USHG CEO Chip Wade named 2026 Gold Plate winner

Chip Wade, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, received the Gold Plate Award on May 16 during the 72nd annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards celebration held at Chicago's Union Station. The awards, presented by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, recognize outstanding leaders across the food-away-from-home sector.

Wade was nominated in the Independent Restaurant/Multi-Concept category by Nestlé Professional Solutions and PepsiCo. He emerged as the winner from the nine Silver Plate winners of the 2026 class.

With 30 years of experience in restaurant leadership, including tenures with Red Lobster and TGI Fridays, Wade joined USHG as president in 2019 and took over as CEO in 2022 from the founder Danny Meyer. In his acceptance speech, Wade acknowledged his team, stating, "This recognition, really, for me, deserves to go to the 3,000-plus employees and chefs and leaders who work tirelessly every single day at Union Square Hospitality Group."

Clarence Otis, Jr., former CEO of Darden and a Silver Plate awardee himself, introduced Wade. He described him as a "culture-first leader" and emphasized Wade's curiosity about guests and commitment to team success.

The Gold & Silver Plate Awards have been honoring exceptional foodservice operators for 72 years. Each year, a jury of industry experts evaluates nominees from various segments of the foodservice industry, ultimately selecting one to receive the prestigious Gold Plate Award for overall excellence.

During the event, Richard "Dick" Marriott received the 2026 Legends Award, recognizing his lifetime achievements in the hospitality industry. IFMA is currently accepting nominations for the 2027 Silver Plate Awards, with the celebration scheduled for May 22, 2027, in Chicago.