What Blue Coral Concepts' David Ovens thinks about site selection and food innovation

Get to know the executive before he steps in the Leaders' Panel at the QSR Media Sandhurst Conference and Awards.

David Ovens currently serves as head of marketing for Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group and executive general manager of Blue Coral Concepts, the franchisor of Ribs & Burgers and other dining brands.

Equipped with international experience across retail, food service, restaurant, and packaged goods businesses, his work history includes CMO & Consultant for QSR Holdings, Chief Marketing Officer for Yum! Brands, VP for Regional Franchise for Johnson and Johnson Asia Pacific, and SVP Global Johnson Kids Franchise.

QSR Media: How did you get involved in the multi-site restaurant industry?
After 20+ years in FMCG, I was headhunted to join Yum! Brands in Sydney as CMO for the SOPAC business, which included KFC and Pizza Hut. I started with Yum Brands in 2001.

What particular industry issues or developments are you currently thinking about?
That's a BIG question as there are a great many issues to contemplate:

Site selection: oversupply of retail real estate plus various shopping centres creating 'dining precincts' plus unrealistic rent expectations.
Food innovation: the never-ending challenge of being relevant and timely when it comes to the quality and taste of the food you offer and especially with a much more informed customer and increased competition.
Marketing and communications: the Google/Facebook paradigm and all aspects of digital marketing performance while not adding to the white noise in the category. Being relevant and engaging while achieving results.
Brand definition: It's one thing to have a document that defines the brand and another to actually bring it to life every day in every store consistently.

What are you most excited to do during the QSR Media Conference and Awards in Sydney?
Talk to people/network and compare notes on the current environment.

(We are months away from the only c-level event for Australia's multi-site restaurant industry. Don't wait for slots to fill; register HERE.)

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