2025 Global Restaurant Leader of the Year

The Global Restaurant Leader of the Year Award recognizes a restaurant brand or operating partner that has worked best to expand a brand and its reputation in international markets outside the U.S.

The award should represent the top executive, or top international executive, of a company on the Technomic Top 150 list of global restaurant companies, OR the top executive of a major operator of restaurant brands in global markets.

The winner will demonstrate consistent performance across a number of key metrics, including expansion, innovation, partnership and community service. We encourage brands to nominate themselves or their operators.

Nominees must meet the following Criteria to be considered for the Global Restaurant Leader Award

• C-Suite Leader of a Global/International Restaurant Brand, or Global Operating Partner- (Franchisee)
• Active Leader of the brand for more than 1 year
• Operating in at least three countries or more, with more than 500 units globally
• MUST be available to attend the 2025 Global Restaurant Leadership Conference in Barcelona November 17-19, 2025 if selected to accept the Award in person.

In addition, to the above criteria the following qualifications for this prestigious award will be consider by our review panel:

Expansion

The winner will generate consistent, strong year-over-year store growth that doesn’t damage a brand’s unit economics or volumes. Consideration should be given to operators that enter new markets or revitalize struggling markets while having shown consistent performance over multiple years. Growth must be quantified over multiple years. These standards are the same for both brands and franchisees.

Community service

The winning operator will advance a brand’s reputation in their markets, demonstrating support to their communities and the planet. Consideration will be given to those operators who have shown a willingness to give back to their local markets through financial donations, good works, volunteer efforts or some combination. These standards are the same for both brands and their operators.

Partnership

The winning brand or operator is well-known for its ability and willingness to partner with franchisees or the franchisor to advance the brand’s reputation and capabilities. Consideration will be given to companies who have a reputation for working well with either their global restaurant operators or with the brands they work with. Brand operators have an established track record of quality deals with local market operators who generate expansion. Franchisees serve on committees and are otherwise a leader among their fellow restaurant operators.

Innovation

The winner will adapt a brand to their markets, pushing the boundaries with innovative products and ideas that meet brand standards but adapt to local tastes. Brand operators give franchisees the freedom to develop new ideas or concepts that fuel growth in local markets with new menu items, value offers, secondary concepts. Franchisees who qualify for this have an established track record of quality innovation that makes a brand more relevant in their local market.

Timeline

Submissions for Nominations will be open from July 5-July 25, 2025.

The GRLOY Winner will be announced on August 5, 2025; the award ceremony, VIP fireside chat and Award Reception will take place on November 18, 2025, during the Global Restaurant Leadership Conference in Barcelona, ES at the W Hotel. Winner must be present to accept the award.