Fast Casual Executive Summit ‘08

Fast Casual magazine and Fastcasual.com are proud to present the Fast Casual Executive Summit ‘08. This Summit is unlike any other event in the restaurant industry. This unique gathering will bring together a select group of top executives from the fast casual segment for two days of networking, workgroup sessions and an exchange of ideas and innovations on the industry’s top strategic issues. The Ritz-Carlton an over the top luxury hotel in the heart of downtown Denver, will provide an inspirational and creative venue for what is sure to be the gathering of the year in the fast casual restaurant world.

For more information on the Fast Casual Executive Summit please leave a comment.

With 27 years of experience, VGS understands the imperatives of an integrated visual marketing system, especially in today’s competitive market. From design and project management to fabrication and global fulfillment, VGS is uniquely qualified to help you incorporate a truly powerful, successful program - designed to set you apart.

Across the country, fast casual businesses are working with VGS’ innovative display/fixture systems and menu/signage programs. From digital displays, point-of-purchase and in-store fixtures to eye-catching menuboards, signage and comprehensive brand programs; with VGS, you are assured of consistently superior results whether you have a single facility or multiple locations around the world. Learn More

Mindshare Technologies’ business monitoring survey tools help companies improve operational excellence and minimize customer attrition through personal customer involvement. Mindshare’s proprietary survey technology captures customer feedback in real-time and immediately transforms it into actionable intelligence. With Mindshare, companies can determine the type of information they collect, who can access it, and how it’s reported. Mindshare is affordable and flexible, allowing users to easily modify surveys and reports, and access data from anywhere. Mindshare serves more than 25 different industries including travel, hospitality, restaurant, financial, salon, automotive, and retail. Clients range from small regional chains to large multinational corporations. For information, visit www.mshare.net

GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition. With over 30 years of experience and $13 billion in served assets, we serve over 5,000 customers and over 22,000 property locations, primarily in the restaurant, hospitality and branded beverage industries. We offer customers access to capital with a menu of products featuring flexible finance structuring for acquisitions, refinancing, construction of new units and remodels for single and multi-unit operators/chains. More information is available at www.gefranchisefinance.com or by calling toll-free 866-GET-GEFF (438-4333).

Restaurant Magic Software delivers the most powerful back office and enterprise reporting system available – Data Central. Built on Microsoft’s .Net platform and delivered as SaaS, this web-based system is inexpensive to get started, easy to use, accurate and reliable. Data Central brings together multiple POS systems, Accounting, Payroll and HR systems, as well as Web Services like weather data, and more, with rich, dynamic reporting. Data Central gives you: Food Cost and Inventory Management – Labor Control and Workforce Scheduling – Supply Chain Management with B2B and Automated Invoicing – KPI’s, Dashboards and Automated Alerts – Budgeting and Planning – Learn More!

The Fast Casual Executive Alliance has formed to offer leadership in the fastest growing segment in the restaurant business. Current selection of the board and special Action Committee’s are underway, for more information on how to get involved, email the Alliance Chairman. The FCA has six core objectives for the segment and will be active in many restaurant association’s and consumer awareness campaigns. To learn more about the new Alliance visit the website.

Didn’t get invited to the Fast Casual Executive Summit last year?  Well here is your chance to get in on the most exclusive and informative event for the Fast Casual restaurant executive in the industry.  Join us this year in Denver, CO and be sure to get more inside info and education that any conference you can attend this year.  Networking galore is just one of the many side benefits of the Summit along with getting to know your peers and colleagues around the industry.  If you would like to get a chance to get an invite to this years event, just click here!

Last year proved to be an awesome event for the world of fast casual restaurants,  the collaboration was just a thing to behold.  Many brand managers and innovators have realized that the new world of social networks have extended beyond Facebook and into conferences like the Fast Casual Executive Summit.  This year will prove to be as exciting as last year when it comes to great networking and education.   If you are an executive that would like to tell your story or sit on a panel that will participate in a variety of topics like Brand Building, Challenges for 2009, The new Fast Casual Culture and many other topics please contact our event Chairman, Paul Barron - fcsummit@networldalliance.com.  And hey if you have an idea that is just too good to turndown it is likely that we will consider it as potential content for this years Summit! 

If you would like to get your Fast Casual Restaurant video some exposure, this is a great place to start.  If you have a franchising or operations video available about your fast casual restaurant we can show you how to get some great exposure right here on the official Fast Casual Executive Summit website.  Just leave a comment or contact us about how to do this.  If you are already a You Tube user then just send us a link of your video to fcsummit@networldalliance.com and we will be happy to review and post to our video gallery.

* Click here to view a slideshow of the 2007 Fast Casual Executive Summit.

Fast-casual restaurants will generate $10 billion in restaurant sales in 2007, said Tim Pulido, chief executive officer of Shakey’s USA. Of that $10 billion, the top 10 chains will contribute an estimated $6.6 billion, while the remaining will contribute about $3.4 billion. Quick-serve and casual-dining restaurants both will contribute more than $170 billion in sales, Pulido said. Pulido was the keynote speaker at the 2007 Fast Casual Executive Summit, held Sept. 18-19 at the Hotel Palomar in Dallas. To kick off Summit festivities, Pulido delivered the address, “Innovative Tactics for Growth: Lessons Learned on the Front Lines.”

More than 70 attendees experienced two days of industry collaborative sessions, along with a networking and dinner event at the five-star restaurant, Central 214. Summit attendees included representatives from Sizzler, Penn Station East Coast Subs, Ellianos Coffee Company, Au Bon Pain, Spicy Pickle, McAlister’s Deli, Raving Brands, Which Wich, Saladworks, Sandella’s Flatbread and Gold Star Chili.  Read the full story