• Donate Now
• Scholarships Donations
• Memorials and Tributes
• Planned Gifts
• Our Donors and Sponsors
• Sponsor an Event
• Scholarships
• Events
• NRA Products & Services
• ProStart^®
  High School Program
• ManageFirst Program^TM
• Leadership
  & Management Program
• ServSafe^® Food Safety Training
• ServSafe Alcohol^®
  Responsible Alcohol Training
• Foodservice Management
  Professional^® (FMP^®)

News Release

Deadline Extended to Apply for the 2010 SPIRIT Awards

June 22, 2010
Contact: Jessica Wion (312) 715-5397, Lauren Dee (312) 261-5335

SPIRIT Awards honor exemplary recruitment, retention and recognition programs in the restaurant and foodservice industry

(Chicago) The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and Nation's Restaurant News, along with founding award sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, today announced that the deadline to apply for the 2010 SPIRIT Awards program has been extended until June 30. Now in its sixth year, the SPIRIT Awards honor restaurant and foodservice companies that have proven their dedication to their workforce through exceptional recruitment, training, retention and recognition programs. Award winners are thought-leaders in best practices that prove that improved guest satisfaction is a direct result of improved employee satisfaction.

"Developing excellent recruitment and retention strategies provides an outstanding opportunity for restaurants to protect some of their most precious assets - their people. The SPIRIT Awards recognize these exceptional companies for their hard and successful work in this area," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association and NRAEF. "The individuals and companies that are recognized through the awards have developed exceptional programs, and are making great strides to ensure their managers and employees are rewarded for their hard work and commitment to success."

"As the economy begins to show signs of improvement, the state of your workforce is a critical factor in determining whether your organization rises with the tide," said Randall Friedman, publisher of Nation's Restaurant News. "Successful operators realize that recruitment, retention, motivation and recognition programs are key pieces of an outstanding human resources management strategy that inspires people to improve. The SPIRIT Awards recognize people and companies who embody excellence in these areas and Nation's Restaurant News, along with our partners at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and The Coca-Cola Company, are proud to shine a light on them so that they may inspire others."

The SPIRIT Awards are open to any commercial, on-site, independent, corporate and franchise foodservice/restaurant company, in any service format, regardless of size. One winner will be chosen in each of the following four categories: quick service, full service, fine dining, and on-site.

The winners of the 2010 SPIRIT Awards will be recognized during the Annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Convention (MUFSO), to be held October 3-5, 2010 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Past winners include: The Signature Room, The Cheesecake Factory, Guest Services, Hot Dog on a Stick, Morton's The Steakhouse, Carino's Italian, Sodexo, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Famous Dave's of America, Union Square Hospitality Group, Royal Caribbean International, Bruegger's Enterprises, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Ohio State University Medical Center, Boston College, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Bambara, Golden Corral Corp., Jack in the Box Inc. and Panzano.

To learn more about this innovative awards program and to download nomination information and forms, please visit http://www.nraef.org/events/spirit/.

<< Press Room