With one month to go before the opening of the 2008 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, more than 300 multiunit operators have already registered to attend the show. Restaurant and foodservice establishments expected to be seen walking the aisles include 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Masala Bowl, and Yoshinoya America Inc. The expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, from August 23 through August 25, 2008.
“We appreciate when restaurateurs and foodservice professionals take time away from their businesses to attend this important industry event,” says Ron Mathews, industry vice president, Reed Exhibitions, producers of the event. “We are always thrilled to welcome multi-unit operators to the expo; their presence adds tremendous value to the show.”
Attendees will find a variety of educational opportunities that are part of the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum. A keynote address for multiunit operators will feature Mark Sanborn, best-selling author of The Fred Factor, the foodservice industry’s chosen leader who has delivered successful principles to Burger King, Doubletree Hotels, Marriott, McDonald’s, Multifoods, Pepsi, Subway, and Wendy’s. In this presentation, Mark Sanborn relates the four principles of injecting passion into work and life through the story of Fred, his Denver postman, and others like him. Sanborn says, “Fred is the type of person whom we interact with that leaves us in awe of their work and the experience we just had with them.”
A visit to the expo will provide attendees with the latest trends and information to meet specific business challenges as well as the chance to taste new foods and beverages, and see equipment and solutions that will be featured on the show floor by 650 exhibiting companies showcasing everything for the front and back of a restaurant and foodservice establishment. In addition to Mark Sanborn’s keynote presentations, Nolan Bushnell, founder and former CEO of Atari Corporation and Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre and CEO of uWink, and Ted Balestreri, owner of The Sardine Factory will also be featured speakers.
