And the Winners Are . . .
In 1989, the publishers of Ingram’s Magazine introduced the Silver Ladle Awards, honoring the best restaurants in the metropolitan area in a wide range of categories. The competition was spirited and the awards coveted. After 10 years, the requests kept coming to expand the categories. So in 1999, Entertainment & Culture, Business Services and Business Products were added.
The categories have morphed over the years, as new industries be-came more prominent. You will notice, if you have followed this edition through the years, that there are many repeat honorees. Unlike the fan balloting for professional sports All-Star games, where tradition and local bias are more important than that year’s performance, Best of Business awards are given to businesses that are setting the standards again that year. If a company repeats, it is because it’s still doing the job better than anybody else.
How do we know that these are the best businesses in these 60-plus categories? Many of them are businesses with whom we do businesses. But that’s not why or how they were chosen. These are awards that are determined by you, our readers, who are among the most dis-criminating consumers around. In effect, the results come from a “jury of your peers.” Once again, we were flooded with ballots, and many of the categories were “close finishes.” What we can tell you for sure is that every one of these businesses deserves to be on this list.
Seventeen years is a long time to continue a program. What makes this one so enjoyable is the response Ingram’s continues to get every year. The competition was hot—pretty appropriate for an August in Kansas City.
Enjoy the 17th Annual Best of Business awards.
Wining and Dining--Ingram's 17th Annual Silver Ladle Awards
Entertainment and Culture
Business Services
Business Products
