BUILDING BACK BETTER: MINISTER PAUL SCULLY
Business minister Paul Scully will present details of his Hospitality Strategy, which aims to help the sector ‘build back better’, with a focus on the three Rs: reopening, recovery and resilience. The minister will also detail the measures the government is taking to support the restaurant sector, and how it fits into the government’s vision for economic recovery.

SECTOR LEADER SESSION: PAULA MACKENZIE, MD, KFC UK & IRELAND
During her five years leading the iconic fried chicken brand in the UK & Ireland, Paula Mackenzie has handled two major crises resulting in mass closures of restaurants. In this Q&A, Paula will discuss how the muscle memory of KFC’s chicken shortage in 2018 helped it to better cope with the pandemic (and to come back even stronger); and how a distinctive approach to marketing has helped transform the brand’s cultural relevance and sales.

SECTOR LEADER SESSION: JOHN ECKBERT, CEO, FIVE GUYS
John will reflect on how the better burger brand has managed to continue its impressive growth trajectory throughout the pandemic, and share exclusive insights into its plans for the future.

SECTOR LEADER INTERVIEW: JEREMY KING, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, CORBIN & KING

Jeremy King has been one of the most vital hospitality voices during the last year and a half. In a fireside chat with BigHospitality editor Stefan Chomka, King will discuss the challenges of opening a major new restaurant in central London during a pandemic, the virtue of grand brasseries, and how to settle rent debts when there are millions of pounds at stake.

SECTOR LEADER SESSION: KEITH BIRD, CEO, MARUGAME UDON EUROPE

Marugame Udon, the fast-casual Japanese noodles and tempura specialist from Japan, is looking to make a splash in the UK with its recently opened Liverpool Street debut, and a further three London sites in the pipeline opening before the end of the year. Part of a global expansion plan to reach 6,000 sites, Keith Bird, chief executive of the Capdesia and Toridoll backed European master franchise, will explain why the UK market is hungry for a specialist offering at a quick service price point.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE PANEL: KATE NICHOLLS, CEO, UKHOSPITALITY, THOM ELLIOT, CO-FOUNDER, PIZZA PILGRIMS, NATASHA WATERFIELD, COO, NEW WORLD TRADING COMPANY, BRIAN TROLLIP, MD, DISHOOM & GREG HULL, GLOBAL HEAD OF HOSPITALITY & LEISURE, ATTENSI

The restaurant sector is facing a staffing crisis like no other due to the effects of the pandemic and Brexit; but it’s also been said that hospitality has an image problem when it comes to recruitment. In this panel we discuss how operators are attracting and retaining staff through a strong company culture and frequent training, how we can encourage young people to view hospitality as an employer of choice, and how the competition for staff is driving up wages.

WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT & HAPPINESS: LORD MARK PRICE, FOUNDER, WORKL FOR BUSINESS

 We are delighted to welcome Lord Mark Price who will present findings from unique research into a critical area for operator businesses. WorkL's annual hospitality report details how happy and engaged hospitality employees are, relative to other sectors. Mark will also offer suggestions as to where employers might best focus their efforts going forward.

SUSTAINABILITY PANEL: THE RACE TO CARBON ZERO: MEL MARRIOTT, FOUNDER & MD, DARWIN & WALLACE, STEVEN PACKER, DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY CHAIN AND IT, PIZZA HUT RESTAURANTS, MARK CHAPMAN, FOUNDER & CEO, ZERO CARBON FORUM & NICOLA PIERCE, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL PLANNING AND ESG, BURGER KING UK

 In this key session, coinciding with the meeting of world leaders at COP26, hospitality's challenges and progress towards carbon zero are unpacked by Mel Marriott Founder & MD at Darwin and Wallace, Steve Packer Director of Supply Chain and IT at Pizza Hut and Mark Chapman, CEO and Founder of Zero Carbon Forum.

PROPERTY PANEL: MATT AINGER, PROPERTY DIRECTOR, BIG TABLE GROUP, VISHAL TALREJA, PROPERTY DIRECTOR, ITSU, TOM BYNG & CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, POPEYES UK

As restaurant brands seek to take advantage of the post-pandemic property market, we examine the opportunity for well-capitalised businesses looking to grow. This special property panel session will explore which geographical locations are proving most promising, what new considerations operators have for site specifications and just how much rent levels have undergone a reset.

OMNICHANNEL PANEL: JO FLEET, BRAND DIRECTOR, HAWKSMOOR AT HOME, MATT RING, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS, DELIVEROO, GANAN KANAGATHURAI, UK CEO, ITSU & NICK LIDDLE, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR, VITA MOJO

Consumer appetite for on-demand food and drink has never been higher. In response, increasing numbers of established restaurant operators are leveraging their brand awareness to drive incremental sales as part of an omni-channel strategy. In this panel, we will explore the balance of delivery and click & collect alongside dine-in and retail, the opportunity for meal kits and pre-packaged drinks offerings - and why a diverse sales strategy is now a necessity.

INVESTMENT PANEL: ROBIN ROWLAND, OPERATING PARTNER, TRISPAN, DARREL CONNELL, PARTNER, IMBIBA & ALI ANEIZI, FOUNDER, TAMWEEL CAPITAL, HOSTED BY MARK STRETTON

The casual dining sector has come under severe pressure over the past two years, with the pandemic exacerbating pre-existing challenges in the market. With the recovery now in full swing, this panel will look at the availability of capital to support expansion in the market, and consider the new crop of private equity firms backing the market.

PROCUREMENT SESSION: DAVID READ, CHAIRMAN, PRESTIGE PURCHASING
Covid and Brexit have combined to cause ‘the perfect storm’ for supply chains, leading to widespread product shortages and cost inflation. To understand how the restaurant industry has coped with the disruption, and to discuss what potentially lies in wait for supply chains in future, David Read from Prestige Purchasing will give an overview of the current situation, highlight how operators can minimise the impact on their business, and forecast the likely trajectory of food inflation over the next year.

INSIGHT SESSION: LANDSCAPE, DEALS AND M&A: GRAEME SMITH, MD, HOSPITALITY & LEISURE, ALIX PARTNERS

Many high street names have needed to undertake significant restructuring activity over the past 18 months, as prolonged lockdowns forced operators to explore CVAs, accelerated sales, and to raise new funding. With the storm clouds now clearing and optimism returning - along with M&A deals - Graeme will examine the current shape of the casual dining market, and assess how well it is primed for recovery.

INSIGHT SESSION: KATIE PROWSE, SENIOR INSIGHT MANAGER, LUMINA INTELLIGENCE

In 2021, Lumina Intelligence predicts the UK eating out market to grow 35%. How does this translate to the UK restaurant market? Katie Prowse shares the latest insights from Lumina Intelligence’s Eating & Drinking Out Panel, giving an update on restaurant recovery, with forecasts to 2024, market drivers and inhibitors on the horizon and the latest consumer attitudes, behaviours and intentions.

INSIGHT SESSION: KARL CHESSELL, DIRECTOR HOSPITALITY OPERATORS & FOOD, CGA

After a bruising period, how is the sector performing as it trades its way to recovery? Sharing insights from CGA's data pool on restaurant market performance and business confidence, Karl Chessell will explore consumer trends such as omnichannel sales, localisation and technology.

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UK Restaurant Market Report 2020/21

The UK Restaurant Market Report 2020/21, from MCA’s insight partner Lumina Intelligence, is the definitive report for the UK restaurant industry. Trusted as the go-to data and insight source for many leading UK operators and suppliers, this report provides you with the detail needed to get ahead of the competition. The report includes detailed analysis of the size of the restaurant market, competitive landscape, menu engineering, consumer insight and future outlook. In addition, in order to stay on top of fast-paced market changes, the report includes an updated consumer insight section every quarter. Katie Prowse will be sharing the details from the latest quarterly update to the report, updating on market recovery, with forecasts to 2024 and the latest consumer attitudes, behaviours and intentions. To find out more about the report, please contact Lumina Intelligence on   enquiries@lumina-intelligence.com