Established in 1978 as the Association of Cooking Schools (ACS), the organization became the International Association of Cooking Schools (IACS) in 1981. By 1987, it had broadened its scope to include international members and adopted the name International Association of Cooking Professionals. A merger in 1990 with the Food Marketing Communicators led to its current name, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). The IACP is a non-profit association based in the United States, bringing together professionals involved in culinary education, communication, and food and beverage preparation.

Over the years, the IACP has sponsored numerous conferences across various cities in the United States. The organization also presents prestigious awards to recognize outstanding achievements in cookbook writing and culinary journalism, including honors named after Julia Child and Jane Grigson. These awards are highly regarded within the culinary world, with recipients frequently featured in major publications. The IACP has seen leadership changes, with notable figures like Martha Holmberg and Tanya Steel serving as chief executive officer in recent years.