Nominations for 2025 Are Now Open!
Anyone in the industry may submit a nomination – IFMA members who nominate a winning candidate will be recognized in promotional materials and at the awards celebration. The deadline for nominations is November 15, 2024.

Nominate an Operator

 Read our Tips for Creating a Winning Silver Plate Award Nomination

Gold Award

IFMA created the Gold & Silver Plate Awards in 1954 to create a platform for manufacturers to recognize outstanding and innovative operators in foodservice. Today, recipients in up to nine categories across the food-away-from-home industry are honored each May at IFMA's annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards Celebration and one is chosen to receive the coveted Gold Plate Award.

Each year, a distinguished jury of trade press editors and previous award winners weighs the merits of hundreds of nominees before selecting the executives who will receive the IFMA Silver Plate Award. One is then chosen by secret ballot to receive the industry's most coveted recognition, the IFMA Gold Plate. 

The IFMA Gold Plate winner is announced for the first time at the annual IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Award celebration. 

award celebration picture

How Are Winners Selected?


JULY to NOVEMBER
IFMA accepts nominations for Silver Plate Awards from its members and others in the industry. Nominators must complete a set form and meet the deadline.

Criteria For Silver Plate Awards

NOVEMBER
After the call for nominations closes, IFMA staff review the forms to ensure the information provided is complete and adheres to award criteria. Questions may be directed to nominators if forms are confusing or incomplete.

DECEMBER
A pre-screen jury of past Gold & Silver Plate award winners –  members of the Gold & Silver Plate Society – is asked to rate the candidates within their category of award. That is, healthcare foodservice winners rate all the nominees in healthcare, etc. The pre-screeners act independently of one another and select finalists to be brought forward to the full jury.

Learn More About GSP Society


JANUARY
A distinguished jury of trade press editors and previous award winners meets in person to weigh the merits of those nominees who rated most highly in pre-screening.A final slate of approximately 3-6 candidates are presented in each category. They vote to select  who will receive the IFMA Silver Plate Award. One is then chosen by the jury through a secret ballot to receive the industry's most coveted recognition, the IFMA Gold Plate. 

MARCH
The IFMA Silver Plate Award winners are introduced to the industry at IFMA’s COEX conference. 

See the 2024 Press Release

MAY - SAVE THE DATE
The 71st annual IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Union Station in Chicago!

 

Gold Award Stage

For questions related to the IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards, please contact programs@ifmaworld.com.