Ready, Set, Apply For 2019 Kitchen Innovations Awards

Applications are now being accepting for the National Restaurant Association’s 2019 Kitchen Innovations Awards.

The KI Awards program, marking its 15th anniversary, recognizes innovative, forward-thinking products that meaningfully improve back-of-house operations.

Recognized products will be featured in the popular KI Showroom at the 2019 show, May 18-21, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.  The space, revitalized in 2018, draws steady crowds with dedicated exhibit space for each KI-awarded product, open spaces for conversations, and conversations with experts sharing insights about implementing innovative equipment solutions.

Steve Maahs, president of Alto-Shaam, whose Vector F Series Multi-Cook Oven received a 2018 KI Award, says, “When you win this award, it’s really the recognition that there’s truly something innovative here for the industry and the operator.”

It’s a banner year to enter and gain additional industry exposure. Award recipients also will be part of the festivities celebrating the NRA’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show’s 100th anniversary.

“Without innovation [our industry] cannot go on,” says Francesco Marra, CEO of Marra Forni, a recipient of two 2018 KI Awards. “Translating ideas into innovation is the most important matter for an operator. When there is a problem, we need to solve it and we can always solve it with ideas, with a suggestion from the operator.”

More details on the program, a list of previous recipients, and application information for the 2019 KI Awards is available at Restaurant.org/Show/KI.

The deadline to apply is December 5. To be considered, all equipment and technology innovations must be introduced within the 24 months prior to the 2019 NRA Show.