Ian O’Neil is the Director of Consumer Intelligence at Rubix Foods. Over the past 12 years, he has helped national restaurant brands leverage menu, consumer, and social data to make smarter decisions. While building the restaurant vertical at Datassential, he led innovation/ideation sessions between manufacturers and national chains, developed consumer and menu strategies, and supported a portfolio of restaurant clients across the innovation process. He has also spoken at industry conferences on menu innovation, changing consumer habits, AI and more.
Back for its third year, this high-energy session brings together the industry’s most forward-thinking beverage minds for a fun, interactive dive into what’s next behind the bar. From Gen Z–driven NA innovation and premium trade-offs to large-format sharables, crafted coffees, protein cold foam, dirty sodas, pairings, and even emerging THC beverages, this panel unpacks the trends reshaping beverage programs nationwide. Expect real talk on state regulations, operational realities, legal considerations, and cost implications—plus practical ideas you can take home and pour into your menu tomorrow.
