The shortlist for this year’s awards, the presentation of which takes place on 7 March at The Guildhall in the City, London, includes nods for Stonegate and Young’s for Best Company.
Stonegate chief executive Simon Longbottom is also nominated as Best Individual while the company’s backers, TDR Capital, is listed for Best Investor.
New World Trading Company is featured in the Deal of the Year category following its acquisition by Graphite for £50m last year as well as in Best Use of Technology and Best Venue for the Clubhouse in Liverpool.
Enterprise Inns’ managed investments division is included in the Best Emerging Concept category, while Punch is featured in The Evolution Award category.
New World Trading Company (NWTC) and Stonegate are also finalists in The Publican Awards – organised by The Morning Advertiser – which are being held at the Battersea Evolution on 14 March.
New World Trading Company is up for Best Employer and Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites). The company has also been shortlisted for Best Pub Operations Team, Best New Pub/Bar, Best Drinks Offer and the Best Pub Brand/Concept.
The Best Pub Brand/Concept award and Best Pub Employer (500+ employees) will see NWTC go up against Stonegate Pub Company, which has also been shortlisted in the Best Late Night Operator, Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), Best Value Food Offer and Responsible Retailer of the Year categories.
At the Retailers' Retailer of the Year event, two further awards will be presented on the night – the AlixPartners Growth Tracker Award and the Tim Bacon Rising Star Award – renamed this year in tribute to the late Living Ventures founder Tim Bacon’s immense contribution to the sector and his gift of recognising and developing talent.
Following in the footsteps of past speakers, including Sir Matthew Pinsent, Nick Leeson, Andrew Neil, John Lloyd, Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, this year’s guest speaker and presenter will be rugby union legend Sean Fitzpatrick, the former All Blacks captain and World Cup winner.
MCA editor Mark Wingett said: “This year’s finalists highlight the robust state of every facet of the industry.”