Nation’s Restaurant News has named the annual class of Hot Concept winners, honoring five restaurant concepts poised for regional or national growth.
For 25 years, the awards have celebrated emerging brands that are tapping into the right trends.
Past winners have gone on to have substantial impact on the restaurant industry, including Smashburger, True Food Kitchen, Pokéworks, The Little Beet, and Shake Shack.
Editor-in-chief Jenna Telesca and senior editor Gloria Dawson announced the 2019 winners June 13 in a Facebook Live video.
The 2019 winners are:
&pizza, a Washington, D.C.-based fast-casual concept
The Crack Shack, a San Diego-based chicken sandwich concept
Garden Bar, a Portland, Ore.-based green concept
Maple Street Biscuit Company, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based biscuit shop
Mulberry & Vine, a New York-based “clean” food concept
NRN will celebrate these winners at its annual MUFSO conference, Oct 14-16 in Denver. Attendees will be able to try menu items from these forward-thinking concepts and attend a panel featuring the brands’ leaders.
The Hot Concepts awards are sponsored by V&V Supremo.
Presented by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 60th Annual MUFSO Conference brings together the restaurant industry’s top leaders to share business insights that are laser focused on moving the restaurant industry forward. MUFSO is scheduled for October 14-16, 2019 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. For more info visit www.mufso.com. For sponsorship/exhibit information contact [email protected].