MCA is delighted to reveal the finalists of this year’s Retailers’ Retailer Awards, with twelve hotly contested categories now open for voting.

While moving into a post-pandemic period, 2022 was nonetheless an extremely tough year for businesses, with new challenges around inflation, energy costs and cost of living coming sharply into focus.

Despite this there was plenty of innovation, and we saw a return to some major M&A deal-making, the expansion of international brands and the continued growth of experiential concepts.

As such, our evolved categories reflect the emergence of experiential as a category of its own – including trailblazers such as Flight Club alongside party palace providers Albert’s Schloss. Also in the running for this new category are Big Fang Collective, Electric Shuffle, and pub pioneers Laine Pub Company.

We also celebrate the continued influence of international brands who still see the UK is the best and most dynamic market to be in. Making the shortlist for this category are Wingstop, Marugame Udon, Popeyes, Wendy’s, Tim Hortons and Big Mamma Group.

To reflect the breadth of talent in the sector, this year restaurants and pubs and bars have their own category. Leading nominations for the Pub/Bar Award are big beasts such as Fuller’s, Greene King and TRG’s Brunning & Price, alongside more nimble bar operators The Alchemist and Inception Group.

The Restaurant category shows a similar diversity, with Nando’s and Loungers in the running against Dishoom, Hawksmoor, JKS Restaurants and Caravan.

And to reflect what has become a crucial strategy for many, we have introduced the Best Omnichannel Brand category, to recognise how businesses are diversifying and adapting in challenging conditions. Leading the nominations for this category are Leon, Pret A Manger, PizzaExpress, Itsu and Boparan Restaurant Group.

Elsewhere, Albert’s Schloss and The Ivy are finalists for Best Concept alongside Loungers, Dishoom and Pizza Pilgrims.

Inception Group’s Control Room B, Alberts Schloss Birmingham and Arcade Food Theatre (JKS) lead the charge in Best Opening against BrewDog Waterloo, Tattu London and Dishoom Canary Wharf.

And Popeyes and Marugame Udon go head to head in Emerging Concept, alongside Casa do Frango, Blacklock and Bundobust.

In finance, Deal of the Year finalists include Hickory’s purchase by Greene King; Revolution Bars Group buying Peach Pub Company; The Inn Collection Group acquisition by the Harris Family Trusts with Kings Park Capital; Burger King UK snapping up Karali Group; The Restaurant Group buying Barburrito; and Brasserie Bar Co’s sale to Alchemy Partners.

And to stimulate some internal rivalry, Retailers’ Retailer of the Year sees Loungers CEO Nick Collins and chairman Alex Reilley go head to head for the top gong, alongside Red Engine, Caravan and Turtle Bay chair Jane O’Riordan, Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie, Fuller’s CEO Simon Emeny, and Mission Mars CEO Roy Ellis.