2025 Agenda
Operators are time-poor and resource limited. Yet food trends never stand still, and the promise of tech solutions evolves exponentially. Our panel discusses how operators can organise themselves to stay relevant and alive to opportunity, across both tech and menu development.
First-party delivery isn’t about replacing marketplaces—it’s about building a smarter, complementary strategy that strengthens operations and protects margins. In this exclusive case study session, senior leaders from Papa Johns and Starbucks discuss how their integrated delivery workflows have reduced friction, cut costs, and simplified operations. The panel will offer candid insights into what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how first-party dispatch innovation can enhance performance across people, platforms, and profitability.
Our panel discusses AI as it evolves from feeding dashboards to real time decision making. It’s said to be like having a turbocharged analyst available 24/7. But what’s the panel’s verdict? Is Agentic AI another buzzword or the hottest investment prospect for operators?
Azzurri Group has a busy portfolio of brands - ASK Italian, Zizzi, Coco di Mama, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Boojum - across over 240 locations. Data fragmentation was causing chaos for teams. The decision to build an in-house platform, Openr, has had transformational benefits.The panel will share the journey and results, from better insight to immediacy in supporting menu building and price changes, from enhanced sales, to freeing up the team for innovation.
The panel will discuss the range of applications existing and coming on-stream from AI, as well as matters of governance. What are the risks to reputation, and what are the best means to mitigate these?
In this session, Tracy discusses how tech solutions can drive operational know-how for new partners and employees, whilst moving the dial on health and safety compliance. With learnings for other hospitality segments, Tracy will share the journey at Star Pubs and Bars, the operating arm of Heineken, as well as its impressive results around enablement, efficiencies and cost.
Kateline unlocks access to this elusive audience, sharing bite sized exclusive insights from Egg Soldiers’ Gen Z Food Trends Forecast. Incorporating cultural influences, influencer collaborations and digitally driven experiences, this session looks at how to meet the needs of the nation’s nonconformist culinary adventurers. From comfort food to spice, to Asian cuisine, fusion, and the regional American styles, Kateline will explore what is shaping trends and choices, drawing on insight from the UK’s leading concept and menu creation agency.
Unhealthy diets are blamed for being the primary cause of obesity and preventable diet-related disease. But amid competing ethical and commercial considerations, how can operators become part of the solution, rather than the problem? Our panel will discuss consumer trends around health vs indulgence, and consider which innovations are allowing them to grow profits while having a positive impact.
F&B innovation moves at a dizzying pace - it never stops. So, which to back, and which are hype? Lumina Intelligence is uniquely placed to know, as a leading specialist in consumer sentiment and menu trends. With evidence from the proprietary Menu Tracker tool and the Eating and Drinking Out Panel, Linda will identify trend-led menu items already breaking through and what’s next, whether inspired by the zeitgeist or savvy retail launches.
As weight loss drugs like Mounjaro become more prevalent, how could consumers’ supressed appetites impact their spending habits? As a renowned specialist in procurement strategy, David will address this, other potential shocks coming over the next three years, and how operators might best turn challenges into opportunities.
Labour is the biggest cost pressure facing the UK hospitality sector today, following increases to national insurance contributions and the National Living Wage. Given that, how can businesses use smart solutions to ensure their workforce is supported and deployed effectively and efficiently? The panel will discuss how tech and AI can help with targeted recruitment, improved retention and engagement, effective training as well as performance management.
Inspired by the recent launch of Pepsi Treats, dessert parlour Creams created bespoke, innovative drinks in partnership with the soft drinks brand. The launch was supported by an immersive Pepsi-themed store takeover that encouraged customers to interact not only with the drinks, but with the full Creams offer. In this session, Everett and Emma will discuss the unique partnership, the benefits it delivered, and why it was so much more than just a summer campaign.