Returning for the fourth year running, the NRN Power List is a definitive list of leaders who are defining the industry — of both today and tomorrow. See who made the list, beginning with Ones to Watch and ending with the Top 10 people dominating the industry.
Note: Only the Top 10 are ranked, and the remaining 40 are grouped by areas of influence.
Ones to Watch: Brett Schulman, CEO, Cava Group Inc.
Cava Group
Ones to Watch: Sahar Sander and David Sloan, co-CEOs, Naf Naf Grill
Naf Naf Grill
Ones to Watch: Lisa Ingram, CEO, White Castle System Inc.
White Castle
Ones to Watch: Andrew Gruel, co-founder and executive chef, Slapfish
Say It To My Face!
Ones to Watch: Ahmed Abouelenein, CEO, The Halal Guys
The Halal Guys
Dealmakers: Jonathan Owsley, managing partner, L Catterton
Catterton
Dealmakers: Stanley Ma, chairman, president and CEO, MTY Food Group Inc.
MTY Group
Dealmakers: Olivier Goudet, partner and CEO, JAB Holding Co.
Influencers: Tony Xu, co-founder and CEO, DoorDash Inc.
Getty
Influencers: Tim Ryan, president, The Culinary Institute of America
CIA
Influencers: John Mackey, co-founder and CEO, Whole Foods Market Inc.
Whole Foods
Influencers: Noah Glass, founder and CEO, Olo
Olo
Influencers: Robert Cresanti, president and CEO, International Franchise Association
IFA
Influencers: Paul Brown, CEO, Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.
Tastemakers: Carla Hall, chef and owner, Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen
Getty
Tastemakers: Roy Choi, co-owner, co-founder and chef, Kogi BBQ, LocoL, Chego!, A-Frame, Commissary, POT
Tastemakers: Patrick Brown, founder and CEO, Impossible Foods Inc.
Impossible Foods
Tastemakers: Dan Barber, executive chef and co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Getty
The Operators: Jim Schwartz, chairman and CEO, NPC International Inc.
NPC
The Operators: Guillermo Perales, president and CEO, Sun Holdings Inc.
The Operators: Tom Garrett, founder and CEO, GPS Hospitality
GPS Hospitality
The Operators: Shoukat Dhanani, president, Dhanani Group
Dhanani Group
The Operators: Valerie Daniels-Carter, president and CEO, V&J Holdings Inc.
V&J Holdings
Groundbreakers: Wyman Roberts, president and CEO, Brinker International Inc.
Brinker International
Groundbreakers: Stacy Peterson, chief information officer, Wingstop Restaurants Inc.
Jason Kindig
Groundbreakers: Nicolas Jammet, Jonathan Neman and Nathaniel Ru, co-founders, Sweetgreen
Nicole Franzen
Groundbreakers: Kevin Hochman, chief marketing officer, KFC Corp.
KFC
Groundbreakers: Sam Fox, founder and CEO, Fox Restaurant Concepts LLC
True Food Kitchen
Groundbreakers: Chloe Coscarelli, executive chef and partner, and Samantha Wasser, creative director and president, co-founders, By Chloe
By Chloe
Culture Champions: Scott Svenson, co-founder, chairman and CEO, MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings LLC
MOD Pizza
Culture Champions: Erin Moran, chief culture officer, Union Square Hospitality Group
USHG
Culture Champions: Gene Lee, president and CEO, Darden Restaurants Inc.
Darden Restaurants
Culture Champions: Randy Garutti, CEO, Shake Shack Inc.
Jim Vondruska Photography
Culture Champions: Peter Cancro, founder and CEO, Jersey Mike’s Subs
Jersey Mike’s
Culture Champions: Cheryl Bachelder, CEO, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.
Popeyes
Customer Favorites: Lynsi Snyder, president, In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out
Customer Favorites: David Overton, chairman and CEO, The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
Customer Favorites: Sandra Cochran, CEO and president, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Customer Favorites: Dan Cathy, chairman and CEO, Chick-fil-A Inc.
Chick-fil-A
No. 10: Sally Smith, president and CEO, Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.
No. 9: Neal Aronson, founder and managing partner, Roark Capital Group
Roark Capital Group
No. 7: Steve Easterbrook, president and CEO, McDonald’s Corp.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
No. 6: Andy Puzder, nominee, U.S. labor secretary; CEO, Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.
Stephen Osman
No. 5: Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO, and Cicely Simpson, executive vice president, policy and government affairs, National Restaurant Association
National Restaurant Association
No. 4: Greg Flynn, founder, chairman and CEO, Flynn Restaurant Group LP
Flynn Restaurant Group
No. 3: Kevin Johnson, incoming CEO, and Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO, Starbucks Corp.
Starbucks
No. 2: Ron Shaich, founder, chairman and CEO, Panera Bread Co.
Panera Bread
No. 1: J. Patrick Doyle, president and CEO, Domino’s Pizza Inc.
Domino's
Customer Favorites: Roland Dickey Jr., CEO, Dickey’s Capital Group Inc.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
