Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
Consider this as your official invite to the business household reunion. Matching shirts not required!
Photograph: Networld Media Group
January 14, 2026 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
There’s a particular type of electrical energy that occurs whenever you get tons of of restaurant leaders and innovators in a single room. It is the sound of issues being solved, partnerships being inked and —truthfully — a whole lot of laughter.
We’re formally heading to San Diego, March 16-18, for the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, and I have been wanting over the agenda with an enormous smile on my face. This yr is about extra than simply “surviving” the business; it is about thriving in it.
In case you’re on the lookout for a cause to e-book your flight and seize your move, listed below are 10 causes to attend.
1. The Final Trade “Household Reunion.”
Our business is not small, however we make it really feel like a household. There’s nothing fairly just like the magic of catching up with outdated pals and making new ones. This summit has change into our annual household reunion — a spot the place the guard comes down, the tales get shared and we help each other by means of the distinctive insanity of the restaurant world.
2. Be taught to “Franchise the American Dream”
Our opening keynote options the legendary Eddie Flores Jr., co-founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. Flores goes to offer us a witty, frank and completely unconventional take a look at how he constructed a worldwide empire. If you wish to know easy methods to flip a “viable thought” into 200-plus places, you want to be on this seat.
3. Construct an “Unstoppable” Workforce
Labor stays the largest hurdle for operators. In our “Revenue By Individuals” session, we’re bringing collectively leaders from Blaze Pizza, Edible Manufacturers and Handel’s Ice Cream to debate easy methods to optimize tradition and tech to maintain your greatest folks from strolling out the door.
4. Entry to the Heavy-Hitters
The speaker lineup is a “Who’s Who” of name management. From Liz Williams (CEO, El Pollo Loco) to Dan Smith (president, Rusty Taco) and Robin Robison (president, Thrive Restaurant Group), you are not simply listening to from consultants — you are listening to from the folks truly steering the ship. A number of extra embody: Troy Hooper (Sizzling Palette Holdings) Chris Noffze (Gong cha Americas) and Joseph Ortiz (Farmer Boys).
5. Child, let’s cruise!
Set sail for an unforgettable night aboard the luxurious California Spirit yacht, departing instantly from the Loews Coronado Bay Resort dock. This unique dinner cruise contains a totally hosted premium bar, scrumptious catering and breathtaking views as we glide by means of the bay at sundown. Better of all, the complete expertise is free for all attendees — merely head to the dock at 5:30 p.m. to board and toast to a different profitable summit.
6. Tech That Truly Strikes the Needle
We aren’t all in favour of “tech for tech’s sake.” We’re diving into AI-driven scheduling and digital loyalty with consultants like Jay Jhun (Church’s Texas Rooster) and Chris Demery (Blaze Pizza) to see what instruments are literally impacting the underside line.
7. The “Goldilocks” of Networking
Top-of-the-line elements of this summit is the size. It is giant sufficient to search out each skilled you want, however intimate sufficient that you would be able to even have an actual, 20-minute dialog with a CEO on the networking lounge. You will not get misplaced in a sea of hundreds right here.
8. Household Feud
We remodel the stage right into a recreation present showdown that includes hen and pizza execs going head-to-head to see who is aware of extra about franchising. Who does not wish to see Ovation’s Zack Oates as a recreation present host, a job he was born to play?
9. We’ll assist these in want
Be a part of us for a Give-Again Get together, the place, for one hour, we are going to put together snack luggage and laundry kits to assist make on a regular basis life just a little simpler for households on the Ronald McDonald Home. San Diego’s Ronald McDonald Home offers a “residence away from residence” for households with kids being handled for critical, typically life-threatening circumstances at native hospitals. It is a enjoyable and rewarding option to get to know fellow attendees whereas giving again to these in want.
10. San Diego within the Spring? Sure, Please.
Let’s be sincere: taking a “work break” to benefit from the palm bushes and ocean breezes of San Diego is an enormous perk. We have designed the schedule to make sure you get high-intensity studying in the course of the day and loads of sunshine and coastal vibes within the night.
The restaurant world strikes quick, and the summit is the place all of us cease to catch our breath, share our secrets and techniques and prepare for what’s subsequent. I am unable to wait to see you there!
Take a look at the total agenda and register right here.
About Cherryh Cansler
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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. Hundreds of eating places, together with main manufacturers like Dave’s Sizzling Rooster, use Ovation to get extra suggestions, get well friends in real-time, and enhance.
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