2006 Top 50 Results

31st May 2007, 4:23pm

The following Top 50 foodservice operators were recognised by their competitors as being the best at what they do.

1. up 7 from 8 Hotel du Vin
Six hotels and other successes
                       
2. down 1 from 1 Pret A Manger
Legend in its own lunchtime
 
3. up 32 from 35 Elior UK
Doing it in French style
 
4. up 21 from 25 Marks & Spencer
Leading food retailer pilots new food concepts
 
5. up 6 from 11 Charlton House
Organic growth has been the one way up
 
6. up 31 from 37 PizzaExpress
40 years and still going strong
 
7. up 35 from 42 Malmaison Hotels
Linking with Hotel du Vin in £66m deal
 
8. down 4 from 4 Carluccio's
Italian café-delis set casual dining trend
 
9. up 15 from 24 Nando's Chickenland Ltd
135-strong estate - not a chain
 
10. up 4 from 14 Wagamama
Oodles of noodles

11. New entrant Tiffinbites
Indian food home style
 
12. up 5 from 17 Whitbread Group
Strong performance from continuing business
 
13. up 6 from 19 Starbucks
Still expanding after 35 years
 
14. New entrant Crown Group
Turnkey company to meet every need
 
15. down 10 from 5 Caffe Nero
Setting up for management buy-out?
 
16. down 9 from 7 BaxterStorey
Biggest independent in contract catering
 
17. up 1 from 18 Benugo
Moving into visitor attractions
 
18. down 12 from 6 Conran Restaurants
Managers buy the business
 
19. down 16 from 3 Loch Fyne Restaurants
Potential for 100 outlets
 
20. up 14 from 34 Subway
Sandwich chain voted top of the franchises
 
21. down 11 from 10 Mitchells & Butlers
An active time in buying and selling
 
22. down 20 from 2 Compass Group
Getting back on an even keel
 
23. down 8 from 15 Greene King
Further acquisition and record year
 
24. New entrant Catermasters
Targeted and controlled growth
 
25. up 25 from 50 Eat Ltd
Fifty more in next three years
 
26. down 13 from 13 Hilton Group
After 40 years company is reunited
 
27. up 2 from 29 Holroyd Howe
Going for big guns in 10th year
 
28. down 7 from 21 Wetherspoon
Pioneer in banning smokers
 
29. up 14 from 45 Rocco Forte Hotels
Luxury properties across Europe
 
30. down 8 from 22 Yo! Sushi
Turnover target set at £22.5 million
 
31. down 8 from 23  De Vere Group
New owners give a new look
 
32. up 9 from 41 John Lewis Partnership
26 stores and plans for 10 more
 
33. down 24 from 9 La Tasca Restaurants
Spanish tapas chain takes the lead
 
34. New entrant The Restaurant Group
One of UK's biggest with five main eateries
 
35. New entrant Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Canadian-based company with 5 star properties
 
36. New entrant The Quiznos Corporation UK
Fast growing franchise with 5600 stores worldwide
 
37. New entrant Ask Central
Founders follow in father's footsteps
 
38. up 6 from 44 Sodexho UK
Directors Table leads the way in the City
 
39. New entrant Strada
Mid market Italian chain of eateries
 
40. up 8 from 48 Chester Boyd
Classic cuisine for City clients
 
41. New entrant Fishworks
Restaurants, a cookery school and delivery service
 
42. New entrant Itsu
Founded by Pret A Manger team 10 years ago
 
43. New entrant Krispy Kreme UK
Moving into UK after American success
 
44. New entrant Living Room
Lucky 13 in major city locations
 
45. down 14 from 31 Macdonald Hotels
Refurbishment fund of £150 million
 
46. New entrant McDonald's Restaurants
Big Mac still getting bigger
 
47. down 14 from 33 Domino's Pizza Group
Sales in 428 stores grew of £114 million in six months
 
48. New entrant Virgin Trains
Branson brings his airline catering on track
 
49. down 2 from 47 Aagrah Restaurants
Yorkshire-based group fresh from curry award success
 
50. down 7 from 43 Everson Hewett
Operating small niche business in London and SE