Hosting Partners
17 September 2025
Pre Conference Day
Pre-Event Get-Together
18 September 2025
1st Conference Day
9.30 – 10.30
Face 2 Face – Speed Networking Session
10.00 – 11.00
Coffee & co.
11.00 – 12.50
Katrin Wissmann
dfv media group (D)
Welcome
Cyrille Fillott
Rabobank (NL)
Key Trends that Rock the World of Food Service
A distinguished global strategist, Cyrille Fillott offers profound insight into the geopolitical and economic forces shaping today’s business environment. What are the current dynamics at play? What strategic considerations should restaurant businesses prioritize? Which emerging factors may have a significant impact on their operations in the years ahead? Cyrille will share his expert perspective while also addressing how Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs are shaking up the American food scene — development that may soon reach Europe. What will it mean for restaurants and the future of foodservice?
Dr. Andy Zynga
HiTi (BE)
Profit. People. Planet. Mission (Im)Possible?
Can restaurants and hospitality leaders meet the world’s demand for both profit and positive impact? In this provocative keynote, Dr. Andy Zynga — former CEO of EIT Food and current VP at HiTi — explores the most powerful macro trends redefining foodservice. From sustainability and plant-based transitions to food tech, functional foods, digitalization, and health-driven innovation, Dr. Zynga unpacks the latest research and case studies from global research and European pilots. Is a future where foodservice aligns profit, people, and planet truly mission impossible—or simply the next step on the menu for change?
European Roundtable
Strategic Insights: Perspectives from Industry Experts
This session brings together leaders from three key segments of the European restaurant industry — quick service (Alessandro Preda, QSRP), travel catering (Mathieu Herrero, Areas), and delivery (Matthew Price, Uber). Together, these experts will delve into the dynamic forces shaping the sector’s future. Gain a Deezer understanding of how businesses are adapting to swift market changes through innovative technologies and strategic planning. The panel will discuss responses to economic and geopolitical pressures, exploring how these factors influence operational decisions. By examining the balance between opportunity and challenge from their diverse perspectives, the session provides a comprehensive view of ensuring resilience and growth in an evolving landscape.
12.50 – 14.00
Lunch Break
14.00 – 15.45
David Jones
Saracens RFC (UK)
Resilience in Action: Harnessing Team Dynamics for Success
An HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and Head of Personal Development with Saracens RFC – one of the UK’s prime rugby teams, David Jones, will delve into the essence of resilience and motivation in tough times. Drawing on his experience with the English Institute of Sport and Formula One, David’s talk will use sports as a lens to examine team dynamics and social capital and their effects on performance. Through data, research, and compelling stories, he will discuss diverse performance contexts and demonstrate how the strategies of sports can enhance workplace environments, fostering both performance and well-being.
Johannes Bühler
Hans im Glück (DE)
In the Eye of the Storm: Transforming Adversity into Customer Insight
In early 2024, Hans im Glück, the leading German fast-casual restaurant chain, faced a major reputational crisis after reports emerged linking one of its shareholders to far-right groups. To protect the brand’s values and public trust, the company moved swiftly and decisively. In this session, CEO Johannes Bühler will share how the crisis affected Hans im Glück’s stakeholders on a personal level, disrupted business operations, and challenged brand perception—and how the company’s proactive response helped mitigate long-term damage and ultimately deepened its understanding of its customer base.
Anna Kozachenko
MilkBar (UKR)
Restaurant Operations in Times of War
Running and growing a restaurant chain amid air raid sirens, supply chain disruptions, waning purchasing power, and uncertain prospects requires immense willpower and resilience. Anna Kozachenko, founder and CEO of Milk Bar, manages nine locations across Ukraine and Poland and is planning a flagship store in Kyiv while expanding internationally. In a conversation with Marta Pogrozewska (COO Bread Holdings), Anna will share first-hand insights into the business challenges faced by restaurant operators in Ukraine and how she navigates them.
15.45 – 16.15
Breakout Sessions
16.15 – 16.45
Coffee, Networking & Breakout Sessions
16.45 – 18.00
Expert Panel
Design Dynamics: Maximizing Space and Global Opportunities
Join Queenie Lo and Paul Wainwright the creative leads of – FutureBrand (formerly Uxus) and Harrison – as they navigate the forefront of restaurant design and development. How are evolving market demands and consumer preferences reshaping design strategies? How are restaurant companies adapting to smaller spaces? How is tech innovation influencing design? What’s hot in experiential dining? While addressing these questions, the panel also delves into the challenges and opportunities of global brand transfer, showcasing how these industry experts are redefining culinary environments.
2 Lightning Talks followed by panel discussion
- Spatial Branding: From Concept Creation to Implementation (Queenie Lo)
- Designing Trust: Building Brand Equity Across Borders (Paul Wainwright)
Suprise Session
Music, Art & Food
Experience the unexpected: Our surprise session will inspire you with creative encounters at the intersection of music, art, and food.
Take-Aways – Day 1
18.00
End Day 1 & Departure for Dinner
Summit Night
19 September 2025
2nd Conference Day
8.00 – 9.00
Coffee & co.
9.00 – 10.30
Welcome Back
Benjamin Calleja
Livit Design (SE)
AI in Action: Real-World Examples from Restaurants Around the World
Explore how AI is transforming the restaurant industry—from intelligent kitchens and personalized service to brand development and concept design. In this session, Benjamin Calleja highlights the latest innovations in automation, customer engagement, and data-driven strategy, offering actionable insights and real-world examples to help businesses enhance efficiency, build stronger brands, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
Annemarie Swijtink
McDonald’s (NL)
McDonald’s Recipe for Resilience
Times are challenging, even for a market leader. In this dynamic interview session, Annemarie Swijtink, Managing Director of McDonald’s The Netherlands, shares how McDonald’s stays ahead in a fast-changing market—navigating immediate pressures with long-term vision. In a conversation with Walter Seib, CEO of HMS Host, she delves into responses how to gain market share while sales decreased, offering delicious favorites for exceptional value, menu evolution, sustainability initiatives, digital innovation, and how AI is shaping the company’s future growth and consumer engagement.
Jochen Pinsker
Circana (D)
Market Outlook & Full-Service Spotlight
Jochen Pinsker, Industry Advisor Foodservice Europe at Circana and respected market researcher, offers a nuanced analysis of the forces shaping consumer choices and industry trends across Europe’s diverse markets and segments, with a focus on the past six months and all of 2024. His outlook looks ahead to the coming years, highlighting anticipated market developments and key shifts on the horizon. As a special addition, he takes a closer look at the full-service segment — uncovering unique challenges, emerging product trends, and growth opportunities as the industry moves further into the to-go era.
10.30 – 11.00
Breakout Sessions
11.00 – 11.30
Coffee, Networking & Breakout Sessions
11.30 – 14.00
Expert Round Table
Tech Update and Outlook
Unlocking Next-Level Hospitality
This panel will unite top foodtech innovators who are reshaping the guest experience across POS, reservations, loyalty, and checkout. Featuring key voices from both sides of the Atlantic, the roundtable will dive into the future of guest-facing restaurant technology, spanning fast casual to Michelin-starred venues. Together, the panelists will explore how these solutions interconnect and give restaurateurs actionable insights: how to prioritize guest experience initiatives, which KPIs matter most, and what best-in-class looks like today — and tomorrow.
Oriol de Pablo Morató
Vicio (ES)
Digital First: Vicio’s Strategy for Gen Z and Delivery Success
A passionate entrepreneur and founder of Vicio, Oriol de Pablo (Uri) shares the strategies behind this rapidly growing, digitally-native burger chain in Spain. With a digital-first ethosand a focus on Gen Z marketing, the presentation delves into engaging younger audiences through social media tactics and strategic collaborations. The session also offers insights into the transformation and potentials of the delivery market.
Prof. Torsten Olderog
AKAD University Stuttgart (D)
Conference Wrap-Up: Key Takeaways & Closing reflections
In this brief session, conference moderator Prof. Torsten Olderog recaps the Summit’s highlights, sharing key learnings and insights from each session. Take away the main trends and ideas as the European Foodservice Summit 2025 comes to a close.
Lunch & Goodbye