#Canada #Toronto #7shifts #Hospitality Leaders #Restaurant Innovators

7shifts Honors Innovators in Hospitality

On December 2, 2025, 7shifts, a leading scheduling and payroll platform for the restaurant industry, announced the inaugural winners of its Restaurant Innovators 2025 Awards. With a mission to recognize transformational leaders and organizations, the awards celebrate those improving restaurant operations and fostering strong community ties.

The Restaurant Innovators Awards highlight 60 individuals who embody the spirit of innovation in the hospitality sector. Nominated from all corners of North America, these award recipients represent a remarkable array of talent, commitment, and creativity within the industry. Jordan Boesch, chief executive officer of 7shifts, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This event is a celebration of those who keep the heartbeat of the restaurant industry alive, from the back kitchen to the front door. These are the trailblazers crafting work environments that prioritize growth, satisfaction, and the well-being of their teams."

Categories of Recognition

The awards feature several categories aimed at spotlighting diverse contributions within the sector:

• - The Ops Innovator: This category recognizes leaders who successfully integrate innovative technologies and operational efficiencies into their businesses. Recipients include Arielle Mathisen and Weston Berchtold among others.

• - The Industry Voice: Honoring individuals or teams leveraging their digital platforms for educational and inspirational purposes were recipients like Irene Li and Justin Khanna.

• - The Tip-Top Service Star: This award celebrates those in front-of-house roles delivering exceptional service, with individuals such as Sheila Purvis and the UVSS Catering and Conferences Team earning accolades.

• - The Unsung Hero: Acknowledging critical contributions from back-of-house leaders, this category awarded individuals like Sandy Adams and Emma Robison for their exceptional kitchen management.

• - The Best Boss Ever: This award honors managers and owners committed to staff development, recognizing figures like Brittany Rupert and Chris Gurrie for their empowering leadership styles.

• - The Culture Catalyst: This award celebrates individuals who enhance employee satisfaction, recognizing leaders like Kelsey Roeder and Keith Priestley.

• - The Local Legend: Specifically for independent restaurants, this awards shows appreciation for those proving resilience and quality against competitive pressures, with winners such as Larry Abel and Andrew Fung.

• - The Empire Builder: For leaders of multi-unit operations, this category highlights those managing growth and complexity effectively, with recipients including Stephen Steininger and Mackayla Miller.

Despite the challenges facing the restaurant industry, this year's award winners embody a forward-thinking mindset, creating workplaces that thrive on collaboration and innovation. Many have embraced multi-skilled roles, where employees dynamically merge front-of-house, back-of-house, and administrative capacities, showcasing flexibility and adaptability.

Boesch noted, "In an industry beset by staff retention challenges, the commitment shown by our winners to cultivate stable, supportive environments is more vital than ever."

Looking Forward

The 2025 awards received nominations representing restaurants spanning ten U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, showcasing the depth and variety of hospitality sectors, from full-service dining to unique coffee shops and food halls. The overwhelming participation and creativity displayed through these nominations reflect the thriving spirit within the industry.

Recognizing innovation is crucial as the restaurant industry continues to evolve. The Restaurant Innovators Awards aim not only to celebrate achievements but also to inspire ongoing advancements in hospitality practices. To discover the complete list of winners and learn more about the initiative, visit 7shifts' official page.

Founded in 2014 in the back office of a sandwich shop, 7shifts continues to serve restaurants by providing a user-friendly solution that optimizes payroll and scheduling, helping over 55,000 businesses facilitate their operations efficiently and successfully.