Hosting Partners
15.00 – 18.30
Tuk Tuk Trend Tours
Join our professional trend tour to explore Madrid’s most innovative, scalable, and investable foodservice concepts.
- The program offers three tracks to choose from: full-service ecosystems, quick-service models, and new-wave café & tapas bar formats.
- Participants will experience hybrid business models, creative approaches, and emerging hospitality ecosystems.
- The tour also includes prearranged meetings with founders, managers and operators of selected local concepts.
- Transportation is provided by tuk-tuks throughout the experience.
15.00 – 18.30
WORKSHOPS
Where to Grow from Here: Two interactive workshops for restaurant leaders who want practical answers to today’s growth questions.
Growth is getting harder. Expansion is more complex. Same-store sales aren’t moving on autopilot anymore.
This paired workshop format looks at both sides of the growth equation:
- How to scale smartly
- How to grow from within
Participants will leave with concrete ideas, practical frameworks, and a clearer view of what to prioritize next.
20.00 – 23.00
EFSS Opening Night
Palacio de Cibeles
Pl. Cibeles, 1, Retiro
28014 Madrid
Spain
powered by
1st conference day
16 September 2026
9.00 – 10.00
Face 2 Face – Speed Networking Session
Kick off the conference by meeting dozens of fellow participants in our fast-paced Face-to-Face Speed Networking session. In just one hour, you’ll make valuable new connections and discover the people you’d like to continue talking with throughout the rest of the conference.
09.00 – 10.00
Networking & Coffee
Start the first day of the conference at a relaxed pace and use your arrival to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new people from across the industry.
10.00 – 10.15
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Programme Director Katrin Wissmann officially welcomes you to the European Foodservice Summit and sets the stage for two inspiring days of insights, discussions and networking.
Katrin Wissmann, dfv media group (D)
10.15
Adress from the Community of Madrid
Luis Martín Izquierdo, Comunidad de Madrid, Regional Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Sport (ES)
10.25
Market & Macro Context
Macro Perspectives: Global Economic Insights for Hospitality
- Global Shifts Shaping Industry Performance
- Strategic Insights for Uncertain Markets
Marcos Casarin, Oxford Economics (UK)
11.00
Market & Macro Context
From Gen Alpha to Silver Spenders: Cracking Europe’s Dining Behaviour Code
- How Different Generations Drive Demand
- Unlocking Growth Through Targeted Strategies
Edurne Uranga, Circana (ES)
11.30
Global Operator Perspectives
Inside McDonald’s: Growth, Execution and Innovation at Global Scale
- How the Market Leader Evolves as Macro Shifts Reshape Consumers
- Balancing Growth, Value, and Efficiency Across International Markets
Inês Lima, McDonald’s Spain(ES)
12.00 – 12.45
Networking & Lunch
12.45 – 13.30
Breakout Session 1
Quick
Breakout Session 2
tba
13.30
Business Transformation
Rebuilding Success: Prezzo’s Turnaround Journey
From Rapid Expansion to Restructuring – What Went Wrong and Why
Key Steps Back to Profitability and Growth
James Brown, Prezzo (UK)
Moderation: Andreas Karlsson, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi (UK)
14.00
Ai & Operational Execution
From Chaos to Control: AI, Data & Live Agent Building
- How to Leverage AI to Build a Near-Zero-Admin Operating Model
- Improving Speed, Efficiency and Decisions with AI Agents
Dr. Theo Ackbarow, AI-thought leader (D)
14.35
AI & Brand Strategy
What Is True When Everything Looks Real?
- How Gen AI is Reshaping Trust, Content and Perception
- New Rules for Content Marketing and Branding In a Synthetic World
Dr. Marc Schuhmacher, SILENT KNOWLEDGE Institute (D)
15.15 – 15.40
Networking & Coffee
15.40 – 16.15
From Forecast to Action
- How AI Turns Demand Forecasts Into Real-Time Operational Decisions
- The Shift from Static Planning to Flexible, Activity-Based Operations
Dr. Konstantin Gavras, Head of Enterprise Solutions & Accounts, nesto
The Madrid Opportunity: Growth, Investment & Hospitality
- Market Momentum and International Competitiveness
- Hospitality Growth Drivers and Future Challenges
Luis Socías Uribe, Managing Director, Invest in Madrid (ES)
16.15
High-Growth Leadership
Scaling Super Fast and Without Fear
Radu Savopol, 5 togo (RO)
Moderation: Marta Pogroszewska, Bread Holdings (UK)
16.45
European Culinary Pioneers
Porridge Saved My Life
- A Journey From Rock Bottom to Restaurant Pioneer
- Building a Distinctive Food Brand From an Overlooked Staple
Lasse Andersen, Grød (DK)
17.05
European Culinary Pioneers
Building a Modern Food Brand Around Spain’s Most Traditional Dish
- Transforming tortilla into a scalable, delivery-first concept
- Key lessons and strategic growth decisions
Christopher Aguilar Cuenca, La Martinuca (ES)
Laura López, La Martinuca (ES)
17.25
Experience Driven Growth
I’ll Have What They’re Having: Bringing Theme Park Magic to the Table
- Turning Transactions Into Immersive Guest Journeys
- How World-Building and Storytelling Turns Visits Into Experiences
Steve Tatham, Chief Creative Officer MDSX, former Walt Disney Imagineer & Exec. Director Epic Universe (USA)
18.00
End Day 1 & Departure for Dinner
19.00 – 00.00
Summit Night
Bus transfer from 18.00
Finca El Gasco
2nd conference day
17 September 2026
9.00 – 10.00
Networking & Coffee
10.00
Welcome Back & Key Take-Aways Day 1
10.10
Middle East: Strategic Insigths
Middle East: Economic Outlook & Market Dynamics
- Latest Economic Trends and Data
- Geopolitics Shaping Regional Business Outlook
Macros Casarin, Corporate Advisory Lead, Oxford Economics (UK)
10.15
Middle East: Strategic Insigths
High Stakes, High Growth: Building Resilient Hospitality Brands in the Middle East
- Why the Middle East Remains Hospitality’s Most Compelling Growth Market
- Balancing Opportunity, Change, and Geopolitical Realities
Chad Mueller, Alshaya Group (UAE)
10.45
Executive Roundtables
12 – 15 senior leaders. One table. Real conversations.
This new 80-minute Executive Roundtable format offers a rare opportunity for senior restaurant leaders to engage in focused, peer-level dialogue with a carefully selected group of industry peers. In an environment designed for openness and trust, participants will explore today’s most pressing business challenges, exchange hard-won lessons, and surface opportunities shaping the future of the industry.
Each roundtable brings together only 12–15 executives and is led by an experienced industry facilitator, with selected sessions hosted by speakers from Day One. The format is intentionally limited in size and frequency, creating a setting for conversations that rarely happen elsewhere at this level.
12.20
Return to Plenum
12.40
Executive Roundtables: Key Take-Aways
Selected insights and cross-cutting themes from the roundtables will be distilled and presented on the main stage.
12.55
Conference Wrap-Up
13.00
Lunch & Goodbye