Trends

Keeping the foodservice equipment marketplace up to date with the latest menu and concept trends.

Advertisement

2014 Operator Innovation Award Winners Announced by the National Restaurant Association.

UCSF Medical Center Named Innovator of the Year by the National Restaurant Association.

The National Restaurant Association announced the winners of the third annual Operator Innovation Awards. In addition to winning the Health & Nutrition category, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center was named Innovator of the Year for its Smart Choice Smart U program.

The UCSF's digital-based wellness plan utilizes online platforms, mobile applications and digital signage to provide real-time nutritional information on the center's food outlets, which can be balanced with a personal activity component driven by partnerships with MyFitnessPal and Fitbit.

Selected by an independent panel of expert judges, the winners were recognized for their achievements in driving advancement in the foodservice industry. "The winners of these initiatives are at the forefront of innovation and ingenuity in the foodservice industry. These programs succeed in pushing boundaries and exploring alternative ways of operating while creating a synergy between business and creativity," said Sam Facchini, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2014 and co-founder and co-owner of Metro Pizza.
The remaining 2014 Operator Innovations Awards winners are:

Menu Development: UNC Healthcare's Restaurant Delivery Program
Marketing: Orange County Public Schools' OCPS Truck of the Month (T.O.M.)
Sustainability: Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts' GreenPath
Technology: Dickie Brennan's Restaurants' RAIL Payment Platform