March 11-13, 2025 | Myrtle Beach, SC — Price increases by $150 after November 1. Register Now

Breakout Session / Thursday / March 13, 2025 / 11:15 AM

2025 Menu Trends: Can You Really Please Everybody?

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.

PANELIST

Shawn Lalehzarian | Co-Founder & CEO | The Red Chickz
Shawn Lalehzarian is the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Red Chickz, a Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant located in Los Angeles, California. After immigrating to the United States from Iran, Lalehzarian found his first job working at a local restaurant in San Diego washing dishes. As he progressed through his career, he was promoted to higher-up positions and eventually landed a senior management role. In his senior management position, Shawn oversaw multi-unit /multi -brand F&B operations with more than $30 Million dollars in revenue and 400 employees. He also played a key role in opening over 50 different restaurants around the nation and Canada working with brands such as Starbucks, CPK, Chili’s, Wolfgang Puck, Pei-Wei, Pinkberry, Bombay Sapphire and Ruby’s Diner just to name a few. In 2018, Shawn founded The Red Chickz, an authentic Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant. In 2022, Lalehzarian launched the franchise program for the Nashville hot chicken brand.