A great excuse to get to the conference early- this year’s early arrival reception will honor the 2024 Pacesetter Award winner Brett Schulman and the CAVA Team!  Join us for a celebratory evening of food, drinks, industry camaraderie and fun! 

The Pacesetter Award recognizes small to mid-sized restaurant brands that have achieved next level growth and demonstrated industry excellence within their category.  The winning criteria includes financial performance, system growth, caliber of culture, personnel management, innovation, leadership and industry support/giveback.

Join Restaurant Business Executive Editor, Lisa Jennings, and Nancy Kruse, President of The Kruse Company for an engaging think tank style session as they dive into a lunch time discussion all about the menu!  In an era where a menu is more than a list of signature dishes but a strategic (brand) tool to maximize profitability, it is important for every operator to understand how to navigate the evolving culinary landscape and the pivotal role technology will play in this space as we move forward.  Hear key insights from top operator leaders on how they are leveraging menu trends and tech advancements to catapult their business.  Leave this session with new ideas and actionable takeaways to drive greater profitability from your greatest restaurant tool!  

We'll uncover how to seamlessly connect the off-premise guest journey across online ordering, loyalty, and catering, addressing the critical challenge of creating a cohesive digital experience. Learn how multi-unit restaurants are utilizing guest data for better engagement and converting one-time orders into repeat business, all while tapping into marketing integrations, and leveraging CRM for catering growth.