Celebrating our Foodservice Cateys Champions

Last Friday, the Royal Lancaster London was buzzing with the brightest talent in our industry at the Caterer’s Foodservice Cateys awards – and like last year, our team had plenty to celebrate!

Seven of our brilliant people were shortlisted across six categories, and we’re thrilled to see two of our trailblazer’s walk home with a win for their culinary creativity and game-changing leadership.

Our head of food, Dan Wilson, was crowned Chef of the Year, a unanimous choice by the judges. Dan’s win celebrates his passion for food, people, planet and purpose. In just six years, he’s become the creative force behind our Obsessed movement and food manifesto, redefining how we think about food with a bold, forward-thinking approach you can literally taste in every dish.

Working closely with teams across the UK, he continues to push boundaries, inspiring chefs to think differently about sustainability and seasonality. From leading the success of our London Climate Action Week campaigns to launching our first-ever Obsessed Expo, he’s turning sustainable nutrition into action across our kitchens and using food as a force for good through initiatives like Cook for Good, Share Community and Adopt a School.

Judge, David Mulcahy praised him as “an exceptionally strong chef and mentor who clearly supports others through developing young talent. A great ambassador for the foodservice sector and wider hospitality industry.” Reflecting on his win, Dan said: “I’m absolutely honoured and humbled to be named Chef of the Year. I’m so proud to represent the talented chefs in our business. It’s been an incredible journey so far, driving craft and creativity in everything we do whilst never settling for ordinary – and to have that recognised at this level and by industry peers feels so special. This award motivates me to keep positively disrupting our industry, pushing boundaries and continuing to innovate at every opportunity. Moments like this make me even more excited about what’s next.”

Joining the winners’ circle was our account director, Ryan Davies, who whisked up the title Regional Manager of the Year with his inspiring people-first leadership. Celebrating thirteen years in the business, Ryan has transformed our South West region into a thriving, connected community that delivers for our teams, clients and customers. He’s raised the bar in leadership, growing teams, boosting revenue and securing major contracts, all while turning the region into a hub of culinary creativity – where chefs can experiment, push boundaries and even invite clients to roll up their sleeves and get their hands in the flour.

Ryan’s passion for people shines through his mentorship of rising leaders, community partnerships and sustainability projects like Generation Soil and Adopt a School, while also reigniting team spirit through volunteering days, social events, and a renewed focus on wellbeing. Speaking about his win, Ryan said, “When I heard my name for Regional Manager of the Year, I couldn’t believe it! It’s an incredible feeling and such a proud moment to see the South West region recognised too. Leading this team has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career – seeing people grow, connecting with clients and driving projects that really make an impact. I couldn’t have done it without such a passionate, creative and ambitious team around me – they make everything we achieve possible.”

Huge congratulations to our winners and finalists! Click on Dan and Ryan’s names to read more about their well-deserved wins.

Disclaimer: The image in this article has been digitally altered using Photoshop.