Time To Apply For NRA’s Kitchen Innovations Awards

The National Restaurant Association has opened up the nomination process for its 2012 Kitchen Innovations Awards. The awards, selected by an independent panel of experts, celebrate groundbreaking equipment and products that will cut costs and improve productivity and food quality in restaurant operations.

“Product innovation is an important driver toward restaurant sales growth and cost management,” said association COO David Gilbert. “By identifying back-of-the-house equipment that is truly cutting-edge, we hope to help the nation’s restaurants grow and succeed.”

Winners will be showcased in the Kitchen Innovations Pavilion at the NRA’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago, May 5-8, 2012. The application deadline is Dec. 21. Award recipients will be announced in February.

Also on the website is the opportunity to honor operators by nominating them for the NRA’s 2012 Restaurant Industry Awards. The awards given in two distinct categories: the Restaurant Neighbor Award recognizes restaurants for outstanding community service; the Faces of Diversity Award celebrates the diversity of the foodservice industry by honoring three individuals who have realized the American Dream. Restaurants may apply online before Dec. 5.

Details are at restaurant.org.“””