Who are the companies, concepts and individuals that have made the biggest impact during this first year of the new Millennium? I have my views, and I will gladly share a few with you now, but it will not be me, or commentators like me, that will have the final say.
That privilege goes to the industry itself, including you as subscribers to M&C Report Online News, as you vote for this coming year's Retailers' Retailer of the Year Awards. It's the one chance for the sector as a whole to have its say.
In the Best Individual category past winners Tim Martin of Wetherspoons and Luminar's Steve Thomas continue to attract the headlines, as do others who have made the shortlist ofver the past two years. Punch's Hugh Osmond is still having a go at the industry's "old guard"; David Page continues to be bold at PizzaExpress , and Ted Tuppen shows the rest how to make leased and tenanted pubs work.
But there are a fair share of new names in the frame this year - Robert Breare for his audacious moves on Wolverhampton & Dudley, Taipan Taverns and Oriental Restaurants; John Conlan of Chorion for rolling-out his highly rated Tiger Tiger and for taking on Westminster council over licensing; Simon Woodroffe for a string of new Yo! Ideas; Tony Hill for a year of deal-making at SFI; Tony Hughes, reshaping Bass restaurants; or even his boss Tim Clarke, new at the helm of Bass plc.
Or there's Mike Smith for clearing out Rank, Christian Arden for the continuing success story at Po Na Na, or Robby Enthoven the man behind Nandos, one of the hottest eating-out concepts.
And what of the best Concepts?. Revolution, Gaucho Grill, Nando's, Ha! Ha!, Bar Med, Fish!, the new-look Chez Gerard, Café Parisa, Bierodrome, Wok Wok or Bass's Edwards all deserve a mention û as do long time favourites such as Pret a Manger, PizzaExpress, Ask, Yo! Sushi and Wagamama. And despite the fact that Scottish & Newcastle may not be flavour of the year with the City, the roll-out of Chef & Brewer has been one of the sector's real successes. This is probably the toughest category, and a winner could still come from outside these I've mentioned. It's up to you.
In the Newcomer category, contenders may be thinner on the ground than in previous years, but there is still plenty of originality. Those to ponder would likely include The Living Room, Strada from the Belgo Group, Loch Fyne and Sunny Side Up. Tootsies may be a well-established name in London's Werst End, but the new-look and roll-out under new owners might also qualily it for a final place. And at Whitbread, where a the restaurant division is again being shaken up, Brewsters has already emerged with a new twist for the family pub market.
When it comes to the Best Company award, the big guns will always be in the running - Granada Compass, the UK's biggest foodservice player taking brands worldwide; the ubiquitious McDonalds; JD Wetherspoon; Luminar; PizzaExpress; and among the old big brewers Bass has been the one to stand-out.
But there are others. At the end of the year Greene King stood tall, showing rivals how to be a success as a regional brewer. SFI continued its growth with a string of brand acquisitions; while Gioma started to impress on the market that it is already an established pan-European operator, with Gaucho Grills and Down Mexico Way operations in Holland and Switzerland as well as the UK.
Choosing the Best Venue and Best Design is always a more personal and subjective affair, so no advice here. But there is still plenty to ponder before you cast your votes.
To make it easy, you can now vote on-line, simply click here for your Voting Form
So don't delay - and remember your vote will be counted!
The process will culminate in the exclusive awards dinner at the Millennium Britannia Hotel in London 's Mayfair on February 8th, 2001. See you there.
That privilege goes to the industry itself, including you as subscribers to M&C Report Online News, as you vote for this coming year's Retailers' Retailer of the Year Awards. It's the one chance for the sector as a whole to have its say.
In the Best Individual category past winners Tim Martin of Wetherspoons and Luminar's Steve Thomas continue to attract the headlines, as do others who have made the shortlist ofver the past two years. Punch's Hugh Osmond is still having a go at the industry's "old guard"; David Page continues to be bold at PizzaExpress , and Ted Tuppen shows the rest how to make leased and tenanted pubs work.
But there are a fair share of new names in the frame this year - Robert Breare for his audacious moves on Wolverhampton & Dudley, Taipan Taverns and Oriental Restaurants; John Conlan of Chorion for rolling-out his highly rated Tiger Tiger and for taking on Westminster council over licensing; Simon Woodroffe for a string of new Yo! Ideas; Tony Hill for a year of deal-making at SFI; Tony Hughes, reshaping Bass restaurants; or even his boss Tim Clarke, new at the helm of Bass plc.
Or there's Mike Smith for clearing out Rank, Christian Arden for the continuing success story at Po Na Na, or Robby Enthoven the man behind Nandos, one of the hottest eating-out concepts.
And what of the best Concepts?. Revolution, Gaucho Grill, Nando's, Ha! Ha!, Bar Med, Fish!, the new-look Chez Gerard, Café Parisa, Bierodrome, Wok Wok or Bass's Edwards all deserve a mention û as do long time favourites such as Pret a Manger, PizzaExpress, Ask, Yo! Sushi and Wagamama. And despite the fact that Scottish & Newcastle may not be flavour of the year with the City, the roll-out of Chef & Brewer has been one of the sector's real successes. This is probably the toughest category, and a winner could still come from outside these I've mentioned. It's up to you.
In the Newcomer category, contenders may be thinner on the ground than in previous years, but there is still plenty of originality. Those to ponder would likely include The Living Room, Strada from the Belgo Group, Loch Fyne and Sunny Side Up. Tootsies may be a well-established name in London's Werst End, but the new-look and roll-out under new owners might also qualily it for a final place. And at Whitbread, where a the restaurant division is again being shaken up, Brewsters has already emerged with a new twist for the family pub market.
When it comes to the Best Company award, the big guns will always be in the running - Granada Compass, the UK's biggest foodservice player taking brands worldwide; the ubiquitious McDonalds; JD Wetherspoon; Luminar; PizzaExpress; and among the old big brewers Bass has been the one to stand-out.
But there are others. At the end of the year Greene King stood tall, showing rivals how to be a success as a regional brewer. SFI continued its growth with a string of brand acquisitions; while Gioma started to impress on the market that it is already an established pan-European operator, with Gaucho Grills and Down Mexico Way operations in Holland and Switzerland as well as the UK.
Choosing the Best Venue and Best Design is always a more personal and subjective affair, so no advice here. But there is still plenty to ponder before you cast your votes.
To make it easy, you can now vote on-line, simply click here for your Voting Form
So don't delay - and remember your vote will be counted!
The process will culminate in the exclusive awards dinner at the Millennium Britannia Hotel in London 's Mayfair on February 8th, 2001. See you there.
