Spring 2023 Supply Chain Expert Exchange Conference

Connect with your restaurant supply chain peers May 18-19 at the Swissotel, Chicago at the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference.

With an agenda crafted by leaders in the industry, this is the only conference created by and for professionals that run restaurant supply chains.

The conference is only open to restaurant operators and those who work in supply chain management for restaurant or hospitality companies.

All operator attendees will receive free admission to the National Restaurant Association Restaurant Show, May 20-23.

Get more details and register here

AGENDA:  May 18 & 19 at the Swissotel Chicago:

Day 1 – Thursday, May 18

11:00 AM        Registration Desk Opens

2:00 PM          Conference Kick-off

2:10 PM          Strategic Economic Insights from an Industry Veteran - Dr. Dhamu Thamodaran,  a renowned expert on commodity risk, will be sharing his insights on the evolving economic trends impacting foodservice supply chains and the restaurant industry.  One of our most popular and requested speakers, Dr. Thamodaran will discuss how we got here and what to anticipate going forward.

2:55 PM          Deep-dive discussion with John Barone – President, Market Vision and Dr. Dhamu Thamodaran.

3:20 PM          Networking Break

3:55 PM          Case Study – Join Tim Hand of Kinetic 12 for an engaging and interactive case study discussion. This session offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with your peers and collectively solve a real-world supply chain challenge. Together, we’ll explore innovative solutions, share best practices, and generate a list of actionable ideas that you can apply at your company. As a bonus, Tim will process the output from this session and present the ideas back to the group on Friday. Don’t miss this exciting new addition to the conference agenda!

4:35 PM          Day’s Wrap-up and Preview to Day 2

6:00 PM          First busses depart for Offshore Rooftop Reception & Dinner

Day 2 – Friday, May 19

8:00 AM          Breakfast

9:00 AM          Opening Remarks

9:10 AM          Food Commodities Outlook: The Next Chapter – A detailed overview of the current state and future prospects for some of the most common food commodities. From grains and meats to dairy and produce, Bill Lapp will take a deep dive into the supply and demand dynamics, as well as any economic and political factors that may impact these markets.

9:55 AM          Vision 2025: Drivers of Change Shaping the Future of Restaurants. In 2022, the IFMA Restaurant Foodservice Leadership Council, in conjunction with IFMA and Kinetic 12 Consulting, created Vision 2025: Drivers of Change Shaping the Future of Restaurants. This framework outlines the key trends shaping the service model, production model, supply chain, and total operation. In this session you’ll learn about these key drivers and hear perspectives from operators on how they are navigating these changes with a heightened focus on Cost Management & Price/Margin Maximization.

10:35 AM        Networking Break

11:10 AM        Navigating Government Regulations in the Foodservice Supply Chain – Laura Abshire from the National Restaurant Association will share recent and potential government regulations that are relevant to the foodservice supply chain, including food safety, labeling, packaging, and transportation. She’ll also discuss how these regulations may impact foodservice operators and their supply chain partners and provide strategies for compliance and staying current with the latest regulations.

11:40 AM        Lessons Learned Implementing Food Traceability. In this session, we’ll explore the importance of food traceability in today’s complex supply chains. Our panel of experts will discuss their traceability journey, share lessons learned, and detail the benefits of having a robust traceability program. Benefits include increased visibility to ensure food safety, quality and enhanced inventory data. In addition, they will discuss how they are preparing for FSMA 204 Final Traceability rule recordkeeping and compliance.

12:20 PM         Lunch

1:15 PM          Adding Supply Chain Value with Consultants – Panel discussion

1:55 PM           Case Study Recap with Tim Hand, Kinetic 12

2:05 PM           Networking Break

2:40 PM           Curated Networking Roundtables. Looking for a valuable networking experience at the conference? Look no further than our Curated Networking Roundtable session, back by popular demand after being a hit last Fall. This session is designed to help you build valuable connections while discussing specific topics that are most relevant to the challenges you face every day. You will have the opportunity to interact with peers in a small group format and participate in two (2) roundtable discussions each lasting 25 minutes. Each roundtable will hosted by an experienced Community Captain who will facilitate the discussion and capture key takeaways. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from other industry leaders, broaden your knowledge, and meet new people in similar roles.

3:40 PM          Closing Keynote – TBA

4:25 PM           Conference Wrap-up