Agenda

From 9.00am – Arrivals & registration

10.00am – Introduction and welcome – James Halliwell, editor, MCA

10.05am – Graeme Smith, managing director, AlixPartners

Graeme will give an overview of the restaurant market from an M&A perspective and what the current and future focus is for investors.

10.25am – Martin Williams, CEO, Rare Restaurants

Martin will speak about the evolution of M Restaurants and Gaucho, and how the two businesses are being taken forward under the new umbrella of Rare Restaurants.

10.45am – Ajay Lakhwani, VP of new business, Deliveroo

Ajay will unveil the plan for Deliveroo’s move into supplying restaurants with ingredients and other essentials, dubbed ‘food procurement’, and explain how Deliveroo plans to roll out the concept across the UK.

11.05am – Lydia Christie, legal director (employment law), Howard Kennedy LLP

Lydia will address how the #Metoo or #Ustoo movements have affected the hospitality industry and how to protect your workforce and your business.

11.25am – Break

11.45am – Jill Livesey, managing director, HIM and MCA Insights

The UK Restaurant Market in 2019 is set to contract at its fastest rate in seven years. Jill will share exclusive insight and trends from MCA’s newly published Restaurant Market Report 2019, to help operators and suppliers negotiate an ever more complex and competitive environment.

12.05pm – Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive, Burger King UK

Alasdair will speak on leadership – the key attributes which are more critical, now than ever, for our sector.

12.25pm – Q&A with Mark Jones, CEO, Carluccio’s

Mark will describe the Carluccio’s journey since the CVA last year and share how learnings from its Richmond restaurant and Fresca programme are helping to shape the future of the business.

12.45pm – Lunch

1.45pm – Hot Topics (Panel)

Industry leaders will debate the big issues impacting the restaurant sector, from rents and rates and the growth of delivery to how data is impacting menu innovation. The panel will feature:

 James Spragg, chief executive, Casual Dining Group
 Matt Snell, managing director, Gusto
 Richard Morris, managing director, Tortilla
 Nisha Katona, founder, Mowgli Street Food

2.15pm – Emma Woods, CEO, Wagamama

Drawing on the approach and experience of leading the team at Wagamama, Emma will address the importance of innovation to ensure the ongoing relevance and success of brands in the UK restaurant sector.

2.40pm – Concepts to watch

Hear from the founders of up-and-coming concepts MCA believe will shape the market in years to come. They will discuss their journey so far, what makes them different and their future growth plans.

 Rachel Hugh, co-founder, The Vurger Co., a 100% vegan fast food restaurant
 Brittney Bean, co-founder, Mother Clucker, a fried chicken street food concept
 Andy Lennox, founder, Zim Braai, a southern African inspired concept

3.10pm – Break

3.30pm – Mike Powner and Jamie Cartwright, partners, Charles Russell Speechlys

Allergens – practices and protocols. What you need to know.

4.00pm – Karl Chessell, business unit director – food and retail, CGA

Karl will look at patterns of UK restaurant openings and closures over the past year. Overlaying performance data and consumer changes, he’ll look at cuisine types, formats and geographies, giving CGA’s view of those parts of the market most exposed, and those offering most potential.

4.20pm – Jens Hofma, CEO, Pizza Hut Restaurants

Jens will discuss the journey Pizza Hut Restaurants has been on since the MBO last April, and how the business has survived, and will thrive, through the various cycles in the restaurant market.

4.40pm – Close & networking drinks