Fast Casual, Franchising, and the Journey to Growth

In recent years, the price tiers between QSR and fast casual have grown closer, not further apart. How can the elevated category navigate this reality while staying on the front foot of growth?

Whether you’re looking for a partner or trying to find a brand to pour capital in, we’ll bring together industry leaders to discuss the state of investing, how both sides can work together, and what it takes to win, regardless of which aisle you’re on.

Hourly employees are the heart, soul, and face of most restaurants. Yet many operators struggle to equip them with the tools, motivation, and management they need to thrive. In this breakout session, business performance expert Scott Greenberg will reveal the key differences between managing hourly employees and salaried staff. Attendees will learn proven strategies to better train, motivate, and manage their teams, empowering hourly employees to deliver exceptional performance and embody their brand. Walk away with actionable insights to build a high-performance culture that improves retention, customer experience, and profitability.

To put it lightly, raising money has been a challenging and convoluted experience in recent years. What’s the deal with valuations? Should you go to a bank? IPO? Partner? Let’s take the pulse of the landscape and provide some actionable ideas to get funding for your restaurant growth.

Like last year, we’ll gather culinary minds from across quick service to highlight the flavor trends and strategies winning on menus industry-wide.

Remember when having a drive-thru disqualified you from being a fast casual? Those days are long gone as technology and the need for convenience continue to surge. How can fast casuals get credit for their differentiators and what do customers care most about? Is it food, service, or something else? Let’s explore the blurring of the lines and what it means for the quick-service category going forward.

Want to know what’s happening in the restaurant franchise world and where the growth is? A panel of sector leaders will dive in and take your questions on what makes a winning franchisor and franchisees.

No matter what changes in this industry, finding the right location will always separate the brands that thrive from those that operate uphill from day one.

Few things in this industry are more difficult than going from Store 1 to Store 2. Hear from some brands that started as a dream and got off the ground running, the stories behind the process, and what it took to scale beyond an idea.