Sector leaders honoured at CGA’s 2017 Peach Hero & Icon Awards
Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers and Casual Dining Group CEO Steve Richards have been honoured with the title of Industry Icons at CGA’s prestigious annual Hero & Icon Awards.
Miers is recognised for her achievements in establishing and growing Mexican brand Wahaca. Having risen to fame by winning BBC’s Masterchef show in 2005, Miers co-founded Wahaca with Mark Selby, bringing Mexican street and market food to the UK in an innovative, authentic and sustainable way. Ten years on from launching, Wahaca now has 25 restaurants around the UK.
Presenting her with the Icon Awards, CGA vice president Peter Martin said: “Tommi Miers’ gift has not only been to bring new, exciting flavours to eating out, but to span that gap between the world of food writers and the tough business of mainstream casual dining. She’s entrepreneurial, inspirational and always busy—a woman who has followed her passion.”
Steve Richards has spent more than 25 years in leisure and hospitality since beginning his career at Allied Domecq. He held board responsibility for some 1,000 pubs at Spirit Group before its sale to Punch Taverns in 2007, and has subsequently steered growth at late-night operator Novus Leisure and Casual Dining Group, where as CEO he is powering brands including Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas. As Chairman of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, he has also been a major contributor to the success of the wider out-of-home eating and drinking sector.
Peter Martin said: “Under Steve’s stewardship, the ALMR has grown way beyond its pub roots. It is now truly the voice of the whole eating and drinking out market, and Steve’s leadership, persuasiveness and determination have been a vital ingredient in reaching that aim.”
Miers and Richards received their accolades at CGA’s Hero & Icon Awards dinner on Wednesday 22 November, following this year’s Peach 2020 Conference. The Awards night rewarded the leading lights of out-of-home eating and drinking across 14 different categories, including two more individuals: Imbiba’s John Connell, who received the Special Award; and Living Ventures’ Jeremy Roberts, who took the Industry Leader Award, presented by Coffer Corporate Leisure. See www.cga.co.uk for the full list of winners.
Miers and Richards join an exclusive Icon Hall of Fame that includes 22 other Icon Award recipients: Tim Bacon, John Barnes, Andy Bassadone, Peter Boizot, Rupert and Jo Clevely, Chris Corbin, Gerry Ford, Karen Forrester, James Horler, Tony Hughes, Bob Ivell, Alan Jackson, Karen Jones, Phillip Kaye, Jeremy King, Simon Kossoff, Tim Martin, Julian Metcalfe, Ian Neill, Robin Rowland and Mike Tye.
CGA’s Hero & Icon Awards and 2020 Conference are supported by platinum partners Asahi, Bookatable by Michelin, Coca-Cola European Partners, Coffer Corporate Leisure, CPL Online, Diageo, Flyt, Fourth, HGEM, NatWest, WE ARE Spectacular and Zonal; and by network partners Casual Dining, Chapman Ventilation, Fishbowl, Reynolds, RSM, Steelite International and Yumpingo.
About CGA:
CGA is the data and research consultancy of choice for the out-of-home food and drinks market, specialising in market measurement, consumer research and location planning.
What sets CGA apart is its unique ability to access the three key types of data (supply, demand and consumer) and then triangulate this data to provide the most complete and accurate picture of anyone in the out-of-home sector.
From its offices in Manchester, United Kingdom, and Chicago, United States, CGA experts work with many of the world’s biggest consumer brands, including drinks manufacturers, consumer brand owners, food suppliers and wholesalers as well as pub, bar and restaurant retailers and government entities.
Founded in 1985, CGA’s mission is to use its phenomenal data and expert insight of the leisure industry to give these brands the competitive edge, and get them where they want to be, faster.
To learn more, visit: www.cga.co.uk.
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phone: +44 (0) 161 476 8361
email: PR@cga.co.uk
