Top 20 Food & Drink from Chicago on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth
Total Food & Drink Influencers in Chicago, United States of America
1,297
Expected Reach
13.1M
Total Followers
59.5M
Avg Engagement
3.60%
Audience Analysis
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Top Countries
Top Languages
Top Cities
Top 20 Creators
About This Instagram Influencer Ranking
Discover the most influential creators in Chicago with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Food & Drink content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2025.
Key Insights & Metrics
- Combined Reach: 13.1M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
- Total Audience: 59.5M followers collectively following these creators
- Average Engagement Rate: 3.60% - above industry average
- Market Coverage: 1,297 total influencers analyzed in this category
Audience Demographics & Reach
The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:
- Top Markets: United States of America, United Kingdom, Brazil
- Gender Distribution: 66% Female, 34% Male
- Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (41.1% of audience)
- Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Why This Ranking Matters
For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:
- Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
- Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
- Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
- Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
- Analyzing competitive landscape in Food & Drink niche
For content creators, these insights help with:
- Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
- Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
- Network building and collaboration opportunities
- Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance
Methodology & Data Freshness
Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:
- Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
- Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
- Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
- Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
- Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance
Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through September 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in Chicago on Instagram?
Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) is, as of September 2025, the fastest‑growing Food & Drink creator in Chicago on Instagram, with +9.5% monthly growth (+87.9K followers).
How many followers did Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) gain last month?
Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) gained about 87.9K followers last month (+9.5%).
Who grew more: Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) or Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen)?
Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) grew more than Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) (87.9K vs 41.1K).
How is Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) performing right now?
Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) is growing at +28.8% (+41.1K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.2 and average engagement of N/A.
How is Emilia (@ayeisemi) performing right now?
Emilia (@ayeisemi) is growing at +12.9% (+35.7K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.2 and average engagement of 0.00%.
How is Darren Cooper | Home Chef (@cookingwithmrcooper) performing right now?
Darren Cooper | Home Chef (@cookingwithmrcooper) is growing at +4.0% (+25.1K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.9 and average engagement of N/A.
How is Miketoks (@miketoks) performing right now?
Miketoks (@miketoks) is growing at +0.9% (+24.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.3 and average engagement of 1.07%.
Who had the higher percentage growth: Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) or Emilia (@ayeisemi)?
Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) leads (28.8% vs Emilia (@ayeisemi) 12.9%).
What is the absolute follower gain of Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos)?
Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) gained about 87.9K followers last month (+9.5%).
What is the absolute follower gain of Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen)?
Grace Fahey (@betterbakeskitchen) gained about 41.1K followers last month (+28.8%).
What is the absolute follower gain of Emilia (@ayeisemi)?
Emilia (@ayeisemi) gained about 35.7K followers last month (+12.9%).
What is the absolute follower gain of Darren Cooper | Home Chef (@cookingwithmrcooper)?
Darren Cooper | Home Chef (@cookingwithmrcooper) gained about 25.1K followers last month (+4.0%).
What is the absolute follower gain of Miketoks (@miketoks)?
Miketoks (@miketoks) gained about 24.8K followers last month (+0.9%).
Is Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) still a relevant creator?
Yes — Athinagoras Kostakos (@athinagoraskostakos) has a Profile Score of 8.2, average engagement of 4.63%, and +9.5% (+87.9K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.
What is a good engagement rate for Food & Drink in United States of America?
The average engagement rate for this category is 3.60%. Generally, rates above 4.3% are considered excellent, while rates above 2.9% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.
How is the Profile Score calculated?
The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.
Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?
Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.
What does monthly growth percentage mean?
Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.
Why should I track influencers in Chicago?
Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.
How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?
Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.
Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.