Independent coffee shops across the United Kingdom are being invited to enter the 2026 Grounds of Innovation Awards, as BRITA Professional opens nominations for its nationwide competition recognising creativity, sustainability and operational excellence. Entries for the fourth edition of the awards run from 6 May 2026 to 29 July 2026, according to Food Service Equipment Journal.
The 2026 overall winner will receive a PURITY C iQ water filtration system, including installation and training on water quality and sensory analysis, while the top three finalists will all receive filtration systems, Food Service Equipment Journal reported. The publication stated that the competition is now in its fourth year and is open to independent coffee shops from across the UK.
Explaining the focus on smaller operators, Samantha Scoles, sales director at BRITA Professional, said, “Independent coffee shops are the beating heart of the UK’s café culture, but many are under growing pressure,” in comments reported by Food Service Equipment Journal. In the same report, she added that BRITA sees “how fundamental water quality is to consistency, flavour and equipment performance.”
Scoles told Food Service Equipment Journal that the company is “proud to support operators year-round with smart filtration innovations that continuously monitor and optimise water quality, helping to serve consistently great coffee, protect machines and create the freedom to focus on creativity and innovation.” The PURITY C iQ system offered as the main prize is positioned within that family of smart filtration technologies.
The awards build on a track record of previous competitions. BRITA’s own coverage of the 2024 programme lists Mother Espresso in Liverpool as the first-place winner that year, stating that the top three coffee shops received a free PURITY C iQ system (World Coffee Portal, 22 May 2024; BRITA’s Meet the 2024 Grounds of Innovation Winners page, 2024 [UNVERIFIED]). World Coffee Portal reported that 2024 entries were open until 20 July 2024.
On BRITA’s UK website, the company also highlights Ritual Coffee Roasters in Cheltenham as the previous winner in 2025, according to Food Service Equipment Journal’s summary of the 2026 competition launch. BRITA’s dedicated 2025 page lists a top ten of recognised shops ranging from London and Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh (Grounds of Innovation 2025, 2025 [UNVERIFIED]).
The awards are closely associated with Scoles’ wider brief at BRITA Professional. She was appointed sales director in early 2023 and is described as a BRITA-qualified water sommelier with nine years of experience at the company, including roles as business sector manager and head of beverage, according to Public Sector Catering. The same source notes that her earlier career included positions at Britvic, Anheuser‑Busch and Matthew Clark.
Public Sector Catering reported that BRITA UK managing director David Hall credited Scoles with making “a huge impact on BRITA’s sales so far,” and praised her work on the BRITA Water Academy and the company’s UK Wellbeing Strategy when announcing her appointment. BRITA’s own background information, cited by Catering Insight, states that the company was founded over 50 years ago and now manufactures water-filtration products in 60 countries.
Food Service Equipment Journal confirms that nominations for the 2026 Grounds of Innovation Awards remain open until 29 July 2026, with entries sought from independent coffee shops across the UK that can demonstrate innovation in areas such as customer experience, sustainability and business operations.
