62nd Gold & Silver Plate awards to celebrate world-Class foodservice leaders
Chicago -- The National Restaurant Association today announced a partnership with the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and their upcoming 62nd Gold & Silver Plate Awards event on Saturday, May 21 at Revel Fulton Market at 6:30pm. As part of the annual event ceremony, which takes place during the week of the NRA Show, operators from all segments of the industry will be recognized for excellence by their partner supplier members of IFMA and their operator peer members of NRA.
This marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two organizations, kicking off with this collaboration in 2016 and extending into the addition of the NRA “Legends” Award, which will be inaugurated in 2017.
“The Gold and Silver Plate Awards Event is a signature event during NRA Show week,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “By bringing these prestigious awards into the fold of NRA Show week and partnering with the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, we solidify the commitment to excellence in foodservice operations across both Associations.”
“I am delighted by this partnership between our two prestigious foodservice associations, both of which are dedicated to celebrating excellence in the foodservice community,” said Larry Oberkfell, President and CEO of IFMA. “The combined recognition of industry greats by our two groups will bring enhanced prestige to the 62-year old event and program, and further solidify it as a cornerstone of NRA Show week in Chicago.”
The Gold & Silver Plate Awards
Considered the industry's most prestigious honors since its creation in 1954, the Gold & Silver Plate Awards celebrate operators in the following nine categories:
- Independent Restaurants/Multi-Concept
- Chain Full Service/Multi-Concept
- Chain Limited Service
- Business and Industry/Foodservice Management
- Health Care
- Elementary and Secondary Schools
- Colleges and Universities
- Specialty Foodservice
- Hotels and Lodging
One category winner receives the IFMA Gold Plate Award.
A distinguished jury, including national trade press editors, foodservice experts, past award winners and the chairperson of the International Gold & Silver Plate Society, weigh the merits of hundreds of candidates nominated by IFMA Members. The jury's secret ballot is kept confidential until the Gold & Silver Plate Celebration. A sample of criteria used in deciding the winners for the Silver Plate Awards, as well as Gold Plate Award, includes:
- Years in foodservice operation management;
- Hands-on experience/knowledge;
- Commitment to foodservice as a lifetime career;
- Demonstration of outstanding leadership and innovation, and more.
The NRA Legends Award
Beginning in 2017, the National Restaurant Association “Legends” Award will honor an individual who has left an indelible and unique mark on the foodservice industry and on society.
The Gold & Silver Plate Awards Event
The celebration features a welcome reception, live music, gourmet meal, and exciting after-party. Attendees include leaders from every operator segment, manufacturers, and industry partners, along with industry legends, including members of the Gold and Silver Plate Society.
Silver Plate winners have been announced and can be reviewed here. For more information, please visit the NRA Show’s website or show.restaurant.org or IFMA’s website.
For tickets to the event, please visit IFMA’s web site.
About The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®
The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® is the largest annual gathering of restaurant, foodservice, and lodging professionals in the world. NRA Show® 2016 will be held May 21-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the 2016 BAR at NRA Show Event, held in conjunction with NRA Show, will take place May 22-23. The events attract 66,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcase the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues, and growth opportunities. For more information, visit the NRA Show and BAR websites at Restaurant.org/Show and Restaurant.org/BAR and find the NRA Show on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Instagram @NRAShow, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest and our year-round content hub Brainfeed.
About International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA)
IFMA is the leading trade association comprised of the world's most prestigious food, equipment and supply manufacturers in the $600 billion foodservice industry, as well as related marketing service organizations, trade publications, distributors and brokers. IFMA's Vision is to provide our member community and industry partners the opportunity to enhance the consumer's enjoyment of the foodservice choice. For more information, visit ifmaworld.com. Follow IFMA on Twitter: @IFMAWORLD or join our group on LinkedIn.
About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.5 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find @WeRRestaurants on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.