AGENDA

All attendees, sponsors and speakers must check in at the registration desk and pick up a name badge. Please wear your badge at all times during the Summit.

Retaining customers is even more crucial than acquiring new ones, which is why this session will explore how data-driven strategies can transform casual diners into loyal patrons and brand advocates.

By analyzing customer preferences, purchasing patterns and feedback, operators may create personalized dining experiences that resonate with individual tastes. Learn how to:

• Identify and nurture high-value customers: Discover the characteristics of your most loyal patrons and tailor your offerings to meet their needs.
• Leverage customer data to optimize marketing efforts: Create targeted promotions and personalized recommendations that drive repeat business.
• Enhance customer satisfaction through data-driven insights: Understand customer preferences and pain points to deliver exceptional service.

Over 100 years ago, department store magnate John Wannamaker famously said, “I know half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, the trouble is I don’t know which half”. Today, this trouble still exists.

In the highly competitive restaurant industry where every marketing dollar counts, franchise organizations need smarter media strategies to drive customer engagement and ROI. This panel will explore how to harness customer data to improve targeting and conversion rates at the brand, regional, and individual franchise level. It will also cover the value of deploying intuitive, real-time dashboards for campaign optimization to maximize the impact of media efforts including paid search, social, programmatic display, and even direct mail.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to analyze customer data to refine audience targeting.
• Strategies to align media spend across brand, regional, and franchise tiers.
• The power of real-time dashboards for campaign performance and optimization.
• Best practices to leverage media channels for both walk-in and online ordering.

Finding the perfect area for a new location is no longer a matter of gut feeling. By leveraging the power of data analytics, restaurant leaders can make informed decisions that drive growth and profitability. This session will delve into the specific use of demographic and traffic pattern data to identify prime locations and optimize expansion plans.

Experts will discuss:

• Analyzing income levels, age groups, family composition and foot traffic patterns.
• Leveraging foot traffic and consumer spending data to assess market potential.
• The impact of nearby businesses and attractions.
• Using real-time traffic data to optimize delivery and takeout operations.
• Mapping tools.
• Forecasting future trends and consumer behavior.

In the highly competitive landscape of restaurant franchising, securing and retaining exceptional talent is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This session will delve into cutting-edge strategies and technologies designed to streamline the recruitment process and foster a culture of employee development.

Attendees will learn about:

• Applicant tracking systems to streamline the hiring process.
• Employing social media and online job boards to reach a wider pool of candidates.
• AI-powered tools for candidate screening and matching.
• Implementing onboarding programs to ensure new hires are successful.
• Providing ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance employee skills.
• Utilizing performance management tools to track employee progress and provide feedback.
• Analyzing employee engagement metrics to identify areas for improvement.
• Utilizing predictive analytics to forecast future talent needs.
• Implementing retention strategies.

While food is the core of any restaurant business, exploring additional revenue streams can provide significant opportunities for growth and profitability. This session will delve into strategies for diversifying your restaurant's income, including:

• Merchandise and retail.
• Catering and event services.
• Meal kits and delivery services
• Partnerships and collaborations.

Catering can be a lucrative and rewarding extension of your restaurant business, offering opportunities to reach new customers, showcase your culinary expertise and increase revenue.

This session will cover effective strategies for maximizing your catering business and expanding your reach, focusing on:

• Catering management software.
• Online ordering platforms.
• Payment processing and invoicing.
• Mobile catering apps.
• Customer relationship management software.
• Social media marketing for catering.

By understanding customers' needs, preferences and satisfaction levels, restaurants can make data-driven decisions to improve your restaurant's operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth. This session will explore the latest trends and technologies in customer feedback collection and analysis, including:

• AI-powered sentiment analysis.
• Text mining and natural language processing: Extracting valuable insights from unstructured data, such as social media comments and open-ended survey responses.
• Customer journey mapping.
• Real-time feedback collection.
• Integrating feedback with other data sources.

Implementing a new technology is becoming part of a restaurant's standard practice, but a lot can go wrong if you begin before you know where you are going. In this session, attendees will learn:

• How to Build Your Roadmap: Practical steps for mapping out a clear path to tech implementation.
• Who Should Be Involved: Identifying the right stakeholders and teams to shape your roadmap.
• Implementing & Communicating the Plan: Best practices for a seamless rollout and effective communication with partners.
• Vendor Selection: Establishing non-negotiables and knowing when it’s time to reassess or change vendors.
• Build vs. Buy: When to develop technology in-house and when to look externally.
• Decision Ownership: Understanding who owns key decisions and how long decision-making should take.
• Measuring Success: Knowing when it’s time to reevaluate your strategy to ensure alignment and growth.

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

As your restaurant business thrives, you may find yourself seeking additional capital to expand your operations, open locations or invest in innovative initiatives. This session will explore effective strategies for securing financing and fueling your business's growth.

Experts will chat about: 

• Obtaining loans, lines of credit, grants and equity investments. 
• Developing a compelling business showcasing growth strategy, financial projections and investment needs.
• Building relationships with lenders and negotiate more favorable terms. 
• Alternative financing options. 

Creating sustainable and ethical franchises is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic business decision as it attracts socially responsible customers, enhances your brand reputation and drives long-term profitability.

This session will explore key strategies for creating a sustainable and ethical franchise, including:

• Defining sustainability goals.
• Implementing sustainable practices.
• Communicating sustainability efforts.
• Measuring and tracking progress.

Customers can be picky about menu changes from their favorite brands, but they also want to try the latest flavors and offerings seen on TikTok and other social media platforms.

This session discusses menu trends, including:

• Hyperlocal and seasonal menus.
• Plant-based and flexitarian options.
• Popular global flavors.
• How to embrace health-consciousness.
• Wellness-focused dining without sacrificing taste or convenience. 
• Using menu changes to provide more personalized and experiential dining elements.

The food truck industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, offering entrepreneurs a unique and mobile platform to bring their culinary creations to the masses. However, not all restaurant concepts are suitable for a food truck model.

This session will explore the key factors to consider when determining if a food truck is the right fit for your restaurant concept, such as:

• Menu suitability.
• Food safety.
• Location and mobility.
• Investment requirements.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Operational challenges.
• Customer engagement.

As the restaurant industry becomes increasingly globalized, expanding operations into international markets presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. One of the most critical factors to consider is understanding and complying with the diverse legal and regulatory frameworks that govern the restaurant industry worldwide.

This session will provide valuable insights into the key international laws and regulations that restaurant franchisors need to be aware of when expanding their operations, such as:

• Intellectual property protection.
• Food safety and sanitation regulations.
• Taxation and compliance.
• Global franchising laws and regulations.
• Cultural consideration.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping all industries, and the restaurant sector has emerged as a leader over the past few years. From streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences, AI offers potential for innovation and growth.

This session will explore the latest advancements in AI technology within the restaurant industry, including:

• AI-driven personalization.
• Intelligent ordering systems.
• Predictive analytics for demand forecasting.
• AI-powered kitchen automation.
• Ethical considerations and challenges: Discuss the ethical implications of AI in the restaurant industry and address potential challenges such as job displacement and data privacy.