Kharkiv State University Food Technology and Trade conducts the prehistory of the Higher Commercial School behalf of Emperor Alexander III.
In 1890-93 it was built the commercial college by the project of architect Beketov A.I. The initiator of the Kharkiv commercial college were merchants. College supervised Guardian Council, which had stock reputable merchants Kharkov and honorable citizens.

Higher commercial School named after Emperor Alexander III had several Subdivision (faculties): economic and commercial, banking and insurance, Subdivision local economy, the industrial division.

In December 1911 the small provincial assembly met the request of the Kharkov merchant community about the establishment of a commercial college Kharkiv Institute. However, it was created only at the beginning of 1916 / 1917 school year and lasted until mid-1918.

Kharkiv Commercial College, 1898
st. German (now Metro)

In 1929 Kharkov Institute of Soviet Trade of Higher Education qualification was opened for a system of trade and catering.

World War II was temporarily suspended the activities of the institute. After the war in Kharkov was opened The Institute of Soviet Trade, which in 1959 was transferred to Donetsk. In Kharkiv remained Evening-Correspondence School Donetsk Institute of Soviet Trade till July 1, 1967 and then was established the Kharkov institute of Catering.

Kharkov Institute of Catering undertook the training of 5 specialties:
"Technology and organization of catering," "Economy of Trade," "Accounting", "Commodity and trade of industrial products", "Commodity and trade in food products.

Kharkov Institute of Soviet Trade, 1929
Pl. Tevelev (now Square. Constitution)