Ten hotly contested categories are revealed for the prestigious celebration, previously known as the Retailers’ Retailer Awards. Choose your top concepts, leaders and openings here
MCA is delighted to reveal the shortlist for the 2024 edition of the MCA Hospitality Awards.
Ten hotly contested categories go to the vote today, as the leading lights of the sector compete for victory at the peer-recognised awards.
The new name for the Retailers’ Retailer Awards, the awards return to their regular home The Guildhall for their 25th anniversary, on 14 March.
An additional three categories - Rising Star, Sustainability, and Diversity Leadership - will be judged be a special expert panel, with the shortlist for those categories to be announced tomorrow.
Loungers’ retro roadside concept Brightside is up for Emerging Concept, alongside Various Eateries’ premium Italian restaurant Noci and Adam Breeden’s F1 Arcade. Experiential concept NQ64, premium bakery offering Buns from Home, Scotland-founded Pizza Punks and upscale egg sandwich concept Yolk make up the shortlist.
Loungers’ Brightside also makes the running for Best New Opening for its debut near Exeter, alongside Arcade Food Hall Battersea; Masala Zone Piccadilly; The Devonshire, Soho; Wolseley Hospitality Group’s Manzi’s in Soho; Richard Caring’s Sexy Fish, Manchester; and Rare Restaurants’ Gaucho, Liverpool.
In Pubs and Bars, heritage, innovation, accessibility and luxury combine with a shortlist that includes Fuller’s, Heartwood Collection (formerly Brasserie Bar Co), Inception Group, Urban Pubs & Bars, Incipio, Inn Collection Group and Loungers.
In the hotly contested Best Restaurant Company, some of the big beasts of casual dining battle it out with smaller, critically acclaimed concepts. Caravan, Dishoom, Hawksmoor, Pizza Pilgrims and Big Mamma Group go head-to-head with Nando’s and Wagamama.
New for 2024, Best Coffee Shop/Cafe Group recognises the remarkably resilient and innovative segment, which sees regional and fast-growing speciality groups go head-to-head with more established high street brands. Nottingham-founded 200 Degrees is up against US import Blank Street Coffee, premium bakery brand Gail’s; upscale concept WatchHouse; mainstay Caffe Nero; disruptor Black Sheep; hot chocolate specialist Knoops; and coffee subscription pioneer Pret.
Leader of the Year looks to recognise not only the leaders of successful operators, but individuals who have used their profile to make a difference and be a strong advocate for their sector. This category sees outgoing Stonegate chairman and founder Ian Payne go up against Simon Emeny of Fullers; Paula Mackenzie of Pizza Express; Nick MacKenzie of Greene King; Sarah Willingham of Nightcap and Alasdair Murdoch of Burger King UK.
Another new category for 2024, which was increasingly relevant given the impressive success of quick-service versus the more challenged casual dining, is Best QSR Company. A highly competitive category, this sees US imports Popeyes, Five Guys, Burger King and Wingstop go up against German Doner Kebab, LEON, Greggs and itsu.
In a year that saw dealmaking and investment activity tentatively return to the sector, there is plenty to choose from in Deal of the Year. Leading the charge is Apollo’s acquisition of The Restaurant Group, alongside Big Table Group’s purchase of TRG’s Leisure estate; the Toridoll/Capdesia acquisition of Fulham Shore; McWin’s acquisition of Big Mamma Group; Young’s purchase of City Pub Group; TriSpan’s investment into Mowgli; and Calveton and Breal Capital’s purchase of D&D London.
In Best Concept, the category looks at the standout brands that provide excellence and challenge the status quo. This sees Mission Mars’ Alberts Schloss go up against Lounge from Loungers, Dishoom, Incipio Group, The Ivy, Turtle Bay and Arcade Food Halls.
Finally, Best Omnichannel Brand explores the companies that are innovating and diversifying into new sales channels. Shortlisted for this category is itsu for its sector-leading grocery business; PizzaExpress for its revamped supermarket pizza range and loyalty app; Snowfox for its continued rollout of sushi kiosks in supermarkets; Nando’s for the enduring strength of its branded sauce range; LEON for its impactful retail innovation and travel hub growth; Greggs for its aggressive expansion across multiple channels; and Pret for its ongoing repositioning outside of its core city heartland and evolution of its Club Pret app.
There has been so much resilience, excellence and innovation in our sector over the past year, and these ten categories await your vote, with winners to be announced at the gala dinner at the Guildhall on March 14th. Please vote here
