Popeyes, Big Table Group, Dishoom and Pizza Pilgrims join Restaurant Conference line-up

12-Oct-2021 - Last updated on 12-Oct-2021 at 08:39 GMT

Related tags Popeyes QSR Multi-site Casual dining

Popeyes UK’s chief development officer Tom Byng, Big Table Group’s property director Matthew Ainger, and Itsu’s property director will discuss the opportunity for well-capitalised businesses looking to grow post-pandemic, at MCA’s Restaurant Conference next month.

The special panel session will explore which geographical locations are proving most promising, what new considerations operators have for site specification, and just how much rent levels have undergone a reset.

Also speaking at the conference, will be Dishoom’s managing director Brian Trollip and Pizza Pilgrims co-founder Thom Elliott. They will be joining New World Trading Company’s chief operating officer Natasha Waterfield and UKHospitality’s Kate Nicholls on a panel covering people and culture.

With the restaurant sector facing a staffing crisis like no other due to the effects of the pandemic and Brexit, the panel will look at how operators are attracting and retaining staff through a strong company culture and frequent training, how young people can be encouraged to view hospitality as an employer of choice, and how the competition for staff is driving up wages.

The event will also feature a panel discussion on sustainability, featuring Steve Packer, director of supply chain and IT, Pizza Hut Restaurants; Nicola Pierce, head of strategy and responsible business, Burger King UK; Mel Marriott, founder and managing director, Darwin & Wallace; and Mark Chapman, founder and CEO, Zero Carbon Forum.

Taking place at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square on Wednesday 3 November, the annual conference returns for its first live event since 2019, and will see sector leaders coming together to network, share vision and strategy, and digest the current dynamics of the sector through a day of keynote speeches, insight presentation, panel discussions and Q&As.

Also speaking on the day will be KFC’s UK & Ireland MD Paula Mackenzie; Five Guys CEO John Eckbert; Corbin & King CEO Jeremy King; Minister Paul Scully and former Waitrose MD and founder of WorkL Lord Mark Price. The agenda also features panel discussions covering the big issues around property, people and culture, sustainability, and more.

To find out more and to secure your tickets for the event, please click here.