Utilizing Technomic’s latest research, we will look at the leading chains operating in the MENA region as well as menu and consumer trends that continue to evolve the foodservice landscape.

Connectivity and automation are disrupting the foodservice industry enabling innovations, new concepts and competition. This session will focus on trends shaping the foodservice industry and examine how operators and manufacturers turn the challenges of a more connected world into benefits.

How can operators leverage the rapidly accelerating speed of connectivity and automation in foodservice and turn it into an advantage? We will look at transformational business models such as delivery innovations and fully automated service models. We will also look at end-to-end collaborative innovation. How do food suppliers, equipment OEMs, and operators work together on next gen of packaging for automated equipment? How can data be shared and analyzed across the value chain?

The power and potential of women business leaders is more critical than ever, as research continues to show more inclusive and diverse companies are the best drivers of global economic growth. Join a panel of leading executives to discuss opportunity and responsibility around gender equality, pay equality and being a change agent in the nearly US$800 billion worldwide restaurant industry where women – as consumers, as well as executives – continue to drive economic output and spending.

The session will discuss:

• Winning strategies for advancing women and creating global paths to business success and growth
• Ways to develop and maintain inclusiveness and advocacy to inspire a brand, a workplace and product innovation
• Lessons on developing cultural intelligence – from understanding to action – to build diverse teams focused on global growth

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shifting how we operate our business. The advancement of leading AI technologies such as computer vision, conversational commerce and augmented intelligence are enabling a greater understanding of consumer behavior and more powerful decisions on the front-line.

Consumer expectations are also rising in conjunction of these trends reaching consumer devices and applications. Restaurants are being challenged to focus more resources on serving the customer to address their greater expectations around convenience and personalization. Restaurants that successfully incorporate these capabilities have an opportunity to drive new growth, capture the loyalty of consumers, and achieve greater efficiency.

Discover the latest technology trends and myths and learn about how firms can modernize their existing businesses to take advantage of these technology trends in this session.

Inspiring Enactus students who take entrepreneurial action for others to create a better world for us all will showcase how they are tackling the world's food waste crisis.

As the world’s largest experiential learning platform dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of leaders with a head for business and a heart for the world, Enactus improved the lives of 1.3 million people in 2017 through 72,000 participating students on 1,730 campuses in 36 countries.

The Enactus network of global business, academic and student leaders are unified by our vision—to create a better, more sustainable world.

Learn more at enactus.org. #NextGenLeaders