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QSR Media Conference & Awards 2023 powered by Red Bull

October 30, 2023 | 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM Sydney Time

OVERVIEW QSR Media Conference & Awards 2023 powered by Red Bull

TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!

With the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview, the QSR and fast-casual restaurant industry is heading towards a new future. New challenges like increased cost of living and customer behaviour changes have now taken the spotlight as the industry’s latest challenges. Coupled with heavy reliance on AI and technology as more consumers demand faster service, customisable menu offerings, and enhance experience, what would the restaurant of the future look like?

This year, the QSR Media Conference & Awards 2023 powered by Red Bull is bringing together the top decision-makers for a day of in-depth discussions with the goal to inform, inspire, and empower multi-site restaurant brands in discovering the restaurant of the future.

The event will also celebrate the biggest innovations in the industry with the QSR Media Awards. The awards programme will recognise the top brands, operators, and individuals who have made their mark in the QSR industry.

To check our awards page, click here.

Venue: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

Venue Address: 61-101 Phillip Street Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000

Time: 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM


For inquiries, email Rose at [email protected].

Speakers

Brett Houldin

Brett Houldin

CEO

El Jannah

Chris Green

Chris Green

CEO

Hungry Jack's

Nishad Alani

Nishad Alani

CEO

Retail Zoo

Karen Bozic

Karen Bozic

Group CEO

Craveable Brands

Lili Shi

Lili Shi

Company Director

Gong cha Australia

Sanjev Kangatharan

Sanjev Kangatharan

Director of Foodservice

Circana

Phil Reed

Phil Reed

CEO

Pizza Hut Australia

Emma Pitfield

Emma Pitfield

Partner, Consulting

KPMG

Ross Widdows

Ross Widdows

Partner, Cyber

KPMG

Ben Gilbert

Ben Gilbert

Managing Director

Jarden

Josh Ludski

Josh Ludski

Portfolio Manager

River Capital

Tom Kierath

Tom Kierath

Head of Consumer Research

Barrenjoey

Shaun Cousins

Shaun Cousins

Head of Retail and Consumer Research

UBS

Charlie Lawson

Charlie Lawson

Managing Director

Bain Capital

Maxine Townley

Maxine Townley

Brand and Sponsorships Manager

KFC SOPAC

Andrew Howie

Andrew Howie

Chief Marketing Officer

Taco Bell

Carlos Cacho

Carlos Cacho

Chief Economist

Jarden

Shane Bracken

Shane Bracken

Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand

Subway

Olivia Sutherland

Olivia Sutherland

Marketing Director

Krispy Kreme Australia & New Zealand

Daniel Klug

Daniel Klug

TikTok Client Partner

TikTok Australia & New Zealand

Martin Newman

Martin Newman

National Media Manager

McDonald's

Mitchell Taylor

Mitchell Taylor

Partner

Simon-Kucher

LIzzie McManus

LIzzie McManus

General Manager

Bastion Experience

Jessica Moodie

Jessica Moodie

Partnerships Manager

Grill'd

Jeff Vassel

Jeff Vassel

Global Business Development Manager

Geotech Information Services

Beshara Dafesh

Beshara Dafesh

Founder & CEO / General Manager

LeaseIQ / Lease1

Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara

General Manager

Concept Eight

Simon Thompson

Simon Thompson

Head of Property

Craveable Brands

Anthony Mittelmark

Anthony Mittelmark

Chief Technology Officer

Fujitsu Australia Limited

SPONSORS

EVENT PROGRAMME

TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!

*Subject to change

8:00 AM - 9:05 AM Networking registration

9:05 AM - 9:10 AM Welcome remarks

9:10 AM - 9:50 AM Leaders Panel

From inflation challenges, changing customer behaviour, and new trends, this session will have the top industry leaders of the quick-service restaurant industry come together and share their thoughts about recent developments in the industry that they faced. The session will have Brett Houldin, CEO charcoal of chicken brand El Jannah, Chris Green, CEO of Hungry Jack’s, one of the top five fast-food brands in Australia, Nishad Alani, CEO of Retail Zoo, which operates over 750 company-owned and franchised stores, Karen Bozic. Group CEO of Craveable Brands, an operator of iconic Australian brands such as Red Rooster and Oporto, and Lili Shi, Company Director, of Gong cha, one of the top bubble tea brands in Australia.

  • Brett Houldin, CEO, El Jannah
  • Chris Green, CEO, Hungry Jack's
  • Nishad Alani, CEO, Retail Zoo
  • Karen Bozic. Group CEO, Craveable Brands
  • Lili Shi, Company Director, Gong cha Australia

9:50 AM - 10:10 AM Trends impacting the Australian QSR Industry

Get the latest insights on trends in the QSR Industry from Circana, one of the world's leading research firms. This session will cover the latest data on customer behaviour, food and menu trends, and more.

  • Sanjev Kangatharan, Director of Foodservice, Circana

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM Fireside Chat with Phil Reed

With an extensive tenure in the quick service restaurant industry, Phil Reed has left his mark on some of the largest QSR brands across the globe. Phil has worked with the top brands in the industry such as McDonald's, Burger King, and currently, Pizza Hut. He has been in many different markets, from the UK to Southeast Asia before joining Pizza Hut's Australia operations in 2018. With his people-centric approach and his determination to never remove business focus away from customers, he led Pizza Hut to 50 straight months of record sales and same-store revenues. As he returns to the biggest business event of the year, Phil will share a part of his experiences and insights in the QSR industry, his thoughts on leveraging industry trends, and what he thinks the future of the quick-service restaurant will be.

  • Phil Reed, CEO, Pizza Hut Australia

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Morning break

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Digital enabled transformation is a given - but what must QSR’s need to do in order to protect themselves?

Increasingly, QSR’s are investing in digital/AI/ML capabilities, whether it be to support an improved customer experience or more efficient operations in-store or in the central/head office. There are immense benefits of digital transformation, however, this needs to also be managed in the right way to ensure that QSR’s are not subject to unforeseen risk which could result in brand or reputation damage.

Emma Pitfield and Ross Widdows – Partners at KPMG will talk through some highlights of investing in digital transformation and overlay with some key retail cyber challenges and how you can think about taking a threat-based approach to cyber security, taking into account QSR-specific considerations such as defending and securing loyalty data, and the death of the technology border. 

  • Emma Pitfield, Partner, Consulting KPMG
  • Ross Widdows, Partner, Cyber KPMG

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM QSRs and Money Panel

In the race for capital to fuel ambitious growth, how can QSRs stand out as the winning bet? Join our panel of investment experts as they unveil the secrets to successful deals. Discover insights from River Capital’s Josh Ludski, the firm that acquired The Cheesecake Shop, last year, on how private equity firms assess risk profiles and craft growth and exit strategies for QSRs. On the other side, Barrenjoey’s Tom Kierath will reveal their approach to advising investors and businesses backed by meticulous market research to create investment recommendations and analysis for investors. 

  • Ben Gilbert, Managing Director, Jarden
  • Josh Ludski, Investor, River Capital
  • Tom Kierath, Head of Consumer Research, Barrenjoey
  • Shaun Cousins, Executive Director, UBS
  • Charlie Lawson, Managing Director, Bain Capital

12:00 PM - 12:20 PM How Can QSRs Win Over Gen Z?

For QSRs, Gen Z is becoming a key target demographic. However, many struggle with the best way to reach and engage with this emerging generation. In this discussion, Maxine Townley, Brand and Sponsorships Manager at KFC SOPAC, will speak to how KFC is successfully engaging with this audience via its ongoing investment in local Australian music.

  • Maxine Townley, Brand and Sponsorships Manager, KFC SOPAC

12:20 PM - 12:40 PM Building an Aussie brand with US heritage through food innovations

  • Andrew Howie, Chief Marketing Officer, Taco Bell

12:40 PM - 12:55 PM The economic outlook and what it means for QSR operators

As an economist, Carlos Cacho tries to give the audience a big picture understanding of how the outlook and challenges across the industry and the broader economy are shaping up for the year ahead.

From a macro perspective, there are a few interesting trends we are seeing at the moment. While we’ve seen the easing of supply chain and to an extent labour shortages, those challenges have been replaced by changing consumer behaviours as cost of living pressure impacts households.

  • Carlos Cacho, Chief Economist, Jarden

12:55 PM - 1:55 PM Lunch break

1:55 PM - 3:00 PM Awards programme

 

STREAM 1

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM Case Study 1: Subway Brand Refresh

As the Managing Director, Shane Bracken will delve into the strategic initiatives, challenges faced, and outstanding results achieved during the recent brand transformation. With a focus on customer-centricity, innovation, and sustainability, this engaging session will provide valuable insights into Subway's journey towards revitalizing its brand identity, elevating the customer experience, and positioning itself for continued growth in the competitive fast-food landscape.

  • Shane Bracken, Managing Director, Subway Australia & New Zealand

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Creating Awesome Customer Experiences: Valetine’s Day 2023 activation, Saying “I Dough” at your local Krispy Kreme store

Olivia Sutherland, Krispy Kreme CMO, will share with you what living your brand purpose looks like when it comes to creating the ultimate customer experience.

Join us to hear all about why over 300 couples applied to get married at Krispy Kreme on Valentine’s Day!

  • Olivia Sutherland, Marketing Director Krispy Kreme Australia & New Zealand

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM Afternoon break

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM Macca’s and TikTok - Leading from Down Under

McDonald's share their journey on TikTok, from a test and learn innovation platform to a tried and tested marketing channel. From measurement to creativity, this is a chat no marketer should miss!

  • Daniel Klug, TikTok Client Partner, TikTok AUNZ
  • Martin Newman, National Media Manager, McDonald's

 

STREAM 2

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM - Back to growth through better Revenue Management

As restaurants in Australia grapple with changing customer behaviours from higher costs and lower ability to spend, the importance of effective Revenue Management is higher than ever. Find out how to use a mix of Topline levers to grow customer count, revenue and profitability.

  • Mitchell Taylor, Partner, Simon-Kucher

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Effective Multi-Site Leadership

Therese will provide insights into effective leadership in multi-site settings, and will delve into the challenges and opportunities of leading teams across multiple locations, emphasizing strategies for communication, coordination, and building strong relationships.

  • Therese Frangie, CEO, Mad Mex

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM Afternoon break

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM Bastion Experience: Inside Grill'd Dreamburgers Diner

  • Lizzie McManus, General Manager, Bastion Experience
  • Jessica Moodie, Partnerships Manager, Grill'd

4:15 PM End of Programme

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM Cocktail Party

 

***

SPONSOR STAGE

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Network Planning & Growth Strategies in a Post Covid World

The QSR industry has experienced phenomenal change as a result of the pandemic.  From advances in delivery, to the emergence of virtual brands, many QSR brands have reassessed their network planning and growth strategies in light of these changes.  This includes both network optimisation and growth planning.

Come along to this panel discussion to hear how QSR industry leaders have embraced these changes and are leading the field in a post-Covid world.

Moderator:

  • Jeff Vassel, Global Business Development Manager, Geotech Information Services

Panelists:

  • Beshara Dafesh, General Manager of Leasing, Lease1
  • Michael McNamara, General Manager, Concept Eight
  • Simon Thompson, Head Of Property, Craveable Brands

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Fujitsu Speaking Session

Join Fujitsu for a discussion of current and emerging challenges for QSR and how Fujitsu are enabling QSRs to maintain a competitive advantage. This informative session will cover off AI (threat and opportunity), delivery companies - "friend or foe?",  voice ordering, self-checkout, drive-thru management, order accuracy, and social selling and other technologies which are driving a differentiated customer experience for QSRs.

  • Anthony Mittlemark, Chief Technology Officer - Retail, Fujitsu

CONTACT US

For more details, contact:

Justine Charlton

+61 416 079 788

[email protected]

Speakers

Brett Houldin

Brett Houldin

CEO

El Jannah

Chris Green

Chris Green

CEO

Hungry Jack's

Nishad Alani

Nishad Alani

CEO

Retail Zoo

Karen Bozic

Karen Bozic

Group CEO

Craveable Brands

Lili Shi

Lili Shi

Company Director

Gong cha Australia

Sanjev Kangatharan

Sanjev Kangatharan

Director of Foodservice

Circana

Phil Reed

Phil Reed

CEO

Pizza Hut Australia

Emma Pitfield

Emma Pitfield

Partner, Consulting

KPMG

Ross Widdows

Ross Widdows

Partner, Cyber

KPMG

Ben Gilbert

Ben Gilbert

Managing Director

Jarden

Josh Ludski

Josh Ludski

Portfolio Manager

River Capital

Tom Kierath

Tom Kierath

Head of Consumer Research

Barrenjoey

Shaun Cousins

Shaun Cousins

Head of Retail and Consumer Research

UBS

Charlie Lawson

Charlie Lawson

Managing Director

Bain Capital

Maxine Townley

Maxine Townley

Brand and Sponsorships Manager

KFC SOPAC

Andrew Howie

Andrew Howie

Chief Marketing Officer

Taco Bell

Carlos Cacho

Carlos Cacho

Chief Economist

Jarden

Shane Bracken

Shane Bracken

Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand

Subway

Olivia Sutherland

Olivia Sutherland

Marketing Director

Krispy Kreme Australia & New Zealand

Daniel Klug

Daniel Klug

TikTok Client Partner

TikTok Australia & New Zealand

Martin Newman

Martin Newman

National Media Manager

McDonald's

Mitchell Taylor

Mitchell Taylor

Partner

Simon-Kucher

LIzzie McManus

LIzzie McManus

General Manager

Bastion Experience

Jessica Moodie

Jessica Moodie

Partnerships Manager

Grill'd

Jeff Vassel

Jeff Vassel

Global Business Development Manager

Geotech Information Services

Beshara Dafesh

Beshara Dafesh

Founder & CEO / General Manager

LeaseIQ / Lease1

Michael McNamara

Michael McNamara

General Manager

Concept Eight

Simon Thompson

Simon Thompson

Head of Property

Craveable Brands

Anthony Mittelmark

Anthony Mittelmark

Chief Technology Officer

Fujitsu Australia Limited