National Restaurant Association Show Announces 24 Kitchen Innovations Award Recipients for 2025

From Equipment Automation to IoT Kitchen Management Tools, Award-Winning Foodservice Solutions to be Honored in Chicago

CHICAGO, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® proudly announces the 2025 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Award winners, recognizing the most groundbreaking advancements in foodservice equipment and technology. These award-winning products address critical industry challenges, from streamlining kitchen workflows to improving sustainability and consistency, setting new standards for efficiency and performance. The 2025 KI recipients will be on display in the Kitchen Innovations Showroom, where attendees can explore solutions designed to enhance operations and drive growth.

The Show, taking place May 17–20, 2025, brings together a comprehensive cross-section of the foodservice industry—from equipment dealers and quick-service operators to educational institutions and independent restaurant owners. Attendees will not only explore innovations like the KI Award-winning products but also discover the latest trends, ingredients, and technologies across every area of foodservice.

"The KI Awards celebrate solutions that are not just innovative but truly impactful for foodservice operations," said Tom Cindric, President of Exhibitions for Informa Connect Foodservice. "This year's recipients demonstrate how technology and design are revolutionizing kitchen operations, creating seamless integration between back-of-house efficiency and front-of-house service, all while enhancing consistency and delivering exceptional customer experiences. The National Restaurant Association Show is where these advancements come to life, giving attendees a chance to experience them in action, speak with the innovators behind them, and find solutions that fit their business."

For more than two decades, the Kitchen Innovations Awards have recognized foodservice equipment that addresses real-world challenges and drives progress across the industry. An esteemed panel of industry leaders, including representatives from global brands like Walt Disney World Resort, Aramark, and Cracker Barrel, evaluated each submission based on its real-world impact and lasting value to foodservice operators.

Richard Eisenbarth, President, Emeritus at Cini-Little International and a long-standing KI judge, highlighted this year's recipients and emphasized the evolving landscape of foodservice: "The 2025 Kitchen Innovations Awards spotlight solutions that embody the industry's evolution: doing more with less. From AI-driven monitoring to productivity-enhancing robotics, these innovations are reshaping kitchens, helping restaurants adapt and excel in today's dynamic culinary landscape."

The 2025 Kitchen Innovations Award recipients are:

Origin™ Convection Ovens
Alto-Shaam, Inc.

BuffetBoost™ Warming Block
American Metalcraft

Automated Fresh Brew: SimpliciTea 1500
Appliance Innovation

Chillstream™ Undercounter Frozen Food Dispenser
Atosa USA, Inc.

OMM Automated Egg Cooker
Bridge Appliances

Carter-Hoffmann
CHrisper Station

RoboFry X4
Charter House Innovations

Scraegg Egg/Porridge/Soup Cooker
CookUp Group Inc.

Dual Fuel Gravity Charcoal Oven
Doyon

Digital Kitchen Application Platform
Ecolab

PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) Reduction Systems
Everpure from Pentair Water Solutions

Qeamer
Kitchenless

FIZZBOT™
Lab2Fab LLC

NEO Undercounter Ice Machine w Filtration
Manitowoc

MilkPal
Marco Beverage Systems

Metafoodx Platform for Foodservice Operations
Metafoodx

LongWave IR Oven
Middleby Marshall

Gravity Beverage Fountain System
Newton CFV

Total Oil Management by Open Kitchen
Powerhouse Dynamics

Grill Station Assistant
PreciTaste

Smart Kitchen System Hub
Renau Corporation

The Surface Unlimited Induction Table
Spring USA

Dynamic Response Refrigeration™ with Smart Control™
Traulsen

TRM - True Retail Merchandiser
True Manufacturing Co. Inc

The Kitchen Innovations Awards have long been recognized as a defining moment for breakthrough foodservice technology, with award recipients gaining exposure to thousands of industry professionals, from independent operators to large multi-unit brands. Being showcased at the National Restaurant Association Show allows these innovations to reach the buyers, dealers, and decision-makers who drive industry-wide adoption.

In addition to exploring the award-winning solutions, attendees can take part in programming focused on foodservice equipment, including:

• Discovery Theater Session: A discussion on how cutting-edge kitchen equipment is reshaping foodservice operations. (Saturday, May 17, 11:00 a.m. CT)
• Equipment Professionals Meetup: A networking opportunity for operators, consultants, and equipment specialists. (Saturday, May 17, 12:00 p.m. CT)

For more details on the Kitchen Innovations Awards and to register for the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, visit nationalrestaurantshow.com. Connect with the Show online on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for event updates.

The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is owned and operated by Informa Connect in partnership with the National Restaurant Association.

Media Contact: 
Julie Franks, [email protected]

SOURCE Informa Connect