Upcoming Events
Fall 2023 Supply Chain Expert Exchange Conference
Join us October 16-17, 2023, in Orlando, Florida for the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Fall Conference.
Learn from industry leaders, share your own experience, and grow your network so you’ll be ready to face the industry’s most pressing challenges.
We’re excited to once again be hosting the event prior to the Market Vision Fall conference giving the restaurant supply chain community the opportunity to network with and learn from leaders in the foodservice industry.
Don’t miss the ONLY event created by people that run restaurant supply chains.
Monday Oct 16
3:00 PM Registration desk opens
6:15 PM – Welcome Networking Reception and dinner at the beautiful Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. Transportation will be provided.
Tuesday October 17:
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Opening Remarks
9:15 AM - From Data to Action: Understanding Key Economic Indicators with Dhamu Thamodaran, Advisor, National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange
In today's highly competitive and rapidly changing food service industry, understanding and effectively managing economic indicators is essential for optimizing the supply chain. In this conference session, Dr. Dhamu Thamodaran will shed light on the crucial economic indicators that foodservice professionals must grasp, monitor, and interpret to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and drive efficiency throughout their supply chain.
10:05 AM - Navigating Difficult Conversations: Having difficult conversations can be challenging, but with the right mindset and effective communication strategies, we can transform them into valuable opportunities for growth, understanding, and building stronger relationships. This panel, brought to you by the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), will offer insights from senior leaders sharing their personal experiences and lessons learned that have helped them to navigate challenging conversations, cultivate candor and move forward with mutual understanding and trust, both personally and professionally.
10:55 AM - Networking Break
11:25 AM - Solutions Focused Networking: Get ready to supercharge your networking game while problem solving with peers during the first of two separate Roundtable Networking sessions. We’ve designed this time for you to share ideas and solutions to common problems in the foodservice supply chain industry while expanding your professional network. In each session, you can join a targeted discussion from the topic list below to get fresh perspectives on industry-specific challenges. These conversations will be facilitated so that everyone has a chance to share and take something valuable away.
12:05 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Shift Your Brilliance – Act Like an Employee and Think a CEO (Creative Engagement Optimist) With Simon Bailey. Shift Your Brilliance invites every team member to be accountable for their performance, lead without a title, embrace a fluid career vision rather working in-person, remotely, or as a hybrid. Be a transformational thinker by doing common work in an uncommon way. Based on his bestseller – Shift Your Brilliance – Harness the Power of You, Inc. Every attendee will receive a complimentary copy of Simon’s book Shift Your Brilliance.
1:50 PM - A Conversation with Kevin Hourican, Sysco CEO: Kevin will sit down with Charlie Lousignont and share his professional journey to lead the world's largest foodservice distributor which began with his graduate degree in Supply Chain Management. He will talk about his own professional development and offer his perspective on keys to success. Kevin will discuss best practices from his experience in the retail sector and how that can be applied to Foodservice. He will also share insight on how suppliers and buyers partnerships have changed since the pandemic and how technology is reshaping our industry.
2:40 - Afternoon Session: More Solutions Focused Networking: The learning and networking continue! In our second Roundtable Networking session, we're revisiting the same engaging topics from the morning session. This gives you the opportunity to dive deeper into focused discussions and gain fresh perspectives on industry-specific challenges. Table guides will ensure lively and interactive conversations, making sure everyone has a chance to share and take away actionable solutions.
3:15 PM - Networking Break
3:45 PM - Negotiations - How to Increase the Value of your Deals with Brian Buck, Chief Executive Officer, Scotwork
Upskill your negotiators with this engaging session presented by Brian Buck, the CEO of Scotwork®, the world’s number one independent negotiation consultancy. This interactive program will delve into the art of negotiating and drive home the five things you should be doing to increase the value of your deals. You will gain valuable insights, practical tips, and proven strategies to enhance your negotiation prowess in both personal and professional settings. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and empower yourself as a proficient negotiator.
4:50 PM - Conference adjourns
Past Events
Spring 2023 Supply Chain Expert Exchange Conference
Connect with your restaurant supply chain peers May 18-19 at the Swissotel, Chicago at the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference.
With an agenda crafted by leaders in the industry, this is the only conference created by and for professionals that run restaurant supply chains.
The conference is only open to restaurant operators and those who work in supply chain management for restaurant or hospitality companies.
Faculty, Graduate & Executive Education University of Tennessee
Keynote Speaker: Kate Vitasek
Lauded by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential people impacting global commerce, Kate Vitasek is an international authority for her award-winning research and Vested® business model for highly collaborative relationships. Vitasek's work has also earned her the Supply Chain Council's Academic Advancement Award for its impact in advancing business. Now, you can learn from her expertise firsthand. She will be presenting the conference's keynote session, "The Vested Way: Five Rules for Creating an Engaged Collaborative Culture."
Interested in Who You'll See at the Spring 2023 Supply Chain Expert Exchange Conference?
Your restaurant supply chain peers can't wait to network with you May 18-19 at the Swissotel, Chicago at the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference.
With an agenda crafted by leaders in the industry, this is the only conference created by and for professionals that run restaurant supply chains.
The conference is only open to restaurant operators and those who work in supply chain management for restaurant or hospitality companies.
Not yet registered? Click here to sign up today!
Are you all set for Chicago? Here's a look at some of the 75+ brands who have currently registered to attend:
- Brinker International
- Panera LLC
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- Chick-fil-A, Inc.
- Hungry Howie's Distributing
- SAGE Dining Services
- Ledo Pizza
- Pal's Sudden Service
- FAT Brands - QSR Division
- National DCP
- Focus Brands
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- ARCOP, Inc (Arby's Supply Chain Co-op)
- Centralized Supply Chain Services, LLC
- Nando's Restaurant Group Inc.
- Wendy's Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc.
- Restaurant Services Inc.
- Wingstop
- Metro Diner
- Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group DBA Red Robin
- Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants
- Potbelly Sandwich Works
- Insomnia Cookies
- Zaxby’s Franchising LLC
- White Castle Purchasing Co.
- Potbelly Sandwich Works
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Bloomin’ Brands Inc.
- Bagel Brands
- Whataburger
- Panda Restaurant Group
- Purple Carrot
- Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.
- Five Guys Enterprises LLC
- TOPGOLF
- CAVA
- Denny’s Inc.
- On The border
- RSCS
- Restaurant Services Inc.
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken
- Jack in the Box Inc.
- Sky Co-op
- CHOOLAAH INDIAN BBQ
- The Cheesecake Factory
- First Watch Restaurants
- True Food Kitchen
- Fireside Grill & Bar
- PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL
- Mellow Mushroom
- Edible Arrangements
- Pei Wei / Pick up Stix / Leeann Chin
- Din Tai Fung
- Marco's Pizza
- Sweetgreen
- District Taco
- Noodles & Company
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
- Johnson & Wales University
- Golden Corral Corporation
- Shipley Do-Nuts
- Thunderdome Restaurant Group
- Restaurant Partners Procurement
- International Dairy Queen
- Velvet Taco
- HMSHost
- Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
- Shake Shack
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Urbane Cafe
- OTG
- Bojangles
- Pita Pit USA
- Caribou Coffee Company
- Little Caesar Enterprises
- The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated
- Texas Roadhouse
Fall 2022 Supply Chain Expert Exchange Conference
Join Us in October
Join us October 10-11, 2022, in Orlando, Florida for the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Fall Conference. Our agenda, built by supply chain professionals, is focused on the skills and knowledge needed to go from resilience to results. Learn from industry leaders, share your own experience, and grow your network so you’ll be ready to face the industry’s most pressing challenges.
We’re excited to once again be hosting the event prior to the Market Vision Fall conference giving the restaurant supply chain community the opportunity to network with and learn from leaders in the foodservice industry.
Don’t miss the ONLY event created by people that run restaurant supply chains.
Spring 2022 Conference - Designed for Today's Supply Chain Management Leaders
Reunite with your restaurant supply chain peers on May 19-20 at the Swissotel, Chicago for the 10th anniversary of the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference.
Join us in person to discuss what opportunities are ahead as we enter a whole new world for supply chain and our industry.
- All operator attendees will receive free admission to the National Restaurant Association Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show, May 21-24.
Don’t miss the ONLY event created by people that run restaurant supply chains.
We are excited to see you again!
PREVIEW THE CONFERENCE AGENDA HERE
KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED - Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry
New York Times Best Selling Author, Award-winning Entrepreneur,
Top-rated Keynote Speaker.
"The key to successful innovation and leadership today does not start with the strategies you implement or the technologies you use - it's how you and your team manage your thinking, your emotions, and your conversations under pressure."
Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry has over 20 years of experience helping individuals lead and innovate under pressure in the most extreme situations. Using science and research to help prepare people and organizations to meet their biggest challenges, he has worked with Olympic, NBA, and NFL teams, some of the world’s biggest brands, and even the US Navy and the CIA.
We are excited to have him join us for the Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference 2022 as supply chain leaders in the restaurant industry tackle a whole new world of work.
Join us and walk away from this keynote feeling inspired and armed with practical tools to drive better business and personal outcomes.
Swissotel
323 E Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL
Room Rate: $274/night + tax
Room Block Deadline: Tuesday, April 29, 2022
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Operator registration is only open to restaurant operators and those who work in supply chain management for restaurant or hospitality companies. Product and service providers are only allowed to attend as sponsors. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a sponsor in 2022.
Expert Exchange Gathering: Foodservice Demand Forecasting Research - Benchmarks & Best Practices
Expert Exchange Gathering - Tuesday, February 8th 4:00 PM ET
What to expect:
Being able to accurately forecast demand is critical to your company’s success especially when it comes to Limited-Time Offers and New Product Introductions. The forecasts for these events are the foundation of demand and supply plans and are critical in enabling sales while minimizing obsolescence and waste. Please join us as we share our latest industry research, including best practices and benchmarks, which you can use to measure and improve your forecasting practices. Featured speakers will be Morgan Swink Ph.D., Executive Director of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation, Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business and Steven Rodgers Vice President, Business Development, HAVI.
You must be registered to attend - we hope you can join us!
Supply Chain Expert Exchange - COVID 19: Capacity - Recovery
Join us Tuesday, August 17th at 4:00 PM ET for this Zoom event.
What to expect;
We have all been impacted by COVID-19 and the supply chain disruptions will take a long while to work through our systems. Please join us and hear Mike Zerr, Economist and Analytics Lead at Cargill, discusses the long road to recovery on the supplier side.
Immediately after registering you will receive a confirmation email from Patti Beese <no-reply@zoom.us> containing meeting login details. Please check your Spam or Other folder if you do not receive it.
Questions? Contact Lo Mittelbronn.
We hope you can join us!