QSR CNCT is proud to announce the finalists for the 2nd Pepsi British QSR & Franchise Awards 2026 powered by Unico & Lamb Weston.
These awards honour the exceptional innovation, dedication, and success within the quick service restaurant sector across the UK, recognising those who are raising the bar and shaping the future of the industry.
The businesses shortlisted for this year’s awards represent the very best of the best: 300 top QSR brands from across the UK, spanning a wide range of sectors including burgers, pizza, coffee, desserts, chicken, and more.
The winners will be announced at an elegant ceremony which will be held in Birmingham at the end of January.
Irfan Younis, spokesperson for the Pepsi British QSR & Franchise Awards 2026 commented: “These awards celebrate the incredible talent and commitment of QSR professionals and brands in the UK.
We’re proud to once again shine a spotlight on those making a real impact and driving the industry forward.
We want to congratulate all our finalists & wish them the best of luck.”
The finalists of the 2nd Pepsi British QSR & Franchise Awards 2026 are:
Burger Brand of the Year
– Phat Buns
– SoBe Burger
– Rocket Restaurants
– SlamBurger
– The Burger Priest
– Shake Shak
– Burgerlicious
– Smashburger
– Smoke & Pepper
– MEATliquor
Emerging Burger Brand of the Year
– The 12th Street Burgers
– Burger Drop
– Side Street
– Chicos
– Patty&Bun’s
– 5 Akhis
– Burger & Beyond
– Legends
– Urban Fresh
– Betsy Burger
Best Pizza Restaurant of the Year
– Fireaway Pizza
– The Fat Pizza
– Herbies Pizza
– Caprinos
– Pizza Gogo
– Tops Pizza
– Dominoes
– Pizza Pilgrims
– Franco Manco
– Papa John
Emerging Pizza Brand of the Year
– Japes
– Pizza1889
– Yard Sale Pizza
– Snappy Tomato Pizza
– Four Star Pizza
– Civerinos
– Pizza Triangle
– Santas Pizza
– Perfect Pizza
– Mr Singhs Pizza
Chicken Restaurant of the Year
– Morleys
– Dallas Chicken
– Favorite Fried Chicken
– Chicken Cottage
– Sam’s Chicken
– Maeme’s Piri Piri
– Chicking
– Pepes Piri Piri
– Rio Piri Piri
– Dixy Chicken
Emerging Chicken Brand of the Year
– Sides
– Coqfighter
– Chicken Shop
– Thunderbird
– Rooster Shack
– Miami Crispy
– Butchies
– Chicken Shop
– Eat The Bird
– Wingers
Sushi Restaurant of the Year
– Gourmet Sushi
– YouMeSushi
– The Sushi Co
– SushiDog
– SticksnSushi
– Sushi Handroll
– Sushi Point
– Zumuku
– Wasabi
– Yakinori
Best Asian Food Brand
– Buy & Bite
– Zezu
– Maki & Ramen
– Kêu Saigon street food
– Shoryu
– Taro
– Dr Noodles
– Wok&Go
– Wok To Walk
– Yakinori
Mexican Resturant of the Year
– Plan Burrito
– Mexi Bean Express
– Wahaca
– Benitos
– Cactus Jacks,
– EL Mex
– Zambrero
– Trejo’s Tacos
– Don Tacos
– BARBURRITO
Best Indian Streetfood Category
– Tikka Nation
– Paratha Inn
– Chennai Srilalitha Veg Restaurant:
– Chit ‘n’ Chaat
– Dawat
– SKVP – Shree Krishna Vada Pav
– Tamatanga
– Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food
– Paratha stop
– The Tava Shop
Chai Cafe of the Year
– Cuppa’ Chaii
– Karak Chaii
– Chai Green
– Mi Chaii
– House of Chaii
– Chaiiology
– CHA CHA CHAI
– Chaii Garden
– Urbanchai
– Chaiibox,
Best Ice Cream Parlour Brand of of the Year
– Sprinkles Gelato
– Scooperb:
– Sweet Spot:
– Snowflake Luxury Gelato
– Dolce Desserts
– Treatz
– Ben & Jerry
– Icestone Desserts
– Gallones Icecream
– Amorino
Best Dessert Cafe Brand of of the Year
– Kaspa’s Desserts
– afflemeister
– Ben & Jerrys
– Wafflemeister
– Creams
– Haute Dolci
– Little Dessert Shop
– Chocoberry,
– Urban Chocolatier,
– Heavenly Desserts
Emerging Dessert Brand of the Year
– The Urban Chocolatier
– FRURT
– Udderlicious Ice Cream
– The Knot Churros
– Humble Crumble
– crepeaffaire.
– Love Churros
– Rassams Creamery
– Chin Chin Ice Cream
– Sweet Spot
Sandwich/ Bagel Brand of the Year
– Jamaica Blue
– B Bagel
– Yolk
– Upper Crust
– Friary Mill
– Bread Ahead
– Sandwich Sandwich
– Brick Lane Bagel Co
– Birleys
– Alby’s
Best Cake & Bakery Brand of the Year
– Gooey Bakery:
– The Warrens Bakery
– Crosstown
– Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery
– Coughlans Bakery
– Bayne’s the Family Bakers
– Birds Bakery
– Parsons Bakery
– Batch’d
– Galloways Bakers
The Coffee Brand of the Year
– Urban baristas
– Cafe2U
– Jamaica Blue Cafe
– 92 Degrees
– Black Sheep Coffee
– Cooks Coffee
– Ground Espresso Bars
– EL&N
– Bakers + Baristas
– The Coffee House
Emerging Cafe Brand
– Boston Tea Party
– 200 Degrees
– Bewiched Coffee
– Insomnia Coffee
– WatchHouse
– Chalk Coffee
– Bru Coffee and Gelato
– The Real Eating Company
– Two Magpies
– TinderBox
Streetfood Van of the Year
– Fancy Fries
– Curry On Naanstop
– The Rub BBQ
– SoleLuna Pizza:
– Spudman:
– Pasta A Mano
– Papelón the company
– Panku Streetfood
– Fast Feast Food Van
– T.M.K Street Food
Streetfood Brand of the Year
– Bunsik
– Salt Shed
– De Nadas
– Egg & Co
– I am Döner,
– Yakinori
– Street Taste Co
– Street
– Desi Street Food
– Sri Lankan Street food and Cafe
Family & Friends Restaurant Brand of the Year
– Afrikana Kitchen
– Mr Ts
– Tony Macaroni
– Big Johns
– Rudy’s Pizza
– Pizza Pilgrims
– MakHalal
– Bills
– Giraffe
– Harry Ramsdens
Healthy / Salad QSR Brand of the Year
– The Salad Project
– Atis
– Tossed
– Pure
– Urban Greens
– Farmer J
– The Salad Kitchen
– Garbanzos
– Zest Salad Bar
– Bibis
The Bubble Tea Brand of the Year
– CUPP
– Bubble CiTea
– Bubbleology
– Mooboo
– Chatime
– T4:
– Yi Fang
– HEYTEA,
Emerging Bubble Tea Brand of the Year
– Ding Tea
– Mowchi
– Happy Lemon
– Biju Bubble Tea Room
– Kissaten:
– Milksha UK
– Whale Tea
– Bubble Majik
– TeaLith
– Cuppacha
Juice / Drink Brand of the Year
– Juices 4 Life
– Mango Twist
– ShakeTastic
– Beleaf Juice Bar
– Boost Juice
– Knoops
– Juice Bros
– Bloom Juice Co
– Juicy Health Club
– Vibe Juice
Greek / Gyro Food Brand of the Year
– Taka Taka
– Mikos Gyros
– Street Greek
– The Souvlaki
– The Athenia
– Eugreeka
Dishd
– Zeus
– PittaGoras
– Going Greek
Takeaway of the Year
– SpudBros Express
– Crave Detroit Pizza
– Craft Burger
– Hooyah Burgers
– Super Smash
– Burger Joint MCR
– Georgia Fried Chicken
– HFC Wakefield
– Wings 101 –
– Pancho’s Burritos
Emerging QSR Brand of the Year
– Really Awesome Coffee
– Smashville
– Mayyil
– Coco di Mama
– Luckys Burgers
– marlowes Burgers
– Beefy Boys
– Miss Millie’s
– BaBaBoom Fresh Kebabs
– Smack Burgers
European QSR Brand of the Year
– Fat Phill’s
– Honi Poke
– Rocket Restaurants
– Amorino
– Camile Thai Kitchen
– Sticks’n’Sushi
– Junk Burger
– Paul UK
– Joe & the Juice
– Ole & Steen
Global QSR Brand in the UK
– Shakeaway
– 7th Heaven Bakery
– MB Chicken
– Chipotle
– Marugame Udon
– Thai Express
– Smoothie Factory
– Little Caesar’s
– Daves Hot Chicken
– Tim Hortons
British QSR Brand of the Year
– Eggless Cake Shop
– IRO Sushi
– Muffin Break
– Tortilla
– Wenzel’s
– Kokoro
– GDK
– Wenzel’s the Bakers
– Lola’s Bakery
– Chopstix
Growth Brand of the Year
– Dish’d
– CUPP
– Coughlans Bakery
– Taka Taka
– Knoops
– CUPP
– Tossed
– Pizza Pilgrims
– The Fat Pizza
– Mr Ts
QSR Entreprenuer of the Year
– City Restaurants Group
– Gail’s Bakery,
– Fireaway
– Little Dessert Shop
– Morleys
– Kaspa’s Desserts
– Eggless Cake Shop / Ambala
– EL&N
– Caprinos
– Coughlans Bakery
Despite the demands of running a rapidly expanding company, Choudhary has learned to find balance, something he didn’t always have. These days, he’s an early riser, front-loading his weekdays with office work before spending afternoons on-site visits and store builds.
Evenings are reserved for football and gym sessions, and weekends are kept for family. “Sunday lunch at my mum’s house—that’s the recharge,” he says with a smile.
Among his proudest milestones is winning an international franchise of the year award earlier in his career, besting competitors across 30 markets, but he’s just as proud of The Sushi Co’s present trajectory. He said: “It’s been incredible to watch it grow. And we’re only getting started.”
When asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Choudhary was quick to reply: “Learn to walk before you run. There are no shortcuts. Move with care, build the right team, and think everything through.”
For prospective franchisees eyeing entry into the booming sushi space, The Sushi Co is currently welcoming applications.
Choudhary says: “We’re looking for experienced QSR and business professionals ready to invest in a proven, fast-growing concept. This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the casual dining market, and we’re here to lead it.”
As The Sushi Co expands across the UK, Choudhary is showing that scale doesn’t have to mean compromise. With handcrafted sushi at its core and a franchise model built on training, quality, and support, he’s not just growing a brand, he’s setting a new standard for what fast-casual dining can deliver.
