BREAKOUT SESSION / MONDAY / OCTOBER 14, 2019 / 9:30 AM
How Technology Advancements are Changing your Kitchen and BoH Operations
Two technological advancements are already improving restaurants around the world – robotics and adding smart technology to foodservice equipment. Both are not only changing the customer experience in the front of house but also the level of productivity and labor in the kitchen.
This session will explore how operators must embrace the kitchen of the future in order to automate meal production and to take better care of their units.
PANELISTS
Derin Alemli | Founder & CEO | Square Roots Kitchen
Derin Alemli is the Founder & CEO of Square Roots Kitchen, a technology-enabled fast casual healthy restaurant located at 120 S Halsted in Chicago. SRK automates customer interactions and kitchen operations, and has been revolutionary in creating a humanized approach to automation that makes for happy customers and an efficient operation. SRK is expanding, and developing its tech as a SaaS product for other restaurants. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur Derin worked in hedge fund portfolio management for Grosvenor Capital Management. Derin has an MBA from the University of Chicago in addition to holding the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Geoff Alexander | CEO | Wow Bao
After two decades of working with multiple Lettuce Entertain You concepts, Geoff Alexander took over as President of Wow Bao in 2009. Under Geoff’s leadership, Wow Bao has revolutionized the way diners interact with restaurants by being a leader in technology. He implemented mobile & desktop ordering, installed self-ordering kiosks, pioneered a mobile gift card & loyalty program, added bicycle delivery, as well as domestic shipping, launched a food truck, and turned Wow Bao into a well-respected social media influencer. Geoff has overseen Wow Bao’s inclusion into airports, NFL stadiums, MLB ballparks, university campuses, and more than 50 grocers sell Wow Bao’s frozen retail line.
Dennis O’Toole | Principal Consultant | Kitchen Equipment Solutions
Speaker bio coming soon!
MODERATOR
Erik Koenig | VP of Strategic Marketing & Product Content | Heritage Parts
Creative brand storyteller and strategist, Erik Koenig joined Heritage Foodservice in 2014. He continues to lead the evolution of the Heritage Parts story in both the US and Canada. Through unique customer focused content, Heritage is working to expand the meaning of parts distribution. Before joining Heritage, Erik spent fifteen years as a strategic brand marketer working with such brands as Colgate-Palmolive, Butterball, Pall Mall, KOOL, Oster and Zicam.
session sponsor
