Winsight Announces Leaders in Foodservice Awards
By CSP Staff on Jun. 23, 2017DALLAS -- Four retailers and restaurateurs were honored during Winsight’s FARE Conference in Dallas today through its annual Leaders in Foodservice Awards.
The Leaders in Foodservice Awards are a celebration of the most progressive foodservice leaders in the industry. The eighth annual awards recognize those companies that exemplify the evolution and potential of foodservice in their respective channels.
This year's Leaders in Foodservice Awards go to QuikTrip, Domino’s, Another Broken Egg Cafe and Microsoft.
“If there’s a theme among this year’s winners, it’s leading innovation,” said Abbie Westra, group director for Winsight’s retail division, who worked with the FARE Advisory Council and the editorial teams of Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, CSP and Convenience Store Products to select the companies to be recognized. “Each of the brands has made it a priority to feed the evolving demands of their consumers, offering unique menus, operating platforms and experiences.”
Here’s a look at each winner …
Limited-service restaurant: Domino’s
Representing the limited-service restaurant channel, Domino’s is dodging the sales slowdown that has been hamstringing other restaurant operations, posting a 10.2% domestic same-store sales gain for the first quarter of 2017, following a 12.2% increase in the fourth quarter of 2016. Since the chain famously dissed its pizza in commercials promoting revamped pies, it has been upgrading everything from ordering technology to staff training to store design. This year, Domino’s jumped onto the ranking of the Top 10 chain restaurants by U.S. systemwide sales, according to Winsight research arm Technomic, and it shows no signs of slowing.
Dominos - H.264 from Winsight, LLC on Vimeo.
Full-service restaurant: Another Broken Egg Cafe
When Ron Green opened Another Broken Egg Cafe in 1996, his vision was to create a more upscale concept with a foodie-driven menu. The chain, winner in the full-service restaurant category, now has about 60 locations, most of them franchised, and increased sales by 17% in 2016. This breakfast-and-lunch chain leans on its cozy French country ambiance, upscale breakfast and brunch dishes and $12 average check to set it apart. The menu balances indulgent items with healthier ones and offers cocktails, including a bloody mary and mimosa.
Another Broken Egg - H.264 from Winsight, LLC on Vimeo.
Convenience store: QuikTrip
QuikTrip, this year’s winner in the convenience-store channel, has only been doing fresh food for about a decade, but the c-store chain is seen as an industry leader. Its focus is on consistently providing clean, well-maintained locations, outstanding customer service and quality gasoline. The Tulsa, Okla.-based chain has invested millions of dollars creating its own food commissary, hiring recipe specialists, and launching a fresh food and gourmet coffee program. Last year, it captured an estimated $430 million in foodservice sales.
Noncommercial: Microsoft Global Dining Services
With the resources of one of the nation’s most prominent tech companies behind it, how does Microsoft Global Dining Services harness all that power? The answer: by providing diners transparency about where their food comes from and how it’s taken care of, such as a “misfit produce” program that endorses imperfect produce and hydroponic towers that grow lettuce and microgreens on-site. With an estimated $110 million in revenue, Microsoft is the largest business-and-industry foodservice provider in the country. Microsoft earns its Leaders in Foodservice Award in the noncommercial category.
A representative from each winning company will participate in a panel discussion during the FARE Conference’s closing general session, where they will share the challenges and opportunities of their respective channels, along with their interpretations of some of the hottest foodservice trends. The conference will also present a special video showcasing the operations’ strengths, struggles and visions for the future. The panel discussion on Wednesday, June 28, is sponsored by Tyson Foodservice Teams.
Microsoft - H.264 from Winsight, LLC on Vimeo.