Acorn Awards 2026: Nikoletta Theofylaktidou, Restaurant Associates

Position Senior sous chef, Restaurant Associates

Age 28

Nominator Lizzie Barnett, communications manager, Restaurant Associates

Nikoletta Theofylaktidou is helping drive the success of Restaurant Associates’ fine dining operation at a major global professional services firm.

Since joining the business as a junior sous chef in 2023, Theofylaktidou has progressed rapidly to senior sous chef while completing a Level 4 NVQ in Hospitality Management and reaching the final of the Roux Scholarship twice, in 2025 and 2026. She now plays a leading role in menu development, kitchen operations and team management across the site’s fine dining offer. 

Her impact has been both creative and commercial. Responding to client feedback, she led the development of a menu concept focused on greater variety, provenance and dining trends. The new approach helped drive an 18% increase in daily covers, while careful cost control maintained gross profit margins despite rising food costs. 

Through regular one-to-one coaching, she has mentored a commis chef who had limited practical skills into promotion and apprenticeship training. Her commitment to development and competition has also helped foster a more ambitious culture within the kitchen. 

Beyond day-to-day operations, she has played a key role in delivering high-profile consultant chef events across the account, helping strengthen both client engagement and business development opportunities. 

Outside the kitchen, Theofylaktidou champions mental health awareness as a Burnt Chef ambassador, supported Westminster Kingsway College (Capital City College) during the relaunch of its training restaurant facility, and is working towards becoming a Springboard ambassador to help inspire future hospitality talent.

Through her mentoring, leadership and education work both within and beyond the business, Theofylaktidou is helping encourage and inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals.