In the restaurant industry, we measure our days by seasons and events. Seasons define our changing menus. Holidays determine our staffing needs. Back-to-school means some slower days and nights may be in store until the holidays roll around.
The challenge, of course, is keeping the enthusiasm going. As Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Or, on a more positive note, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Unfortunately, as much as we know the importance of maintaining some forward motion, this is the time of year when the doldrums can kick in. Like the windless weather at the Intertropical Convergence Zone, you set your sails and go nowhere. You see the holiday horizon up ahead and know you need to kick it into high gear, but the sense of urgency passes, and you turn on your favorite cooking show instead. Tomorrow’s a good day to go through the numbers, benchmarks, and changing menus.
If that sounds a little too familiar, now’s the time to check into the upcoming restaurant industry events. These are the places where you’ll find inspiration and get fired up for the next round of customer service.
CREATE: The Event for Emerging Restauranteurs
Nashville, TN
October 8 – 11
Create: The Event for Emerging Restauranteurs is produced by Nation’s Restaurant News and is designed for emerging restauranteurs. For those looking for insider information, you’ll find Ask the Experts and Fireside Chats, sessions that allow you to interact with restaurant executives and innovative leaders. The Pop-Up Festival offers new menu innovations and products that continuously change throughout the experience.
If you’re exploring investment strategies, the Investment Summit features keynote discussions and networking roundtables. Private equity leaders share tips for catching the attention of their firms. A “Shark Tank” pitch session gives emerging operators the chance to connect directly with investors. The investor segment also includes other financing sources, such as small business loans and private credit.
Brands in the Hot Seat is a special session that gives four emerging restaurant concepts a chance to pitch their brands to the following investors:
- Charles Nels, founder of CN2 Ventures
- Jim Balis, managing director of CapitalSpring
- Aarti Kapoor, partner at VMG Partners
- Michael Schatzberg, co-founder and managing partner at Branded Hospitality Ventures
Restaurant Finance & Development Conference
Las Vegas, NV
November 11 – 13
At the premier financial event for restaurants, you’ll find financial executives, restaurant owners, and operators. This is the conference to go to if you’re looking to connect with top lenders and investors in the restaurant business, as well as financial experts. Some attendees go specifically to buy or sell restaurant businesses.
The RFDC provides insight into financial strategies, including funding restaurant growth, managing financial risks, and capital markets. Expert educational sessions cover the business end of the restaurant industry, including accounting, technology, and restaurant economics 101.
FSTEC
Grapevine, TX
September 16 – 18
While this one will require some fast maneuvering, it may very well be worth the effort. FSTEC is all about restaurant technology, the current game changer in the industry. This serves as the leading food service technology conference, enabling you to stay current on the latest trends and explore the newest innovative tech solutions that support a successful brand.
Whether you’re looking for an investment strategy or in search of the latest technology, this fall’s restaurant conference lineup has what you are looking for. Set your sails, catch the trade winds, and head out for new horizons and a much-needed dose of inspiration.
More than an investment fund, the EMERGING Fund is a collaboration between industry-leading founders, innovative restaurant concepts, and restaurant technology solutions. To learn more about our investment strategies, contact EMERGING.
