SUMMIT NEWS

How to scale up restaurant brands

31 MAY 2024

It’s one thing to have a great solo concept, it’s quite another to scale up that concept into a franchise. A panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit looked at how restaurants can scale up from start up to full growth mode.

Winning at the franchising game

22 MAY 2024

How do restaurants succeed at the franchising game? A panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit shared some key strategies.

IHOP, Potbelly, vPromos execs talk loyalty programs at Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

20 MAY 2024

Restaurant leaders from IHOP, Potbelly, The European Pizza Company and vPromos spoke about what makes their loyalty programs tick at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit.

How to make data your restaurant superpower

13 MAY 2024

How can restaurants utilize all of their data and turn it into their superpower?

Salad Collective, Longboards, Hawaiian Bros. leaders offer insight into Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit

1 MAY 2024

Mandy Detwiler spoke to leaders at Longboards Wraps and Bowls, Kansas City International Airport, Hawaii Brothers and more. Listen to what these brands had to say about attending the summit.

Long John Silver’s, Blaze Pizza, Slim Chickens execs talk expansion, real estate

8 APR 2024

Restaurants executives from Long John SIlvers, Moxie, Slim Chickens and Blaze Pizza talked about expansion and the state of restaurant real estate at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Kansas City.

TikTok a powerful call-to-action tool for restaurant operators

26 MAR 2024

Three TikTok experts led a panel discussion on using the social media platform at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Kansas City.

Getting loyalty right

20 FEB 2024

Industry veterans will offer invaluable insights on building successful loyalty programs, doing loyalty right (IHOP, Potbelly, The European Pizza Company) and actionable strategies to boost engagement and drive sales.

Summit attendees supporting human trafficking relief org

6 FEB 2024

Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit attendees will work together for one hour to create over 2,000 hygiene kits stocked with necessities including toothbrushes, hand sanitizers, water, snacks, tissues and feminine products for survivors of human trafficking.

Shake Shack, Chick N Max, Salad Collective to talk modern delivery at Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

31 JAN 2024

Executives from Shake Shack, Salad Collective and Chick N Max will discuss the future of delivery at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in Kansas City in March.

Applebee’s, Mooyah, The Great Greek analyzing CX data to increase comp sales

23 JAN 2024

Executives from Applebee’s, Mooyah and The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill reveal how their teams use customer data to increase traffic.

Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit session to explore scaling up by franchising

17 JAN 2024

“Scaling Up: From Small Start-up to Full Growth Mode” is a session at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, which will be held March 42-26 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Instacart hosting ‘Curtailing Kitchen Chaos’ at Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

17 JAN 2024

Register here by Feb. 23 for the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit to receive the early bird discount.

Gong cha, Pepper Lunch, Krystal leaders to talk issues facing today’s franchisors

18 DEC 2023

Five speakers will discuss challenges facing restaurants at the Franchising Think Tank at the Restaurant Franchising Innovation Summit March 24 in Kansas City, Missouri.

5 reasons to visit Kansas City for Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit

8 NOV 2023

The Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, produced by Networld Media Group, will host its eighth annual event there in Kansas City, March 24-26. The early bird deadline ends Nov. 17.

WOWorks, Shipley Do-Nuts, Noodles & Company execs say loyalty programs a must-have

5 MAY 2023

Panelists Blake Johnson, VP of marketing for Craveworthy Brands, Donna Josephson, CMO of Shiply Do-Nuts, Mark Kreiner, VP of marketing for WOWorks and Stacy Moss director of brand marketing for Noodles & Company spoke about utilizing loyalty programs at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Coral Gables, Florida.

iRestaurant: Dirty Dough, Sweetberry, CKE Restaurants balance AI with human touch

26 APR 2023

During this year’s Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Miami, Florida, a session of industry experts and operators convened to discuss automation and how to leverage it for success in the changing restaurant and franchising space. Part 2 of 2.

Dirty Dough, Sweetberry, CKE Restaurants share automation tips for success

19 APR 2023

During this year’s RFIS summit in Miami, Florida, a session of industry experts and operators convened to discuss automation and how to leverage it for success in the changing restaurant and franchising space.

Dog Haus, Big Chicken execs talk convenience, consistency, connection

14 APR 2023

In a session at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit hosted by Networld Media Group, Zach Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation, C.J. Ramirez, EVP and marketing director of Dog Haus and Sam Stanovich, SVP of development and alliances at Big Chicken, discuss how convenience, consistency and connection can make a restaurant brand a standout.

BurgerFi, TASK execs discuss cooking up customer loyalty with digital innovation

12 APR 2023

At the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Miami hosted by Networld Media Group, industry thought leaders shared strategies for success and growth in changing times in a series of miniature lectures sponsored by TASK. These two speakers pivoted focus to technology.

Executive perspectives: restaurant experts offer advice for operators

5 APR 2023

Bryce Fluellen shows how Everytable’s unique franchising model tackles food insecurity, builds communities and fuels growth/profits; Blaine Hurst of Blaine Hurst Enterprises shares how recruiting among IDD workers is more than doing good: data shows it boosts core metrics across restaurants.

Hiring and retention trouble? Invest in your people!

30 MAR 2023

A panel at Restaurant at the Franchising Innovation Summit discussed issues around hiring/retention and the value of investing in employees in pay, benefits alongside investment in them as professionals and as people.

Garces Group, Ballad Brands, Ideation Hospitality make Buena Onda winner

20 MAR 2023

In a keynote address at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, three restaurant execs discuss launching Buena Onda, which now has five locations. Seven more locations have been sold.

Experts explore NFTs, digital innovation, labor shortages, food insecurity needs

16 FEB 2023

Attendees will become mini experts in all-things NFT, digital innovation, fixing the labor shortages and meeting food insecurity needs. Speakers include Blaine Hurst, former Panera CEO, and Bryce Fluellen, executive director of Everytable.

Workshopping what your guest experience is missing

6 FEB 2023

Big Chicken’s Sam Stanovich, Dog Haus’ CJ Ramirez and Ovation CEO Zack Oates will help attendees evaluate their customer experiences and provide dozens of strategies to improve them, during the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit, March 20-22 in Coral Gables, Florida. Early bird pricing ends Feb. 10.

Tony Roma’s, Duck Donuts, Tropical Smoothie among CEOs closing Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

18 JAN 2023

Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit attendees will learn about Tony Roma’s transition into the fast casual market, Duck Donuts’ growth strategy and Tropical Smoothie’s secret to expanding in a tough market. UFG and PreciTaste leaders will weigh in on industry challenges as well.

Ballard Brands execs, Chef Jose Garces to reveal how to build a ‘brand of the future’

2 NOV 2022

Ideation Hospitality COO Scott Campanella will join Chef Jose Garces and Ballard Brands CDO Davis Mesa in a keynote panel at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit being held March 20-22 in Coral Gables. The trio will share how they’ve created a franchise opportunity that addresses the future of the restaurant industry.

Video: Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit Highlights, March 30 – April 1, 2022

12 MAY 2022

The annual Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit was held March 30 – April 1 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee. Check out the video highlights!

P.F. Chang’s, Shipley Do-Nuts, WOWorks, Oath Pizza share ways to lure multi-unit operators

28 APR 2022

Franchisors need strong listening and communication skills, as well as a strong brand foundation, when looking to partner with multi-unit franchisees.

Focus Brands, Wing Shack, Jamco leaders talk data control, loyalty strategies

27 APR 2022

Regaining control of data is paramount for restaurant brands after two years of data collection being in the hands of third-party delivery partners.

Chick-fil-A, P.F. Chang’s, IHOP leaders share tips for successful franchisor-franchisee connection

20 APR 2022

Top restaurant brands offer insight on what factors are critical in developing a successful franchisor-franchisee relationship.

Bonchon, Asian Box, Zoup Eatery leaders discuss hiring, retention best practices

20 APR 2022

Hiring and retention remains a critical issue plaguing the restaurant industry today. A panel of experts at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit discussed how the pandemic affected their brands and shared tips for hiring and retention.

Cowboy Chicken, Fazoli’s, CKE Restaurant leaders offer insight on reducing labor shortage pains

18 APR 2022

Artificial intelligence technology is proving to be a panacea to the restaurant industry’s labor challenges while also presenting a consistent way to drive upsell and boost the bottom line.

Wow Bao leader talks career growth, how ghost kitchens can drive success

31 MAR 2022

Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander kicked off the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, being held March 30 through April 1, with a keynote titled “Bootstrapping Your Brand to the Big Time.”