goals: Agencies help with branding and creative direction. Platforms offer better control for sales-driven campaigns with real-time tracking.
- AI vs. Agencies: AI-powered platforms save time, cut costs, and offer transparency. Agencies provide strategy but at a higher price.
- Reviews Matter: Always check reviews on G2, Trustpilot, or Reddit before committing.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about the best influencer marketing agencies in food and beverage:
1. What Is the Best Food Influencer Marketing Agency for Small Brands?
Foodie Tribe is a great option for small to mid-sized food brands since it specializes in food & beverage marketing and offers hands-on creative support.
However, if you’re looking for the most budget-friendly solution (not an agency), Ainfluencer can offer a DIY, free marketplace to find influencers and run unlimited campaigns.
2. Which Agency Is Best for Large-Scale Food Influencer Campaigns?
Obviously and The Goat Agency are ideal for large-scale campaigns, as they have vast influencer networks, AI-powered platforms, and experience working with Fortune 500 brands.
3. What Are the Top Food Influencer Marketing Agencies in the USA?
Here’s the list of the best American food agencies in influencer marketing:
- The Shelf (New York),
- Foodie Tribe (Miami),
- CookIt Media (California),
- The Influencer Marketing Factory (IMF) (Miami & New York),
- HireInfluence (Houston & Los Angeles),
- Obviously (New York & San Francisco),
- Amra & Elma (New York).
Conclusion
Influencer marketing is certainly a game-changer for food brands. It helps them connect with audiences in a real and engaging way. But choosing the right approach matters.
Traditional agencies bring expertise but can be expensive. On the other hand, influencer marketing platforms give brands more control and flexibility—without the hefty price tag.
That’s where Ainfluencer shines! It combines the best of both worlds: an easy-to-use platform, a vast influencer network (+5M), and a budget-friendly, risk-free model.
So, if you want to grow your brand without breaking the bank, Ainfluencer makes it simple. You can find the right food influencers, set up campaigns in minutes, and only pay when you decide to work with someone. Whether you need a food blogger, a recipe creator, or a TikTok trendsetter, it’s all in one place.
