The NRN Power List, now in its third year, is the most definitive list of industry leaders who are not only setting trends today, but also shaping them for tomorrow. See who made the list, beginning with Ones to Watch and escalating to 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: Karim Webb, owner, PCF Restaurant Management LLC
Courtesy of Karim Webb
Ones to Watch: Lynsi Snyder, president, In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger
Ones to Watch: Elizabeth Smith, CEO, Bloomin' Brands Inc.
Bloomin Brands
Ones to Watch: Micky Pant, CEO, Yum! Restaurants China
Yum! Restaurants China
Ones to Watch: Lenny Comma, chairman and CEO, Jack in the Box Inc.
Jack in the Box Inc.
Ones to Watch: Bill Chait, restaurateur, Sprout LA
Sierra Prescott
Ones to Watch: Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO, National Restaurant Association
NRA
Ones to Watch: Ron Shaich, founder, chairman and CEO, Panera Bread Co.
Nelson Barnard/Getty Images for the New York Times
Influencer: Tim Ryan, president, The Culinary Institute of America
CIA
Influencer: Andy Puzder, CEO, CKE Restaurants Inc.
Stephen Osman
Dealmaker: James Walsh, global head of consumer investment banking, Jefferies LLC
Jefferies LLC
Dealmaker: Guillermo Perales, founder, president and CEO, Sun Holdings Inc.
Newscom
Dealmaker: Nelson Peltz, CEO and founding partner, Trian Fund Management LP
Newscom
Dealmaker: Greg Flynn, founder, chairman and CEO, Flynn Restaurant Group LP
Dealmaker: Steve Case, founder and partner, Revolution Growth
Brad Barket/Stringer/Getty Images
Dealmaker: Alex Behring, co-founder, managing partner, 3G Capital; Chairman, Restaurant Brands International
Newscom
Heavy Hitter: Sally Smith, president and CEO, Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.
Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.
Heavy Hitter: John Miller, president and CEO, Denny’s Corp.
Denny’s Corp.
Heavy Hitter: Gene Lee, president and CEO, Darden Restaurants Inc.
Darden Restaurants Inc.
Heavy Hitter: Dan Cathy, Chairman, president and CEO, Chick-fil-A Inc.
Chick-fil-A Inc.
Heavy Hitter: Cheryl Bachelder, CEO, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.
Disruptors: Tim Young and Scott Drummond, co-founders, Eatsa
Eatsa
Disruptor: Steve Ells, Founder, chairman and co-CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.
Gina LeVay
Disruptor: Prehar Shah, head of business development, DoorDash Inc.
DoorDash
Disruptor: John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO, Whole Foods Market Inc.
Whole Foods Market Inc.
Disruptor: Holger Luedorf, Senior vice president of business development, Postmates Inc.
Postmates Inc.
Disruptor: Gus Lopez, general manager of Amazon Restaurants, Amazon.com Inc.
Amazon
Disruptor: Joseph DePinto, CEO, 7-Eleven Inc.
7-Eleven Inc.
Groundbreakers: Nathaniel Ru, Jonathan Neman, Nicolas Jammet, co-founders, Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen
Groundbreakers: Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, co-founders, Mendocino Farms
Lisa Jennings
Groundbreakers: Erik Oberholtzer, Matt Lyman and David Dressler, co-founders, Tender Greens
Sean Marier
Groundbreaker: Nick Kokonas, founder and CEO, Tock
Newscom
Groundbreakers: Sam Fox, founder and CEO, Fox Restaurant Concepts
Courtesy of Sam Fox
Groundbreaker: Paul Brown, CEO, Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.
Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.
Tastemaker: Alice Waters, chef, restaurateur, advocate, Chez Panisse/The Edible Schoolyard Project
Newscom
Tastemaker: Amanda Cohen, chef and owner, Dirt Candy
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for AEG
Tastemaker: Roy Choi, chef and restaurateur, Kogi BBQ Taco Truck, Chego! and Alibi Room
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for OTG
Tastemaker: Sean Brock, chef and restaurateur, McGrady’s and Husk
Andrea Behrends
Tastemaker: Anthony Bourdain, chef, restaurateur, TV personality
Larry French/Getty Images for DC Central Kitchen
Tastemaker: Dan Barber, executive chef and co-owner, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Global Green USA
No. 10: David Chang, chef and founder, Momofuku Group
John Sciulli/Getty Images for Budweiser
No. 9: Neal Aronson, founder and managing partner, Roark Capital Group
Roark Capital Group
No. 8: Greg Creed, CEO, Yum! Brands Inc.
Yum! Brands Inc.
No. 7: Julia Stewart, chairman and CEO, DineEquity Inc.
DineEquity Inc.
No. 6: Kevin Vasconi, executive vice president and chief information officer, Domino’s Pizza Inc.
Domino's Pizza Inc.
No. 5: Thomas Keller, chef and restaurateur, The French Laundry, Per Se
Rob Kim/Getty Images for Starwood Preferred Guest
No. 4: Mary Kay Henry, president, Service Employees International Union
SEIU
No. 3: Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO, Starbucks Corp.
Starbucks
No. 2: Steve Easterbrook, CEO, McDonald's Corp.
Hannelore Foerster/Stringer/Getty Images
No. 1: Danny Meyer, founder, Shake Shack; CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group LLC
Melissa Hom
