Program

17 September 2024

Amsterdam Restaurant Study Tours
Pre-event get-together

Amsterdam Restaurant Study Tours

17 September 2024 | approx. 1 – 6 p.m.

Join our exclusive EFSS restaurant study tours in Amsterdam, tailored for restaurant professionals. Each 4-hour tour, limited to 15 participants, offers unique insights into the city’s vibrant food scene. We’ve handpicked venues known for operational excellence, innovative design, and exceptional F&B offer. Some stops offer brief visits, while others provide the opportunity to engage directly with operators or management. Throughout the tour, participants will savor a selection of typical culinary offerings.

The registration for one of the tours must be done via our Ticketshop. You can optionally book one of the tours during the booking process for your Summit ticket

Lunch Concepts Tour

This tour will take you to Amsterdam’s most innovative lunch concepts. Recent trends include cross-overs between Asian and Western cuisines, as well as a growing emphasis on plant-based and sustainable eating. Expect to explore trendy cafés, artisanal sandwich shops, and innovative eateries experimenting with fusion cuisines and unique dining experiences.

Transportation mainly by foot, with some parts by public transport. 🚶‍♂️🚌

Restaurants Tour

Experience Amsterdam’s dynamic restaurant scene with diverse and innovative concepts offering insights into global culinary trends. Recent years have seen the rise of fusion cuisine and the resurgence of Chinese cuisine. While pop-up restaurants provide unique dining experiences, the city has also seen a trend for indulgent “guilty pleasure” snacks, popularized on platforms like TikTok.

Transportation mainly by foot, with some parts by public transport. 🚶‍♂️🚌

Contemporary Concepts Tour

Our Contemporary study tour will take you to Amsterdam Noord, an area known for its innovative concepts. The tour will offer unique insights into the city’s cutting-edge and evolving culinary landscape. Recent developments emphasize design consistency, sustainability, and immersive dining experiences, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. Participants will encounter a variety of contemporary concepts, from chic cafes with stunning design to trendy eateries offering innovative taste experiences.

This tour will be done entirely by bicycle. 🚴‍♀️

Pre-event get-together

17 September 2024 | 8 p.m.

Traditionally, the European Foodservice Summit begins with an informal get-together. Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect with industry peers and establish new business relationships over drinks and light snacks.

18 September 2024

1st conference day

9.30 – 10.30
Face 2 Face – Speed Networking Session
powered by Hartstone Rochette

10.00 – 11.00
Coffee & co.

Welcome

José Cil, Norwegian Cruise Line (former CEO Restaurant Brands International) (USA)
Opening Speech

Katrin Wissmann, european foodservice media (D)
Europe’s Top 99 Quickservice Chains
| New Ranking, New Players, New Analysis

Alan Honan, Wingstop (USA)

12.30 – 13.45
Lunch break

Olgierd Danielewicz, Rex Concepts (RO)
Scaling Success (tbc)
| Mastering the Challenges of Rapid Growth
| Key Considerations for People, Brand and Strategy

Paula McKenzie, Pizza Express
tbd

14.30 – 15.00
Networking break

15.00 – 16.00
Deep Dive Sessions

Deep Dive: Best Practices for Sustainability and Culinary Education

A Workshop for Operators

The Barilla Foundation invites foodservice operators to a dedicated session showcasing best practices in sustainability and culinary education. This workshop is crafted for those passionate about making a positive impact in their operations and beyond. It focuses on promoting sustainable eating habits through educational guides, advancing EU climate goals by involving chefs, and empowering economically challenged youth with culinary training and work opportunities.

What you’ll discover:

100 Food Facts:
A practical guide on enhancing sustainability through habit changes. This resource is invaluable for operators looking to make a significant environmental impact.
The Life Climate Smart Chefs Project:
Supported by the LIFE Program of the European Union It engages European chefs in promoting diets that are low in emissions, nutritious, and affordable.
The School Project:
This program offers a unique opportunity for young, aspiring chefs from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive professional culinary training. Selected students can attend a two-month, full-time course in Parma at no cost, learning from renowned chefs and scientists.

Why This Matters to You: 

Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on sustainable food practices, climate-friendly cooking, and culinary education initiatives that aim to make a positive impact on individuals and the environment.

Powered by Barilla

Deep Dive: Future-Proofing Foodservice

Next-Generation Technologies for Today’s Challenges

A Session for forward looking Foodservice Executives

Explore cutting-edge technologies poised to transform foodservice operations. Gain insights from future-focused case studies and participate in a Q&A on strategic adoption.

Overview:

The future of foodservice hinges on innovation and adaptation to technological advancements. This session offers a forward-looking exploration of how emerging technologies can address critical industry challenges.

Mario Cammarota, Chief Research Technology Officer at Unox, will provide an insider’s perspective on the latest advancements shaping the foodservice landscape:

Food Digitalization: Harnessing food science for precise and consistent culinary outcomes.

AI: Revolutionizing food equipment with machine vision and reinforcement learning.

Sustainability Technologies: Leveraging machine learning for eco-friendly practices.

Through forward-thinking case studies, we will illustrate the transformative potential of new technologies. Learn how businesses can enhance menu variety, maintain exceptional food quality, and reduce waste while optimizing operational efficiency and increase profits.

The session will culminate in an interactive Q&A, facilitating discussions on integrating these technologies to gain a competitive edge in the evolving foodservice market.

Powered by Unox

Jeremy Scarf & Stefan Breg, Keane (UAE)
Saudi Giga Projects
| Crafting F&B Strategies for Ambitious Developments
| Placing F&B at the Heart of the Kingdom’s most ambitious projects

Panel Discussion
Investing in European Foodservice – Perspectives from Investment Leaders with:
| Eduardo Velasco, L Catterton (F)
| Yasha Estraikh, Piper (UK)
| tbc

Claus Meyer, Claus Meyer & Ko (DK)
A Maverick’s Mindset
| Driving Change, Defying Defeat

Take-Aways – Day 1

18.00
End Day 1
Dinner & 25-year anniversary celebrations:
Hasta La Vista Baby, Eduard van Beinumstraat 40, 1077 CZ Amsterdam

19 September 2024

2nd conference day

8.00 – 9.00
Coffee & co.

Welcome

Philipp Laqué, Revenue Management Solutions (NL)
Dynamic Pricing – Profit Driver or Diner Turnoff?
| From Tactics that Soar to Schemes that Sour
| Insights Into Consumer Mindsets and Behavior

Joaquín Capel Alcaraz, Con Fuego (ES)
Smart Menus, Smarter Profits
| Maximizing Returns Through AI-Driven Dynamic Pricing
| Exclusive Insights from a Company That’s “Doing It”

Q&A Session Dynamic Pricing

Jade Frommer, Ephemera (F)
Data-Driven Dining
| Experiential Restaurants with Cutting-Edge Technologies
| Propelling Operations to New Heights through Data Mastery

10.30 – 11.00
Networking break

11.00 – 11.50
Deep Dive Sessions

Deep Dive: People and Technology

The Recipe for a successful restaurant of the 21st Century

People are central to the success of any restaurant operation, whether in the dining room or the kitchen. However, restaurants are experiencing lower guest counts compared to pre-COVID years, and businesses across Europe are facing a critical shortage of staff. What’s going wrong? In this Deep Dive session, we will examine the current state of restaurant operations and explore how technology can enhance customer experiences, drive operational efficiencies, and ultimately foster the creation of meaningful jobs.

Participants will:

Identify the critical issues facing the restaurant business in the 21st century.
Explore the pivotal role of technology as a key element.
Understand how integrating technology to enhance business models and job roles is crucial for success.

Why This Matters to You: 

This session provides a comprehensive review of the critical assets and challenges in the foodservice industry based on data from the NRA State of the Restaurant report. Operators will explore a compelling model focused on enhancing customer traffic and attracting talent. Technology plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals by improving customer experiences, optimizing efficiencies, and fostering the creation of meaningful, valuable jobs.

Powered by Welbilt

Deep Dive: Digitalization and Connectivity

How it works in practice. A win-win-win example from the UK.

The ongoing personnel challenges, including shortages and high turnover, coupled with rising costs and the push for greater sustainability, are pressing concerns for many restaurant operations. Simultaneously, digitalization and networking  of systems are hot topics of discussion. How can we leverage existing technologies to effectively tackle these challenges to benefit the guest experience, customer loyalty, and the environment? In this deep-dive session, we will explore a specific example from the (dishwashing) kitchen of a large restaurant chain in the UK.

Participants will receive:

Exclusive insights into a collaborative project on digitalization and connectivity.
Access to live, real-time data.
Practical advice on reducing costs and increasing revenue.
A clear understanding of how connectivity enhances customer value.

Powered by Winterhalter

Saskia de Jongh, Uber Eats (NL)
Delivering Share of Stomach
| How to Maximize on All 21 Meal Occasions and Beyond
| Insights Into Delivery Trends and Order Preferences

Panel Discussion
Supermarkets Go Foodservice
| Insights from leading European retailers with:
| Andrija Topic, Studenac (CR)

Jimmy Nelson, Cultural Photographer & Artist (NL)
Inside the Lens: The Art of Connection
| Why Authenticity and Respect Matter

Conclusions

14.00
Lunch & Goodbye

Topics & Talking Points

18 & 19 September 2024

Growth Strategies

Navigating Long-term Success and Rapid Expansion

Achieving sustained growth or rapid expansion demands proficiency in operational efficiency, strategic foresight, and effective leadership. Gain insights from companies that have successfully navigated both trajectories, sharing invaluable experiences and lessons learned.

Crisis Leadership

Strategies for Turbulent Times

Learn from CEOs managing major challenges, from financial crises to workforce issues. Discover firsthand strategies for resilience and success in navigating turbulent times.

Saudi Giga Projects

Crafting F&B Strategies for Ambitious Developments

Explore F&B strategy development across Saudi Arabia’s prestigious developments. Learn from the leading F&B consultants in the region about crafting strategies for unique destinations. From mountain resorts to luxury islands, from new cities to heritage reserves.

Investor Insights

Navigating Market Evaluation and Strategic Investments

Gain insights from leading investment firms as they discuss market evaluation, balancing customer needs with shareholder value, and the role of industry experience in investment strategies.

Dynamic Pricing

Leveraging Fluctuating Menu Strategies

Explore the uncharted territory of dynamic pricing in restaurants. Uncover strategies for leveraging fluctuating menu prices tied to locations, daytimes, or foot traffic for profitability.

Share of Stomach

Supermarkets’ Impact on the Foodservice Landscape

Discover the influence of supermarkets and convenience stores on the European foodservice scene. Gain insights into operators’ perspectives on consumer behavior, and the role of F&B in their strategic vision.

The Power of Data

Leveraging Technology for Operational Excellence

Explore cutting-edge technology applications across restaurant operations. Learn how dynamic data utilization enhances profitability, business success, and customer experiences.