What does it mean to be powerful in the independent restaurant world?

Sure, it can mean having the funding or the Big Name that can make projects happen or garner headlines. But it can also mean changing the world in some way.

Restaurants today are increasingly mission driven. Customers look beyond the food and atmosphere for a larger purpose, a raison d’être, be it saving the planet or improving the lives of workers. They are looking for restaurant concepts that serve as a force for change.

With this inaugural Power List, the editorial staff at Restaurant Hospitality has selected 10 people we are calling Change Agents. These are folks who, through their restaurant brands, have had a powerful impact on their communities. They are changing their world.

Are you?