QSR | Track 5: Franchising and the Road to Growth/Trending on the Menu

We’re bringing back one of last year’s top-rated panels, setting the stage with a group of leading franchise experts. They’ll unpack the biggest franchise topics and shine the crystal ball for what might be ahead in the QSR category’s largest growth vehicle.

To start the day, we brought together franchise leaders on the corporate side. Now, it’s time to hear from the zees in the trenches. This group of high-performing franchisees will share their biggest challenges, opportunities, and how they’re finding ways to thrive during chaotic times.

Does a restaurant need to be on “Main and Main” anymore? How can you compete with the big guys for A locations? We’ll take a dive into the real estate world and examine trends, pathways to development, and, most importantly, how to find a site that fits your blueprint for growth.

Guests want more for less. Operators can’t afford to give it away. This conversation gets real about how to create value that feels generous without racing to the bottom.

Beverages are becoming one of QSR’s strongest levers for traffic, margin, and brand differentiation—and where major growth industrywide is taking shape, from big chains jumping in to upstarts signing huge deals. This panel will bring together senior leaders to discuss how signature drinks, flavor innovation, pricing strategy, and experiential beverage programs can reinforce brand identity, elevate perceived value, and unlock incremental revenue across dayparts.

It might be tenders. Boneless wings (are those different things?). Bone-in. Sandwiches. And on the chicken conversation turns. Beside beverages, this is where growth continues to explode in QSR, and there’s no letup in sight.