Tracks & Topic Priorities

We are seeking proposals that are tailored to at least one of these topic priorities. However, we will consider other topics that are highly relevant to foodservice operators and meet our selection criteria.

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Culinary Insights

Menu Engineering for Profitability
- Apply data-driven pricing strategies, inventory optimization techniques, and menu design principles to maximize profitability and align with diverse business objectives.
Operational Menu Design
- Design menus that reduce ticket times, improve table turns, enhance off-premise execution, and maximize kitchen capacity with existing labor resources.
Inclusive and Wellness-Driven Menu Development
- Balance indulgence with nutrition through portion flexibility (including GLP-1 friendly sizing), protein-forward options, and allergen-conscious choices that meet wellness demands without sacrificing flavor.
LTO Strategy and Execution
- Create urgency with limited-time offerings, test concepts with minimal risk, generate social buzz, and gather data-driven insights for permanent menu decisions.
Revenue-Driving Food & Beverage Trends
- Use real-time sales data and consumer insights to identify emerging trends – like global ingredients, “swicy” flavor combos, elevated dipping sauces, specialty beverages and more - to optimize menu mix and make informed decisions that boost profitability.

Marketing Matters

Performance-Driven Digital Marketing
- Optimize your digital ecosystem by aligning website, social media, email, and online ordering to create seamless customer journeys that drive traffic and conversions.
Generational Marketing Strategies
- Tailor messaging, channels, and experiences to reach Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers with targeted approaches that resonate with each generation's values.
Brand Value & Authenticity Marketing
- Differentiate your brand and build emotional connections through authentic storytelling while communicating value through experience, quality, and service to drive loyalty and sales.
Tech-Powered Loyalty and Personalization
- Leverage loyalty programs and predictive analytics to deliver personalized rewards, menu recommendations, and marketing campaigns that increase guest lifetime value.
Hyper-Local Marketing & Community Engagement
- Leverage micro-influencers, neighborhood partnerships, and geo-targeted campaigns to build authentic connections within local communities—driving foot traffic, brand loyalty, and word-of-mouth momentum through grassroots social strategies and localized content.

Operations Solutions

Off-Premise Channel Optimization
- Maximize delivery, pickup, and catering revenue through strategic capacity management, direct ordering incentives, and pricing strategies that protect unit economics.
Multi-Channel Order & Kitchen Orchestration
- Unify orders from all channels into integrated systems that connect POS, inventory, and labor platforms to eliminate errors and enable real-time decision-making.
Controlling Costs & Protecting Margins
- Control labor, food waste, inventory, and pricing with real-time P&L data and tools that empower operators to protect profitability amid rising costs.
Supply Chain Resilience, Food Safety & Risk Mitigation
- Build supplier redundancy, cultivate strategic partnerships, and leverage platforms to create transparent, adaptable supply chains that mitigate operational disruptions, manage food safety risks, and maintain business continuity across changing market conditions.
Preventive Maintenance & Equipment Strategy
- Deploy preventive maintenance programs and predictive technology to reduce downtime, extend asset life, and avoid costly emergency repairs.
Scalable Growth & Multi-Unit Operations
- Develop scalable systems, standardized processes, and operational infrastructure that enable controlled growth while maintaining brand consistency and financial performance.

Technology Strategies

AI Adoption & Practical Applications
- Evaluate AI ROI, implement chatbots and phone ordering systems, deploy multilingual training tools, and gain employee buy-in across generational divides.
Integrated Technology Platforms
- Consolidate POS, ordering, kitchen management, payment, and analytics into unified systems that eliminate data silos and maximize transaction intelligence.
Kitchen Automation & Smart Equipment
- Deploy kitchen display systems and AI-powered automation that prioritize orders, reduce ticket times, minimize errors, and increase throughput without adding labor.
Data Analytics & Predictive Intelligence
- Use analytics platforms and CRM systems to gain actionable insights on sales, customers, and menu performance while predicting inventory and labor needs.
Technology Change Management
- Train diverse workforces on new technology, overcome generational adoption barriers, gain employee buy-in, and identify when to scale back underperforming systems.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
- Protect customer payment data, prevent breaches, ensure PCI compliance, and maintain trust while avoiding costly security incidents and penalties.

Workforce Management

Strategic Hiring & Talent Pipeline Development
- Uncover new hiring channels, implement skills-based hiring, expand inclusive hiring practices, and attract new generations to diverse foodservice career opportunities.
Onboarding & Training Excellence
- Design structured onboarding that accelerates productivity, implement effective training strategies for all levels, and set new hires up for long-term success.
Retention-Focused Compensation & Benefits
- Restructure pay models, offer earned wage access, create clear compensation progression, and provide competitive benefits that differentiate your employer brand.
Employee Engagement & Recognition
- Implement stay interviews, recognition programs, pulse surveys, and flexible scheduling to identify retention risks early and build a culture that reduces turnover.
Career Pathing & Internal Growth
- Build formal career pathways, create compensation structures with clear milestones, and provide internal promotion opportunities that give employees reasons to stay.
Workforce Planning & Labor Optimization
- Use predictive analytics to forecast staffing needs, leverage automation and smart scheduling to optimize labor deployment, and control rising costs while maximizing team

Trends in Adult Beverage

Adult Beverage-Led Traffic Building
- Use innovative beverage programs – such as seasonal cocktails, happy hour specials, and beverage flights - as marketing tools to drive traffic and create social media-worthy moments.
Beverage Menu Trends & Innovation
- Capitalize on the latest revenue-driving adult beverage trends such as botanical and tea-forward cocktails, agave spirits, veggie tea drinks, and coffee-driven flavors that attract adventurous consumers.
Regulatory Navigation and Compliance
- Navigate evolving alcohol regulations, THC beverage laws, and licensing requirements across jurisdictions to capitalize on opportunities while avoiding costly violations.
Non-Alcohol Revenue Diversification
- Build premium zero-proof beverage programs that capture growing consumer demand, expand your customer base to non-drinkers, and deliver higher margins than traditional cocktails.
Beverage Program Profitability Analysis
- Conduct rigorous cost analysis, focus on high-margin offerings, reduce waste through better inventory management, and train staff on upselling techniques to maximize beverage revenue.
Functional Beverages & Wellness Drinks
- Position beverages with adaptogens, nootropics, probiotics, and wellness benefits to command premium pricing and differentiate offerings in a crowded market.
Wine and Beer Program Optimization
- Curate selections that balance variety with inventory turnover, negotiate better supplier terms, and train staff to confidently recommend items that increase average check.