National Restaurant Association Show Opens 2027 Kitchen Innovations Awards Applications

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2026) — The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® today opened applications for the 2027 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards, recognizing equipment that helps foodservice operators solve real-world operational challenges. Award recipients will be showcased in the KI Showroom at the 2027 Show, taking place May 22–25 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

From labor pressures and food safety to energy costs and speed of service, operators continue to look for practical ways to improve how their businesses run. The KI Awards identify solutions that move beyond incremental improvements to deliver measurable value in commercial foodservice operations.

“The Kitchen Innovations Awards have always been about spotlighting the products that solve the real, everyday challenges our operators face — labor pressures, food safety, energy costs, and speed of service,” said Tom Cindric, president of exhibitions for Informa Connect Foodservice Group. “Every year, this program gives the industry a trusted, curated look at the technologies genuinely moving foodservice forward, and it gives the innovators behind them the recognition they've earned.”

Kitchen innovations continue to play a growing role in how operators respond to those pressures. This year, 60% of operators plan to make investments in equipment to enhance the customer experience, according to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Restaurant Industry 2026 report. The KI Awards recognize solutions across areas including automation and robotics, integrated data systems and off-premise service.

For recipients, the recognition also creates an opportunity to put their innovations directly in front of the industry. Awardees receive turnkey exhibit space in the KI Showroom, media promotion before and during the Show, inclusion in dedicated press events, five additional exhibitor badges and use of the Kitchen Innovations logo for the lifetime of the product.

“The Kitchen Innovation Award is huge for us. It’s really special just to receive that mark,” said Philip Hartman, co-founder of Instafarm, a 2026 KI Award recipient. “The judges on the panel have a lot of expertise and experience, and so they’re looking at what would be helpful for operations in different food service areas.”

The 2027 KI Awards will be judged by a panel of respected leaders in foodservice operations, design, and consulting, including:

• Dan Bendall (Principal, FoodStrategy, Inc.)
• Cha Nye Farley (Director of Facilities, Cedartown Foods, LLC)
• Christine Guyott, FCSI, RDN (Executive Principal/Partner, Rippe Associates)
• Frank Inoa (Vice President, Design, Engineering and Equipment Innovation, Inspire Brands)
• Jim Krueger Jr., CMCE, NRAMF (Chief, Air Force and U.S. Space Force Food and Beverage, Air Force Services Center – AFSVC)
• Phillip Landgraf, FCSI (Executive, Ricca Design Studios)
• Juan Martinez, Ph.D., FCSI (Principal, Profitality Labor Guru)
• Alfred Spear (Manager, Food and Beverage Program Design and Development, Walt Disney World Resort)

Applications for the 2027 KI Awards are open through Dec. 16, 2026. Awardees will be announced in February and recognized at the National Restaurant Association Show, May 22–25, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information and to apply, visit www.nationalrestaurantshow.com/home/kitchen-innovations-application.

For additional insights on the technology shaping foodservice operations, read the 2026 Restaurant Equipment & Technology Trends Report.

About The National Restaurant Association Show
Awarded by Trade Show Executive as the 2024 Gold 100 Grand winner of the largest trade show managed by an independent organizer, the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® is the Western Hemisphere's most influential foodservice event showcasing industry innovations and trends. Each year (starting in 1919), the Show brings together restaurant operators and foodservice professionals for four days of celebrity-led demos, exhibits, sampling, education and networking. The Show unites a global community and enables exploration of the latest advancements in food, beverage, equipment, technology and solutions driving the industry forward. The Show is owned and operated by Informa in partnership with the National Restaurant Association. Visit www.nationalrestaurantshow.com for more information.

About Informa
Informa is a leading international B2B markets, live and on-demand events and digital services group. They connect businesses and professionals in 30+ industries with the knowledge they need to learn more, know more and do more. Informa has hundreds of global brands, products and services and employs 11,000 employees in ~30 countries worldwide.

Informa Connect is a content-led, live and on-demand experiences business which connects professionals with knowledge, ideas and opportunities. Informa Connect, a community of over 1,000 colleagues globally, offers connection through events, media and research. They service a number of different industries, including Foodservice, Finance, Bio Tech and Pharma, Pop Culture, Marketing, Law, Energy, HR, Sustainability, and Construction. Visit www.informaconnect.com for more information.