MIDAS 2026 WINNERS
Special achievement
Kevin Steppe (right) from Stonegate
with Alexandra Mizen-Jenkins from Unilever Food Solutions
head of food
Antony Bennett (right) from Fuller’s
with Martin Youds from Rational
Inspirational culinary lead
Kevin Woodyet (right) from Marston’s
with Nicola Mills from Billington Foods
BEST BURGER
Mollie Sparks (left) and Ben Geen (right) from Loungers with Natasha Bailey from SALOMON FoodWorld®
BRANDED MENU ITEM
Daryn Legget (right) from German Doner Kebab
with Zeke Mellor from Hain Celestial
BRANDED PUB/RESTAURANT
Alex Scott (right) from Greene King (Chef & Brewer)
with Chris Joynson from Arla Pro.
Café Concept
Amelia Jonas (left) and Stephanie McCaffrey (centre) from BP Wild Bean Cafe with Dan Head from Love Struck
CARVERY / SUNDAY CONCEPT
Graham Hodgson from Mitchells & Butlers (Toby Carvery) with Ronnie Smith from Oakfield Foods
CASUAL DINING
Dan Phillips (left) and Eliza Hall (centre) from Nando’s with Colin Rhead from Givaudan
CONTRACT CATERER
Richard Learmount, Lucy Wheelton, Lauren Haslewood and Stuart Bowman from Sodexo with Nik Jones (centre) from Pukka
DESSERT
Elizabeth Walker (centre) and Garry Jackson (right) from Boparan - Carluccio's with David McKown from Skills For Chefs
EMERGING BRAnd
Ben Richardson-Hughes (left) from Greene King (Farmhouse Kitchen) with Connor Mills from The Bread Factory and host Nigel Barden
EMERGING CHEF
Robert Hennessey (right) from Greene King with Rob Hamilton from Essential Cuisine
FAMILY DINING
Karl Watts (left) from Star Pubs with Nick Marsh from The Canine Menu
Gluten free experience
Katy Pigg (right) from ASK Italian with Steve Cookson from Schär Foodservice
hot breakfast
Mervyn Desir (right) from Whitbread (Bar + Block) with Jordan Kenyon from Cranswick
HOTEL MENU
Florence Cornish (right) from Hilton Hotels with Gerard O’Mahony from The FoodFellas
INNOVATION
Rusty Warren (left) from Subway with Oliver Addis from Natural Innovations
kid’s menu
Ambarish Sarkar (right) from The Restaurant Group (Sonoma) with Chris Joseph from Birds Eye Foodservice
leisure & travel
Zoe Hayward (second left) and Ben Cole (right) from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines with Jono Ranson from Dr. Oetker Professional
LTO / NEW MENU ITEM
Nigel Barden (left) accepting on behalf of Tim Horton's with Gina Valconi from Vestey Foods
neighbourhood pub
Christian Radu (left) from Mitchells & Butlers (Stonehouse) with James Devine from McCain
Nutritious menu creation
Karl Thompson (right) and Jamie Henderson (left) from Wagamama with Nicki Grennan from Bespoke Menu Partners
PIE MENU
Jamie Stone (left) and Ben Morgan (right) from Fuller’s with Tom Harb-Little from Little & Cull / Tom’s Pies
premium brand
Matt Lee (left) from Mitchells & Butlers (EGO)
with Karina Sprigg from Macphie
STARTERS & APPETISERS
Carl Newey (right) from Stonegate (The Chapter Collection) with Steven Galloway from What’s Cooking?
VALUE PUB
Chris Newman (right) from Marston's (Local Pubs)
with Lawrence Ager from Kraft Heinz
qsr
Dave Hoskins (right) from Popeyes with Kate Alexander from Nestlé Professional
Street food inspiration
Jamie Gibbs (right) from Elior UK with Alison Greene from McCormick
VEGetarian / vegan
Chan Khan (centre) and Isabel Blake (right) from Starbucks with Kelly Worthy from QuornPro
seasonal / event menu
Tim Adams (right) from Liverpool Football Club
with Michael Juska from The Sausage Man
SUSTAINABILITY
Esme Parker, Simeng Liu and Dedeepya Jerripothula from Shake Shack UK with James Brady-Jones from Flora Food Group
world flavours
Seamus O’Donnell (right) and Tom Rowley (centre) from The Alchemist with Martin Walker from Paulig Pro
Congratulations to all our 2026 winners! See you on our Toronto Insight Tour in May.