Celebrating and Recognizing Top Performers
BBI Best Practices Awards
The coveted BBI Best Practices Awards (BPAs) have been celebrating the best performers in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years.
What makes them unique is that the results are determined exclusively by data. The judging criteria incorporates specific factors that are statistically proven to be evident in the most financially successful restaurant brands across our benchmarks.
Award Categories
Recognizing Exceptional Performance
Our annual Best Practices Awards span three specific focus areas that include category breakdowns – meaning there are a total of 10 award categories in all. The top performers are nominated before being whittled down to the ultimate winner in each.
Brand of the Year
For the first time in 2026, we crowned a Brand of the Year to recognize the ultimate standard in holistic restaurant performance. The winner is selected through a rigorous analysis of both financial performance and guest sentiment.
Employer of Choice Award Categories:
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Quick Service
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Fast Casual
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Family Dining
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Casual Dining
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Upscale Casual
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Fine Dining
Voice of Customer Award Categories:
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Limited Service
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Full Service
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International (outside US)
Criteria: Employer’s Choice
Why the Employer of Choice BPA Matters
Winners meet stringent criteria related to how the most financially successful restaurants are run (i.e. top performers in sales and traffic). The primary factor considered is turnover – at non-management, management and General Manager levels. The model also incorporates a variety of other workforce metrics that statistically map to lower turnover and better financial performance.
Criteria: Voice of the Customer
Why the VoC BPA Matters
Winners meet stringent criteria related to how the most financially successful restaurants are run (i.e. top performers in sales and traffic). The primary factor considered is guest sentiment specifically through Average Star Ratings on online reviews channels – which is statistically directly correlated to financial performance. We analyze all reviews collected throughout the most recent calendar year.
2026 BPA Winners
Brand of the Year
2026 BPA Winners
Employer of Choice
2026 BPA Winners
Voice of the Customer
Roll call: Past Winners
All Previous BPA Recipients
Employer of Choice
| Year | Quick Service | Fast Casual | Family Dining | Casual Dining | Upscale Casual | Fine Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bagel Brands | Panda Express | Eat’n Park | LongHorn Steakhouse | The Cheesecake Factory | The Capital Grille |
| 2024 | Panda Express | Panera | Silver Diner | LongHorn Steakhouse | Seasons 52 | The Capital Grille |
| 2023 | Panda Express | Panera | Silver Diner | Olive Garden | Seasons 52 | The Capital Grille |
Voice of the Customer
| Year | Limited Service | Full Service | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Torchy’s Tacos | Twin Peaks | Coco Bambu |
| 2024 | Velvet Taco | Twin Peaks | Coco Bambu |
| 2023 | – | Twin Peaks | – |
Note: The 2023 Voice of the Customer BPA winner was for the entire restaurant industry. Brand is listed in its specific segment for ease of presentation.
Best Practices Awards
The Best Practices Awards (1998-2020) recognized the brands that consistently delivered exceptional results across the restaurant experience. Nominee selections were evaluated based on sales, traffic, employment, and people practices. The recipients of each award ranked highest in their segment.
We chose to re-structure this into the Voice of the Customer and Employer of Choice awards we have today following a Covid-driven hiatus.
| Year | Quick Service | Fast Casual | Family Dining | Casual Dining | Upscale Casual | Fine Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Wendy’s | Panda Express | Silver Diner | 99 Restaurants | BJ’s Brewhouse | The Capital Grille |
| 2019 | Wendy’s | City’s BBQ | Norms | LongHorn Steakhouse | The Cheesecake Factory | J. Gilberts |
| 2018 | Wendy’s | Panda Express | Eat n’ Park | Olive Garden | The Cheesecake Factory | The Capital Grille |
| 2017 | Raising Cane’s | Panera Bread | Eat’n Park | 99 Restaurants | The Cheesecake Factory | The Capital Grille |
| 2016 | White Castle | Jason’s Deli | Denny’s | Chilli’s | The Cheesecake Factory | – |
| 2015 | Taco Bell | – | Denny’s | Chili’s | The Cheesecake Factory | – |
| 2013 | White Castle | – | Boston Market | LongHorn Steakhouse | BJ’s Brewhouse | – |
| 2012 | White Castle | La Madeleine | Eat’n Park | Longhorn Steakhouse | BJ’s Brewhouse | – |
| 2011 | McDonald’s | – | Eat’n Park | Logan’s Roadhouse | The Cheesecake Factory | – |
| 2010 | Burger King | – | Eat’n Park | Famous Dave’s | BJ’s Brewhouse | – |
| 2009 | Burger King | – | Eat’n Park | Famous Dave’s | BJ’s Brewhouse | – |
| 2008 | Whataburger | – | Golden Corral | Olive Garden | – | Claim Jumper |
| 2007 | White Castle | Panda Restaurant Group | – | LongHorn Steakhouse | – | The Capital Grille |
| 2006 | White Castle | Jason’s Deli | – | Olive Garden | – | Morton’s Steakhouse |
| 2005 | Donatos Pizza | – | Peter Piper Pizza | California Pizza Kitchen | – | The Capital Grille |
| 2004 | Monical’s Pizza | – | Chuck E. Cheese | Olive Garden | – | Claim Jumper |
| 2003 | Noah’s Bagels | Corner Bakery | – | California Pizza Kitchen | – | Claim Jumper |
| 2002 | El Pollo Loco | Corner Bakery | California Pizza Kitchen | – | Maggiano’s | |
| 2001 | – | – | Corner Bakery | Red Lobster | – | Claim Jumper |
| 2000 | – | – | – | – | – | Maggiano’s |
| 1999 | – | – | – | – | The Cheesecake Factory | – |
| 1998 | – | – | Red Lobster | – | – | – |
Note: From 1998 to 2000, these awards were for the entire industry rather (as opposed to being segment specific). The winners are included under their specific segments for ease of presentation.
Legacy
The Legacy Award recognizes an individual or individual(s) who have made outstanding contributions to the restaurant industry.
| Year | Legacy Award |
|---|---|
| 2024 | G.J. Hart, President & CEO of Red Robin |
| 2023 | Joni & Wally Doolin Black Box Intelligence |
| 2020 | David Gordon & Dina Barmasse, The Cheesecake Factory |
| 2019 | Steve King, Dave & Buster’s |
| 2018 | Danny Meyer, USHG |
| 2017 | Steve Carley, Red Robin |
| 2016 | Sally Smith, Buffalo Wild Wings |
| 2015 | John Miller, Denny’s |
| 2013 | Gene Lee, Darden |
| 2012 | Kent Taylor, Texas Roadhouse |
| 2011 | Jerry Deitchle, BJ’s Restaurants |
| 2010 | Greg Creed, Taco Bell |
| 2009 | Doug Brooks, Brinker |
| 2008 | Phil Hickey, Rare Hospitality |
| 2007 | Jim Broadhurst, Eat’n Park |
| 2006 | Lloyd Hill & Lou Kaucic, Applebee’s |
| 2005 | Joe Lee, Darden |
Heart of the Workplace, Diamond Catalyst and Catalyst
The Diamond Catalyst Award (2013-2019) carried an elevated status over the original Best Practices Awards. Judged on the same criteria, it was given to a single brand with superior operational and workplace results than the entire industry as opposed to its specific segment.
The Catalyst Award (1999-2012) was given to a restaurant brand that outpaced the industry norm and demonstrated significantly improved performance in people practices over the prior year.
The Heart of the Workplace Award (2002-2020) was presented to a company demonstrating significant commitment to and investment in its employees and communities.
All three awards were consolidated into the new criteria referenced above from 2023 onwards.
| Year | Diamond Catalyst | Catalyst | Heart of the Workplace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | LongHorn Steakhouse | – | Whataburger |
| 2019 | La Madeleine | – | BJ’s Brewhouse |
| 2018 | Panera | – | BJ’s Brewhouse |
| 2017 | Olive Garden | – | Red Lobster |
| 2016 | Dave & Buster’s | – | Cafe Momentum |
| 2015 | White Castle | – | Panera |
| 2013 | The Cheesecake Factory | – | Chilli’s |
| 2012 | – | Domino’s | Red Robin |
| 2011 | – | Chilli’s | Darden |
| 2010 | – | Logan’s Roadhouse | Corner Bakery |
| 2009 | – | The Cheesecake Factory | Hard Rock Cafe |
| 2008 | – | Dave & Buster’s | Chili’s |
| 2007 | – | Pizza Properties | Legal Sea Foods |
| 2006 | – | BJ’s Brewhouse | Bubba Gump Shrimp Company |
| 2005 | – | T.G.I. Friday’s | Eat’n Park |
| 2004 | – | Applebee’s | Jamba Juice |
| 2003 | – | Pata Pomodoro | Rock Bottom Restaurants |
| 2002 | – | Applebee’s | Restaurants Unlimited |
| 2000 | – | – | Texas Land and Cattle |
| 1999 | – | – | Frisch’s Restaurants |
Become a BPA Winner
How To Get Your Brand a BPA
As we mention extensively above, the BPAs are determined purely on data pertaining to actual performance that we analyze as part of our extensive benchmarks. If you are currently included within these benchmarks, you are already under consideration for the awards. If you are not but would like to explore involvement, reach out to our team.
