CGA has just announced the winners of the 2017 Hero Awards, the leading annual prizes for outstanding operators and individuals in the out-of-home eating and drinking sector.
The winners received their Awards at a dinner last night, following CGA’s 2017 Peach 2020 Conference in London. Joining this 14-strong group of winners are three celebrated individuals: Wahaca’s Thomasina Miers and Casual Dining Group’s Steve Richards, who both received prestigious Industry Icon Awards; and Imbiba’s John Connell, who received the Special Award.
Multiple winners at CGA’s Hero Awards include Living Ventures, whose CEO Jeremy Roberts is honoured with the Industry Leader Award, while its bar and restaurant brand The Alchemist picks up the Award for Best Drinks Offer. The New World Trading Co, sold by Living Ventures to Graphite Capital in 2016, receives the Best Entrepreneurial Company Award.
Another double winner at the Awards is Wagamama, which takes home the Awards for both Best Company (50 sites plus) and Most Admired Company or Brand following a year of sustained sales growth and new openings.
Other well-established operators scooping prizes include Power Brand Award winner Nando’s, Brand XP Award winner Wahaca and Consumer Choice Award winner Côte. Winner of the Best Quality Award is Miller & Carter, while Pho receives the Evolutionary Brand Award.
Among newer brands, Dishoom is named Best Concept and Flat Iron takes the Breakthrough Brand Award. Two new City-based concepts complete the list of winners: crazy golf bar venture Swingers, named Newcomer of the Year; and restaurant, hotel and club operation The Ned, which receives the Best Destination Opening Award.
CGA vice president Peter Martin said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the success of so many outstanding brands and individuals at this year’s CGA Hero Awards. These winners are the best-in-class champions of our industry, and we can all take inspiration from their achievements.
'With food, property and people costs all rising and Brexit looming, 2017 has not been an easy year for operators, but these winners highlight the incredible innovation, diversity and success of our sector and its enormous contribution to the UK economy. We salute them all.”
The full list of winners:
Best Quality Brand Presented by Casual Dining MILLER & CARTER
Best Drinks Offer Presented by Diageo THE ALCHEMIST
Brand XP Award Presented by HGEM WAHACA
Consumer Choice Presented by Coca-Cola European Partners CÔTE
Best Newcomer Presented by CPL Online SWINGERS
Breakthrough Brand Presented by Bookatable by Michelin FLAT IRON
Evolutionary Brand Presented by Reynolds PHO
Best Destination Opening Presented by Asahi THE NED, LONDON
Best Concept Presented by WE ARE Spectacular DISHOOM
Most Admired Company or Brand Presented by Fourth WAGAMAMA
Best Entrepreneurial Company (sub 50 sites) Presented by RSM THE NEW WORLD TRADING CO
Best Company (50 sites plus) Presented by Zonal WAGAMAMA
Power Brand Presented by NatWest NANDO’S
Industry Leader Presented by Coffer Corporate Leisure JEREMY ROBERTS, LIVING VENTURES
CGA’s Hero & Icon Awards and 2020 Conference are supported by platinum partners Asahi, Bookatable by Michelin, Coca-Cola European Partners, Coffer Corporate Leisure, CPL Online, Diageo, Flyt, Fourth, HGEM, NatWest, WE ARE Spectacular and Zonal; and by network partners Casual Dining, Chapman Ventilation, Fishbowl, Reynolds, RSM, Steelite International and Yumpingo.