The RFDC speaker lineup includes, from left, Jersey Mike’s CEO Peter Cancro, Tim Tebow and Clean Juice founders Kat and Landon Eckles, and Wolfgang Puck.
The restaurant industry is no stranger to change, some good, some less so. (Inflation and an economy teetering on a recession, anyone?) It’s an environment that keeps restaurant operators on their toes, and those who want to stay abreast of what’s really happening in the business can attend the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference to tap into expert insight and key intel to make informed business decisions for the coming year.
Produced by Franchise Times sibling publication the Restaurant Finance Monitor, RFDC will be held November 14-16 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Keynote speakers include Tim Tebow, a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, first-round NFL draft pick and a former professional baseball player, who will headline the opening general session. In addition to his work with the Tim Tebow Foundation, he is a national brand ambassador for fast-growing franchise Clean Juice and will be joined at RFDC by founders Landon and Kat Eckles.
Also headlining the opening general session is Austan Goolsbee, an economist, professor at the University of Chicago, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and a member of President Obama’s cabinet. Goolsbee’s ability to explain economics has made him a popular speaker, and his outlook for the U.S. economy will be a timely session at this year’s conference.
Our conference speaker lineup also features two of the top restaurant operators in the country. Jersey Mike’s CEO Peter Cancro, who oversees a sandwich business with more than 2,000 locations and $2 billion in systemwide sales, will help kick things off Tuesday, November 15. Tuesday’s morning general session will also put award-winning chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck in the spotlight. Puck has built a brand that encompasses three companies: Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group; Wolfgang Puck World Wide (which has a portfolio of casual restaurants and airport locations, as well as branded consumer products); and Wolfgang Puck Catering, the catering service business operating as a subsidiary of Compass Group.
Also speaking at the conference is the investor John Coleman, author of the “HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose.” Coleman will keynote the Success Breakfast on November 16.
November 14-16, 2022, at the Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas
Register at www.restfinance.com
Session highlights
Attendees will hear experienced operators share how they evaluate their second and third (or fourth and fifth) brands, where they see opportunity and how they’re positioning their portfolios for growth. Learn from Shamsu Charania, CEO of The Falcons Group (franchisee of Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Checkers/Rally’s and TGI Fridays), Raj Patel, president of The Hari Group (Currito, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and McAlister’s Deli), and Eddie Nieves, partner at Warner Foods (Jack in the Box, Noodles & Co., Panera, Black Bear Diner).
The M&A Forum will dive into the changing landscape for mergers and acquisitions, which was red-hot in 2021 but has slowed considerably this year. And experts will explore shifts in valuations now that comps are facing headwinds.
Other seminars will feature large multi-unit, multi-concept franchisees relaying lessons learned; finance experts providing insight into capital markets, tax, accounting, operations and management; and real estate and technology bootcamps providing practical strategies for growing operators. This year’s conference will also feature a special session on how restaurants can overcome the staffing crisis and attract and retain workers.