Mon 5th Dec 2022 - Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards 2023 finalists revealed Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards 2023 finalists revealed: Finalists have been announced for the fifth Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards, staged by Propel and Think Hospitality to recognise success in marketing and innovation in the foodservice sector. A panel consisting of 20 industry leaders and previous winners judged more than 150 entries at Inception Group’s Cahoots Ticket Hall in Soho. The finalists are Best Communications: Wahaca (with Carbon on the Menu at Wahaca); Revolución de Cuba and Fleet Street for (with Revolución de Cuba – Core Food Menu Launch); UKHospitality, Fleet Street and Fleishman Hilliard (with Saving Hospitality). Best Community or Charity Initiative: Brewhouse & Kitchen (with Brewhouse & Kitchen’s quick and unique support of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal); Fuller Smith & Turner (with Made in Hackney Burger); Crust Bros (with Crust Bros’ One Pizza = One Tree Planted); ASK Italian (with ASK Italian Horsham: a Blueprint for ASK with Community at its Heart); The Breakfast Club (with Good Day: The Breakfast Club Get-Togethers); Elite Bistros (with The Road to Reopening The White Horse in Churton). Best Digital Engagement: Arros QD (with It’s Not Just Rice); The Botanist – New World Trading Company (with The Botanist Digital Christmas Cracker); Mr Fogg’s – Inception Group (with Mr Dogg’s Campaign). Best New Product Development: Tipjar (with Supertronc by Tipjar); Island Poké (with Poké Bao); PizzaExpress (with Dough Ball menu innovation); PizzaExpress (with Pizza Wraps, new lunchtime menu innovation); Flaming Grill (with Jamaican Chicken – collaboration between Green King and Datties Soul Food Academy). Best New Website: Harts Group (with Harts Group); Hall and Woodhouse (with The Boathouse, Bath); Wadworth (with Wadworth/Wisetiger – 19 managed house pub websites). Best New/Improved Visual Identity: Brewhouse & Kitchen (with Brewhouse & Kitchen rebrand); Gusto Italian (with Gusto Italian); Korean Dinner Party (with Korean Dinner Party brand); The Alchemist (with Brand Evolution – Cosmic Era); Revolution Bars Group (with Founders & Co); Junkyard Golf Club (with Junkyard Golf Club rebrand); The Libertine (with The Libertine: Spirited Revelry in the City). Best Use of Technology: Dave & Buster’s and The Coca-Cola Company (with Dave & Buster’s and The Coca-Cola Company revolutionary Game & Go experience); Inamo Restaurants (new touch sensitive interactive tables for ordering and entertainment); The Chocolate Factory (with The Chocolate Factory); Slerp and Pavilion (with Slerp press pay); Duke Street Food & Drink Market (using Peazi); The Coca-Cola Company and Dave & Buster’s (with the first ever micro market inside a full service restaurant); Papa Johns (with NFT Hot Bags); Punch Pubs & Co (with pub insights portal and ranging tool); Vita Mojo (using tech to increase ATV by 20% and reduce kitchen labour by 25%). Campaign of the Year: Hospitality Rising (with Hospitality Rising – Rise Fast Work Young); Harts Group (with Borough Yards opening); Gusto Italian (with Gusto Italian – Valentine’s Day); Yard Sale Pizza (with Yard Sale Pizza and Amelia Dimoldenberg – Women’s Euro 2022); Papa John’s (with NFT Hot Bags); Boojum (with Fund Your Studies); Mr Fogg’s – Inception Group (with Mr Fogg’s Sea-Aged Libation); The Alchemist (with Enter The Extra); Cahoots – Inception Group (with Cahoots Wing Walkers Fuel); Boxpark (with #WomxnWhoPlay); BrewDog (with BrewDog Waterloo opening). Innovation of the Year: Dave & Buster’s and The Coca-Cola Company (with Dave & Buster’s and The Coca-Cola Company revolutionary Game & Go experience); Tipjar (with Supertronc by Tipjar); Gusto Italian (with Gusto Italian – Pizza Experience); Revolution Bars Group and Fleet Street (with Revolution Bars Group – Saving the World One Pornstar at a Time); Turtle Bay (with The Gleaner project for Black History Month). Innovator of the Year: Gary Usher (founder, Elite Bistros); Rebecca Bishop and Steve Magnall (Two Magpies Bakery); James Brown (managing director, BrewDog); Jamie Hazeel and Kamran Dehdashti (co-founders, The Little Door and Co); Kate Wall (strategy and innovation director, KFC). Marketer of the Year: Michelle Graham-Clare (chief marketing officer, McDonald’s); Amanda Royston (marketing director, Greene King); Vikki O’Neill (marketing director, Vapiano); Iwo Zakowski (global head of brand marketing, Burger King). Future Marketing Leader of the Year: Beatriz Pereira (digital marketing executive, Ibérica Restaurants and Arros QD); James Edwards (head of brand marketing, Honest Burgers); Siobhan Lloyd (marketing manager, 200 Degrees Coffee). The Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards take place on Wednesday, 25 January at Pergola On The Wharf, Canary Wharf. Tickets are £160 plus VAT per head and can be purchased by contacting Jo Charity at Propel on jo.charity@propelinfo.com