2025 Silver Plate Award Winners Announced Ceremony to be held May 17, 2025 in Chicago

CHICAGO, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IFMA The Food Away from Home Association announced winners of the 71st annual Silver Plate Awards today. This year's recipients represent eight food-away-from-home categories.

"We feel it is more important than ever to celebrate our extraordinary industry through the Gold & Silver Plate Awards. These are the dedicated people who, in good times and not-so-good times, employ millions and serve food-away-from-home to millions more," said Phil Kafarakis, Association President and CEO. "From foodservice in schools, airports, hospitals, and convenience stores to traditional chain and independent restaurants, and in many other locations, food-away-from-home is connected to every community and everybody."

Since 1954, the association has recognized extraordinary operator executives with the Silver Plate Award. Winners are chosen from a slate of industry nominees by a distinguished jury of trade press editors and previous award winners. Presentation of the Silver Plates and the announcement of the Gold Plate recipient will take place at the Gold & Silver Plate Awards Celebration in May.

The 2025 IFMA Silver Plate Winners by Category:

Business & Industry / Foodservice Management:
President & CEO of Aramark Workplace Experience Group, Gary J. Crompton

Chain Full Service:
CEO & President of Brinker International, Kevin Hochman

Chain Limited Service:
President and CEO of Wingstop, Michael Skipworth

Colleges & Universities:
Senior Director of Dining Services at Tufts University, Patti Klos 

Elementary & Secondary Schools:
Executive Director for Nutrition Services at Hillsboro School District, Whitney Ellersick

Grocery, Convenience, & Specialty Retail:
President and CEO of Wow Bao, Geoff Alexander

Healthcare:
Director & Executive Chef Culinary and Nutrition Services at UNC Health Rex, Ryan Conklin

Travel & Leisure Foodservice:
Chief Development Officer at Areas USA, Richard Schneider

The Gold & Silver Plate Awards Celebration will take place on Saturday night, May 17, 2025 in the Great Hall at Chicago's historic Union Station. The celebration is open to the industry and will bring together past Gold and Silver Plate winners with luminaries from across foodservice to honor and celebrate the 2025 class. The winner of the industry's most prestigious award—the coveted IFMA Gold Plate – will be revealed that evening.

Reserve tickets and tables at www.ifmaworld.com/events.

About IFMA The Food Away from Home Association
IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is a trade association founded in 1952. The organization empowers, nurtures, and connects an inclusive and diverse $1.5 trillion food-away-from-home ecosystem of manufacturers, distributors, operators, and others. By sharing insights, fostering best practices, and developing networking and educational opportunities through events, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association informs and instructs its members, and motivates change to improve both individual organizations and the food-away-from-home industry at large. For more information, visit ifmaworld.com.

SOURCE IFMA The Food Away from Home Association