FEA releases list of top 100 foodservice social influencers

The Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA) has unveiled its inaugural list of the top 100 foodservice social media influencers at its 2021 annual conference.

The brainchild of FEA chair Steve Hobbs and the associations' marketing manager Adam Lawrence, the list was compiled with the help of influencer marketing consultant Gordon Glenister, who helped FEA analyse the influence of a range of people in the foodservice industry to calculate the impact of their social media posting.

This included how frequently each account was replied to, reposted, mentioned or followed on both Twitter and LinkedIn. The final chart was calculated by amalgamating these scores and equally weighting influence on both platforms.

At number one was Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, with Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon Restaurants and the Sustainable Restaurants Association, and Lindsay Graham, the Poverty & Inequality Commissioner for Scotland, in second and third places respectively.

In a video message, Kate Nicholls stressed how important online communities and their connections had been over the last 18 months. "As Covid hit, social media helped to build the shared networks that have been so vital in getting our industry through the crisis. We've seen the importance of that cascading of information, that sharing of content across the industry, UKHospitality and FEA working hand in hand with other trade associations, building that collaborative network across the industry to educate, inform and inspire, and I think that's something that we want to make sure that we build on, going forwards."

"Somebody who has been the voice of the wider hospitality industry over the last year is deserving of this award," said Steve Hobbs. "I think the message that Kate has delivered at all levels has been quite phenomenal, and, on behalf of FEA, I send my congratulations to her."

Top ten foodservice influencers

1. Kate Nicholls, chief executive,UK Hospitality
2. Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon Restaurants and the Sustainable Restaurant Association
3. Lindsay Graham, poverty and inequality commissioner, Poverty and Inequality Commission Scotland
4. Mark Lewis, chief executive, Hospitality Action
5. James Stagg, editor, The Caterer
6. Andy Jones, chair, PS100 Group
7. Hayden Groves, chef-consultant
8. Lisa Jenkins, managing editor, The Caterer
9. James Golding, group chef director, the Pig hotels
10. Stuart Roberts, deputy president, National Farmers Union