The benchmark of excellence
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The The Cafe Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.
The Cafe Awards
Cafe Owner of the Year Award
The owner who built something people love.
About this category
This award recognises a cafe or coffee shop owner whose vision, hard work and leadership have built a business customers love and staff are proud to work for. Judges look for the business, the team and the owner's own contribution.
Eligibility
Open to owners and co owners of UK cafes and coffee shops.
Judging criteria
- Business results
- Leadership of the team
- Customer experience
- Resilience
- Contribution to the community
Qualitative criteria
A business shaped by one person's care.
Metrics
- Turnover trend
- Sites opened
- Staff retention and customer reviews
Additional criteria
Entries should include a short description of the cafe or business, photographs of the space, food or drink where helpful, supporting figures such as covers, average spend, growth or reviews, and, where possible, comments from customers. Figures can be given as ranges and nothing in an entry is shared beyond the judging panel. Judges consider the size and setting of every business, so a single counter kiosk competes on equal terms with a busy high street cafe or a small group.
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