Delaware North Executive Vice President and COO Rick Abramson on May 21 received one of the most prestigious awards in foodservice – the Silver Plate Award, which is presented to top foodservice operators by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA).
Abramson was one of nine 2016 Silver Plate winners announced in March at IFMA’s Chain Operators 
Exchange (COEX) conference in Las Vegas. He and the other winners were honored at IFMA’s 62nd Annual Gold & Silver Plate Celebration during the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago.
IFMA instituted the Gold & Silver Plate Awards in 1954 to pay tribute to the most outstanding and innovative talents in nine segments of foodservice operations: Independent Restaurants/Multi-Concept, Chain Full Service/Multi-Concept, Chain Limited Service, Business and Industry/Foodservice Management, Health Care, Elementary and Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities, Specialty Foodservice, and Hotels and Lodging.
Each year, a distinguished jury of trade press editors and previous award winners weighs the merits of hundreds of candidates before selecting the executives who are honored with the Silver Plate Award.
The Gold & Silver Plate Awards are often called “The Academy Awards of Foodservice.” Abramson won in the specialty category after being nominated by Pepsico, Ecolab and Anheuser-Busch InBev.
PHOTO CAPTION: Rick Abramson (third from left) is surrounded by members of his family and Delaware North’s leadership team on May 21 at the 62nd Annual Gold & Silver Plate Celebration in Chicago.