Few QSRs can say they’ve outlived the century. White Castle is one of them, and we have them to thank for pioneering the fast-food hamburger industry. How has this iconic brand still maintained crave-worthy after all this time? CMO Lynn Blashford will share their history of crave advertising and how they’re modernizing their marketing strategy with each new generation – just in time for the 20th anniversary of the cult-classic movie, “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle.”

Menu variety and affordability are the top two things customers look for when researching new restaurants, and there are more options than ever for them to choose from. How do we balance our strategy between brand awareness to find new customers and a strong value incentive to convince them to purchase? Our panel shares their learnings on how this comes to life across their menu offerings, creative strategy and media buying.

You can’t go far without hearing something about Smalls Sliders. What’s the secret to their success? Simplicity and disruption. From an intentionally limited menu and streamlined operations to their distinct approach to branding and marketing, Smalls is shaking up the big burger industry and taking the QSR space by storm in the process. Smalls Sliders’ SVP & head of marketing, Michael Alberici, breaks down how they’ve broken through the marketing muck to become one of the fastest-growing brands in QSR – with over 230 Cans open or under development across 18 states.

It seems like every day there’s a new way for customers to interact with your brand. The media landscape is constantly changing, the industry is saturated with celebrity endorsements, and good content is more important than ever. How do we adapt our media strategy to reach people at the right time and right place? What opportunities exist for creative efficiencies? What’s going to happen when the third-party cookie finally goes away?

If 2014 was the year of mobile, 2024 is the year or personalization. Customers today want a two-way relationship with brands they do business with, and that starts with relevant, engaging content. Learn hands-on tactics marketers are using to better personalize across channels, including data gathering tips to enhance a customer’s profile, audience segmentation strategies, automated customer journeys, triggered campaigns and more.

Mellow Mushroom had an awareness problem. Their stone-baked pizzas were a fan favorite, but their logo wasn’t recognizable, their digital presence was fractured, and there was little brand consistency across their 163-locations. Enter the brand’s first rebrand. Anne Mejia, Mellow Mushroom's VP of Brand Development, shares how the beloved pizza brand updated its look, digital presence and in-store environment to kick off the brand’s 50th anniversary – and gives us a taste of what’s coming next.

Do customers choose where they want to eat first? Or do they choose how they want to get it? While the price markup may deter some customers, there’s a reason why third-party delivery platforms have amassed a large, loyal fan base: Some people only want what can be delivered; they’ll figure out the restaurant later. We’ll dive into how to adjust your marketing strategy based on each customer journey, including balancing your owned channel ordering against third-party delivery optimization.

There is nothing more gratifying than converting the drive-by, one-time purchaser to a loyal, committed customer: a fan. And Nicole Portwood, CMO of Salad and Go, knows a thing or two about building fans. With more than 25 years of experience in CPG, liquor and entertainment marketing – including launching Jennifer Lopez’s cocktail brand Delola — she’s now spearheading the brand that plans to open one new restaurant a week in 2024. Join us for a fireside chat with Nicole to learn how she’s evangelizing her customer base, bringing delicious, affordable and convenient food to all.

While the average inflation rate has steadied since its peak in 2022, we’re still grappling with higher prices across the board due to the rising cost of goods. QSR and fast casual marketers turn to loyalty programs to drive acquisition and retention, but how do you craft a sustainable discount strategy, so we’re not in a race to the bottom? And while value is a key decision factor, it’s not the only thing that makes a customer loyal. Join us for an in-depth discussion with loyalty experts from top brands on how they’re rethinking their 2024 programs.