Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
Executives within the pizza and rooster restaurant fields will reply questions on suggestions in a ‘Household Feud’-style recreation on the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in March.
Picture: Gemini
February 17, 2026 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Within the restaurant world, we spend loads of time taking a look at spreadsheets and client sentiment reviews. However how a lot of that information truly sticks while you’re placed on the spot? This 12 months on the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit (RFIS), we determined to step away from the normal PowerPoint displays and check out one thing a bit extra… aggressive.
Welcome to the Suggestions Household Feud: Pizza v. Hen.
A battle for bragging rights
We have invited a few of the business’s prime executives to go away their titles on the door and step behind a recreation present podium. Hosted by Zack Oates, CEO of Ovation, the session pits pizza powerhouses in opposition to rooster consultants to see who truly is aware of what the trendy buyer is considering.
The lineup options a mixture of advertising and marketing gurus, HR leaders and digital innovators:
Group Pizza: Mandy Wolf Detwiler (editor of Pizza Market), Stacey Gelber (Blaze Pizza), Scott Goldberg (Recent Bros Pizza) and Yvonne Lara (Pizza Inn).
Group Hen: Joe Fontana (Fry The Coop), Jay Jhun (Church’s Texas Hen), Brian Simowitz (Houston TX Scorching Hen) and Sam Stanovich (Large Hen)
Why it truly issues
Whereas the format is supposed to be enjoyable, the underlying information is severe. We’re digging into the real-world expectations of at the moment’s diners. Whether or not it is loyalty hurdles, supply frustrations or the shifting definition of “worth,” this “feud” is a fast-paced strategy to see the place the business is aligned — and the place we’re lacking the mark.
It is a uncommon likelihood to see these leaders suppose on their ft and speak about buyer suggestions in a approach that is candid and unscripted.
Be part of us
If you happen to’ve been to RFIS earlier than, you already know the aim is all the time to seek out high-level insights in a approach that does not really feel like a lecture. This session goes to be a spotlight of the week, providing a take a look at the info that drives our largest manufacturers, wrapped in a little bit of pleasant rivalry.
You may see the complete schedule and the remainder of our speaker lineup on the official agenda right here. Register right here.
I am curious to see who comes out on prime — and if the “survey says” what we expect it does.
About Cherryh Cansler
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Ovation
How Nice Eating places Get Higher – Visitor Expertise Administration Platform
Ovation is a visitor expertise platform for multi-unit eating places that begins with a 2-question survey to drive income, streamline visitor restoration, and simply enhance operations. 1000’s of eating places, together with main manufacturers like Dave’s Scorching Hen, use Ovation to get extra suggestions, get better visitors in real-time, and enhance.
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