Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering 2026
The catering landscape is evolving faster than ever, driven by visionary minds who refuse to stick to the status quo. The Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering, presented by MONKEY Catering Platform and FastCasual.com, is an exclusive lineup and community dedicated to celebrating the innovators, leaders, and expert brands who are actively redefining what catering means in the modern restaurant space.
We are looking for the trailblazers who fit into one (or more) of our three core pillars:
The Innovators: Those bringing fresh strategy and flawless execution to the table. They think about everything—from the visual optics and experiential setups to cutting-edge packaging and everything in between.
The Leaders: The pacesetters who don't just follow trends—they create them. They are the ones willing to take the first step, take risks, and rewrite the playbook for the rest of the industry to follow.
The Experts: The trusted voices advising both emerging and enterprise brands on how to scale. They know the ins-and-outs of operations and are constantly sharing growth strategies and industry best practices.
Nominees
First-time nominees are prioritized for the Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering. However, if a previous winner has launched a completely new, distinct initiative within the last 12 months (e.g., overhauling the kitchen's production logistics for a 40% efficiency gain, launching an entirely new proprietary menu line, or implementing a kitchen-to-venue automated tracking system, etc.), we’d love to add their story to the pool of nominees for our judges to consider.
The Process
From submission to the winner's podium, here is how the Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Catering will be decided and celebrated:
- Nominations Launch | July 8- The window officially opens! This is your chance to nominate the innovators, leaders, and experts rewriting the catering playbook.
- The Voting Round | Early August- Our selection committee will review the submissions to determine the official shortlist. Selected nominees will advance to the public voting round, where they will be highly encouraged to leverage their networks, teams, and social communities to rally for votes.
- Winner Notification | Mid-August - Once the votes are tallied, the official Top 30 Movers & Shakers will be determined. Winners will be privately notified by mid-August so they can prepare for the upcoming celebrations.
- The Grand Announcement | September- We take the results public! The official Top 30 list will be published and promoted across our industry channels, spotlighting the brands and individuals shaping the future of catering.
- The Top 30 Catering Awards Parade | October 6–7, 2026- The ultimate celebration. Winners will be honored live on stage by MONKEY Catering Platform and FastCasual.com during a special Awards Parade at The Restaurant Catering Workshop in Arlington, TX.
Ready to recognize a trailblazer? Scroll down to fill out the nomination form and start their journey to Arlington!
Deadline: Nominations close July 28, 2026.
