Welcome to the 2016 FEJ Power List — our annual celebration of the movers and shakers in the UK foodservice industry. This year’s list, which is supported by headline partner C&C Catering Equipment, pinpoints 40 individuals from the operator side of the market who have made their mark this year. From the chief executives and…
FEJ POWER LIST 2016: Business Leaders
The ‘Business Leaders’ category pays tribute to the figureheads piloting some of the most prominent brands in the UK foodservice sector. The decisions they make, the investments they sanction and the projects they green-light all start off a chain of events that leads to the way thousands of restaurants — and kitchens — perform and…
FEJ POWER LIST 2016: Chain Champions
The ‘Chain Champions’ category highlights the key management and operational chiefs leading some of the most exciting and forward-thinking foodservice chains in the market today. All are responsible for growing the footprint of their brands, but they also realise that standing out in the market place requires the courage to evolve, adapt and execute new…
FEJ POWER LIST 2016: Kitchen Innovators
The ‘Kitchen Innovators’ category recognises the individuals for whom the kitchen is their life. From the development chef to the group executive chef, these culinary masters are integral to food strategy, menu development, kitchen design and catering equipment specification. You might not find them in a suit and tie, but their work has the ability…
FEJ POWER LIST 2016: Market Movers
The ‘Market Movers’ category honours a selection of the individuals and operators that are making their mark in the industry. Some of these stand-out performers are established chains that have demonstrated how a clear focus on kitchen investment can deliver impressive results, while others are budding stars with a bright future in the UK foodservice…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Clive Schlee, Chief Executive Officer, Pret A Manger
This year Pret will open at least 32 stores in the UK and possibly a dozen more overseas. It will be a record roll-out programme for the chain and, coming off the back of the 36 stores it launched globally last year, supports a strategy to increase the size of its estate by around 10%…
POWER LIST 2016, MARKET MOVERS: Matt Davies, Group Executive Chef, The Lewis Partnership
Matt Davies became the new chairman of the British Culinary Federation (BCF) this year and he remains fully focused on strengthening ties with the catering industry. The organisation has achieved a huge amount over the last decade, which Matt aims to build on. “The BCF is well-established with a strong foundation, a very successful Youth…
POWER LIST 2016, CHAIN CHAMPIONS: Keith Bird, Chief Operating Officer, Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK)
As an operations executive, you want to be working for a brand that is constantly looking to expand and evolve itself, and that’s certainly the case for Keith Bird. It’s been a momentous year for Gourmet Burger Kitchen as it has pushed on with site growth to edge past the 70-store mark and taken back…
POWER LIST 2016, KITCHEN INNOVATORS: Luke Davies, Food Strategy & Implementation Manager, Star Pubs & Bars
Star Pubs & Bars, the leased pub business of Heineken, is among the biggest investors in equipment right now thanks to a finely-tuned strategy created to help licensees develop their culinary offering. Food strategy and implementation manager, Luke Davies, is the man behind the plan and he has created a series of practical support tools…
POWER LIST 2016, BUSINESS LEADERS: Simon Townsend, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Inns
With some 5,000 pubs across England and Wales, Enterprise Inns is a true heavyweight outfit whose purpose is to use its scale and expertise to help great pubs prosper at the heart of local communities. The leased and tenanted business of Enterprise Inns continues to make good progress under the careful stewardship of Simon Townsend,…
