The Restaurant Group, M&B and Spirit big winners at 2012 Menu Innovation Awards

The awards, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ‘outstanding talents of menu development managers and group executive chefs in the multi-unit and chain restaurant sectors of the foodservice industry’.

A team of mystery diners and judges, with experience of multi-unit menu operations, visited each venue nominated over the course of six weeks. The winners will have the opportunity to attend the Menu Innovation Network's five-day research and insight tour of Chicago in May.

Simon Xavier of The Restaurant Group – which placed second in the Restaurant magazine’s list of the 200 largest restaurant and food-led pub operators in the UK – was given the award for Best New Concept, while Paul Fitzpatrick of Spirit Pub Company took home the gong for Best Branded Pub Restaurant.

M&B, which scooped the best Branded Pub Restaurant award at last year’s event​, took home awards for City Pub Dining, Premium Pub Dining and Value Pub Restaurant.

The winners of the 2012 Menu Innovation and Development awards are: -​

Branded Pub Restaurant, sponsored by TSC Foods
Paul Fitzpatrick - Spirit Pub Company for Chef & Brewer​

Breakfast, sponsored by Delice de France
Alan Swinson - Macdonald Hotels​

Casual Dining, sponsored by Bord Bia
Tim Molema - Gourmet Burger Kitchen​

City Bar Dining, sponsored by Gressingham Foods
Kirsty Green - Mitchells & Butlers for All Bar One​

Coffee/Sandwich Shop, sponsored by Huhtamaki UK
Mark O'Mahoney - EAT​

Dessert, sponsored by Tate & Lyle Sugars
Mike Jeffery - Greene King for Locals Premium​

Fairtrade, sponsored by Peros
Val Carter - Aramark​

Instore Restaurant, sponsored by WCB Marketing
Catherine Robb - Arcadia Group​

Kids, sponsored by Birds Eye Foodservice
Jameson Robinson - JD Wetherspoon​

Mediterranean Casual Dining, sponsored by Bar Foods
Duncan McEwan - Tragus Group for Café Rouge​

Neighbourhood Pub, sponsored by McCain Foods
Nicola Arrow - Marston's Inns & Taverns​

New Concept, sponsored by Bernard Matthews
Simon Xavier - The Restaurant Group for Coast to Coast​

Premium Pub Dining, sponsored by EBLEX
Graham Hodgson - Mitchells & Butlers for Premium Country Dining​

Premium Staff Dining, sponsored by McCormick Foodservice
Nick Brookwell - Aramark​

QSR, sponsored by Mission Foods
Trevor Haynes - Subway​

Sport & Leisure, sponsored by Adams Foodservice
Gary Bates - Lindley Group​

Town & City Pub, sponsored by the Authentic Food Company
Michele Mawhinney - Stonegate Pub Company for Yates's​

Travel, sponsored by Manitowoc Foodservice
Rob Taylor - Virgin Rail​

Value Pub Restaurant, sponsored by Heinz Foodservice
Richard Gray - Mitchells & Butlers for Sizzling Pubs​

Workplace Catering Solution sponsored by Nestlé Professional
Adam Nossek - BaxterStorey​