Agenda

Eddie Flores, Jr., co-founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, shares inspiring stories from his book "Franchising the American Dream" about building the largest Hawaii-based restaurant chain in the U.S.

He provides a witty and frank look at the unconventional strategies that led to L&L's eight consecutive #1 Asian food franchise rankings and explores key takeaways on everything from identifying a viable franchise idea and navigating risks to mastering marketing and fostering community impact. His advice is an essential guide for anyone looking to franchise their business, buy into a franchise or simply be inspired by a unique American dream realized.

Spread the goodness! Join us for a Give-Back Party, where, for one hour, we'll make peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches for those in need of food assistance in the local community. It's a fun and rewarding way to get to know fellow attendees while giving back to those in need.

We’ll celebrate the opening of the Summit with cocktails, appetizers and live music.

Breakfast is open to all Summit participants. Be sure to check in at the registration desk and pick up your name badge if you haven’t already.

In this session, you will hear four short, thought-provoking talks that will leave you invigorated and inspired.

This session will provide an in-depth exploration of modern supply chain management, focusing on strategies to build resilience and navigate an increasingly unpredictable global landscape. 

Diving into actionable best practices for diversifying your supplier base, attendees will learn to:

• Implement strategies for robust supplier diversification to minimize reliance on single sources and enhance flexibility.
• Utilize cutting-edge technologies like blockchain to achieve end-to-end visibility and accountability within their supply chains.
• Develop proactive risk mitigation plans to effectively navigate geopolitical shifts, economic volatility and unexpected global events.

Is your franchise ready for the intelligence age? This session goes beyond the hype to explore tangible applications of Artificial Intelligence across your restaurant operations. We'll explore the latest breakthroughs in kitchen automation, from precision robotics in food prep to smart dispensing systems that boost consistency and speed. Dive deep into how AI-powered inventory management slashes waste, sophisticated predictive analytics optimize staffing and ingredient orders, and dynamic pricing strategies maximize revenue in real-time. 

Attendees will learn to:

• Identify high-impact AI opportunities within their kitchen and back-of-house operations to drive efficiency and consistency.
• Leverage AI for smarter inventory, staffing and pricing decisions that directly impact profitability.
• Understand the proven ROI and implementation pathways for integrating advanced automation and predictive analytics into their franchise models.

Your team fuels your success, which is why this session will provide concrete, actionable strategies for building a resilient, high-performing workforce that directly impacts your franchise's bottom line. We'll tackle the realities of labor shortages head-on, offering best practices for attracting talent, optimizing your compensation and benefits packages, and fostering an authentic, engaging culture. 

Attendees will learn to:

• Identify and implement effective strategies to mitigate the impact of labor shortages and secure qualified staff.
• Optimize compensation, benefits and cultural initiatives to reduce turnover and maximize employee satisfaction.
• Use technology to streamline operations through efficient scheduling, enhanced training and robust compliance measures.

Forget the generic spreadsheets. This session isn't about crunching numbers; it's about decoding the financial story your franchise is telling you. We're diving deep into the microscopic details of unit economics to uncover the hidden levers that control your profitability. 

Attendees will learn to:

• Read their franchise's financial pulse to proactively identify profit leaks and growth opportunities.
• Implement cost optimization that safeguards quality and elevates the guest experience.
• Uncover hidden margin opportunities within their menu and daily operations.
• Create plans to provide enhanced support, facilitate communication and co-invest in technology and marketing initiatives for franchisee/franchisor success.

It’s time to get down and dirty with your customer's deepest desires and silent frustrations. Join a no-holds-barred panel of consumer insight provocateurs and battle-tested restaurant legends to explore how to start translating messy human behavior into golden nuggets of profit for your franchise.

Attendees will learn to:

• Dig into raw consumer data to uncover actionable insights often missed by surface-level analysis.
• Proactively adapt operations and menus to solve critical pain points and capitalize on intense demand for specific experiences (like dietary needs or seamless service).
• Leverage hyper-personalized marketing to build powerful, almost obsessive customer loyalty based on deep understanding.

Are you ready to embrace the digital mechanics needed to take your customer experience to the next level? In this session, experts tear down the walls between online and in-store, showing you how to force-fit a seamless omnichannel ecosystem that works. We'll dissect the guts of mobile ordering, reveal the secrets of loyalty programs that actually hook customers, and expose how to wrestle AI into submission for crystal-clear customer intent.

Attendees will learn to:

• Engineer a robust, interconnected digital ecosystem that eliminates friction points for customers.
• Extract actionable customer insights from AI to fuel personalized experiences and drive repeat business.
• Master the intricate dance of third-party delivery and in-house operations to maximize efficiency and profitability.

This hands-on session pulls back the curtain on how top franchises are becoming digital alchemists, transforming data and authentic connections into real-world buzz and customer loyalty. We're going past theory to show you how to wield AI for hyper-targeted advertising that actually converts, not just clicks.

Attendees will learn to:

• Harness AI-powered tools for precision targeting and hyper-efficient advertising campaigns.
• Identify, vet and collaborate with micro-influencers to build genuine brand advocacy and local buzz.
• Craft compelling social media content and community engagement strategies that drive customer loyalty and foot traffic.
• Collect, analyze and act on data across operations, marketing and customer engagement to drive growth and efficiency. 
• Focus on practical applications for franchisees.

Operators hear pitches all the time about products and services that will grow their business, but where’s the proof? We’ve got it right here.

This session includes four 15-minute presentations, each featuring one vendor and one operator sharing the how, when and ROI behind recent rollouts.

Join us for four 15-minute small-group discussions on challenges facing operators. Each attendee will participate in all three discussions.

This 30-minute speed round will feature several 5-minute pitches about products and services designed to improve operations and the customer experience.

Ready to expand, but wondering how to fund it? This session cuts straight to the chase on how to unlock the capital you need to scale your franchise empire. We'll demystify the landscape of franchise financing, covering everything from traditional lending avenues to innovative, non-traditional funding sources. Learn what lenders are really looking for, how to craft a bulletproof financial pitch and the critical numbers you need to know before you even walk through the door.

Attendees will learn to:

• Navigate diverse capital options for franchise growth, from conventional loans to emerging funding models.
• Prepare a compelling financial case that attracts lenders and investors.
• Strategically plan for capital access to support new unit development and operational enhancements.

We all know that the right location can make or break a new franchise unit, and this session dives deep into the art and science of strategic site selection for optimal growth. We'll move beyond simple demographics to explore cutting-edge tools and methodologies, including geospatial analytics, traffic pattern analysis, competitive mapping and psychographic profiling.

Attendees will learn to:

• Utilize advanced data and analytics to pinpoint prime, high-potential real estate locations for new units.
• Negotiate advantageous lease terms and understand critical clauses to protect their investment.
• Avoid common site selection mistakes that can lead to underperforming or costly locations.

Your brand's promise hinges on a consistent experience, but achieving it across dozens or hundreds of locations can be a nightmare. This session will equip both franchisors and franchisees with the tools and frameworks to standardize operational best practices, maintain product quality and ensure brand messaging resonates uniformly, no matter the zip code. 

Attendees will learn to:

• Develop robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are easily implementable and scalable across all locations.
• Implement effective quality control and audit mechanisms to ensure consistent product and service delivery.
• Leverage technology and training strategies to embed brand standards and values uniformly throughout the franchise system.

The dining room isn't where most of your growth is happening anymore, so this session pulls back the curtain on how to aggressively expand your off-premise footprint and optimize every takeout, delivery, catering and drive-thru dollar. We're moving beyond basic online ordering to dissect the strategic integration of virtual brands, efficient ghost kitchen models and smart hub-and-spoke delivery systems. 

Attendees will learn to:

• Identify and evaluate opportunities for expanding into virtual brands or optimized ghost kitchen models.
• Implement strategies to maintain brand quality and operational efficiency across all off-premise channels.
• Navigate the complexities of third-party delivery partnerships and in-house fulfillment to maximize profitability.

Grab a cold one or your favorite soda and settle in for an exclusive happy hour with some of the sharpest minds in the restaurant franchise world. This isn't a formal panel; it's a candid, conversational session where leading operators will uncork their real-world tactics, discuss the burning issues of today and share their battle-tested advice for thriving in 2026 and beyond. Come ready with questions – the bar (and the wisdom) is open!