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NRN honors 2014 Hot Concepts winnersNRN honors 2014 Hot Concepts winners

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

October 6, 2014

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This is part of Nation’s Restaurant News' special coverage of the 2014 MUFSO conference, taking place Oct. 5–7 at the Hyatt Regency at Reunion Tower in Dallas. Follow coverage of the event on NRN.com and tweet with us using #MUFSO. Stay connected on the go by downloading the MUFSO app.

Nation’s Restaurant News honored five emerging foodservice brands Sunday at its annual Hot Concepts awards celebration.
 
The Hot Concepts honorees for 2014 were LYFE Kitchen, PDQ, Protein Bar, Slater’s 50/50 and Snap Kitchen. The event was sponsored by e*Restaurant from Altametrics.

“Each year at Hot Concepts, Nation's Restaurant News honors forward-thinking restaurant brands with strong out-of-the-box concepts and emerging growth potential,” said NRN editor-in-chief Sarah Lockyer during the event. “These are concepts on the leading edge of foodservice. Each is creative and built to succeed in today’s environment of demanding customers and changing dining-out habits.”

The five Hot Concepts honorees possess “a deep, personal passion for what they do — a passion that not only drives their brand forward but keeps our industry evolving,” Lockyer added.

In its 20th year, Hot Concepts is one of the industry’s most prestigious award programs. Winners are selected by Nation’s Restaurant News’ editorial team.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

Photos by Steph Grant

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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