Food to Go Conference 2025
The 2025 agenda is as follows
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Registration
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Welcome address
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WatchHouse: fast growth, big plans
WatchHouse is redefining what it means to be a coffee chain, with its premium offer now boasting 20 UK Houses and the brand’s first international House in New York. In May 2024, a £7.9m funding round was the highest non-tech equity raise in UK crowdfunding history. In this presentation, Roland will share plans to grow WatchHouse towards an ambitious target of 500 outlets globally by 2034.
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Insight: Lumina Intelligence on opportunities, trends and consumer behaviour
Flora will exclusively preview Lumina’s brand-new Food to Go Market Report, presenting the latest consumer insights, including the impact of the current economic climate on food to go spend and purchasing behaviours.
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Panel: The premiumisation of lunch
With office workers concentrating their lunchtime spend mid-week, average spend per transaction has been increasing, as customers turn their backs on bland salads and sandwiches in favour of premium, freshly-made, bowls and baps. In this panel session we speak to several growing concepts who are winning share of the lunchtime occasion through a focus on quality, choice, convenience and innovative ingredients.
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Morning Break
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Innovation Showcase - Next gen food to go concepts
Annabel Fox, co-founder and CMO, De Nadas, will share the Argentinian empanada concept’s growth story to date, why it offers something a bit different for the hungry lunchtime customer and its vision for the future.
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Wingstop: innovating, winning customers and building great teams : the formula to exceptional growth in the UK
Wingstop’s expansion has continued to gather pace in the UK, with the brand nearing the 60-site mark, thanks to the UK consumer’s unwavering desire for flavour. In this Q&A, CEO Chris Sherriff will share how the combination of innovation and great teams have also been a key part of Wingstop’s successful formula for growth and its ability to win new customers.
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Panel: Property - growing brands, going places
With inflation cooling and consumer confidence gradually creeping up, there are plenty of opportunities for growth when it comes to food on the move. In this panel we are joined by a collection of high growth brands, with ambitious opening targets, to discuss how they are expanding at scale, opportunities and barriers to new sites, flexible formats and the appeal of franchising as a route to growth.
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Chipotle: Fresh food and culinary techniques fuelling UK growth
In less than two years, Chipotle Mexican Grill UK, the fast-casual restaurant chain that serves burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads made with real ingredients, has nearly doubled its footprint in the UK, recently reaching its 20th location milestone in the country. In this presentation, Jacob Sumner, Director, European Operations at Chipotle, will share the brand’s journey in the UK so far, how it sets itself apart from competitors with its commitment to fresh food and real culinary techniques, and why it’s confident the UK offers great long-term growth potential.
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Lunch
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Innovation Showcase - Next gen food to go concepts
Emilio Malik and Javier Troitino-Ramos, founders, Tahina will share the idea behind their new fully autonomous store in the City of London, which features AI, intelligent weight shelves and motion detector sensors.
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Presentation GDK (German Doner Kebab): growth beyond 150 UK sites
Wallis will speak about the meteoric growth of the brand as it nears its 150th UK store opening, and how it is taking kebabs out from the shadows, through brand collaborations, flexible formats and product innovation.
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Panel: Digital evolution – delivery, loyalty and tech
Technology is enabling businesses to reach customers through an increasing number of channels, with operators’ relationships with customers evolving from being merely transactional to emotional too. In this panel, we explore the latest approaches from brands when it comes to digital marketing and loyalty, how technology is enabling the growth of digital channels such as delivery and collection, and how it’s benefiting front of house of operations.
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Network Rail: The brands and trends driving sales in travel hotspots
Rail strikes aside, train stations having largely returned to their bustling former glory, with increasing numbers of people commuting for work and food to go brands keen to capitalise on the potential for sales. In this presentation, Daniel Charles, head of retail - property, Network Rail, will give an overview of the current landscape in terms of footfall, the trends impacting strategy, and how the organisation works with its partner F&B brands to drive sales in this fast paced and evolving market.
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Afternoon Break
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Innovation Showcase
Christian West, founder at PICK.YOUR.OWN will discuss how he is doing things differently at his newly launched business, which features a customisable grab and go menu with a focus on local and organic produce, and a subscription model offering discounts to members.
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Lola’s: Cupcakes on the move
Selling cupcakes from more than 40 retail locations in the UK, including lockers and vending machines, and following a record year of sales in 2024, Lola’s is set to further drive its growth this year. In this presentation, managing director Asher Budwig will share the grab and go brand’s successful story so far, how its strategy to target small footprint locations in transport hubs has been paying off, and how it is developing the business in other channels such as online retail.
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Papa Johns: Back to better
Papa Johns UK has undergone a major transformation in the past year, including closing loss-making restaurants and re-franchising restaurants. With a renewed focus on customer service and returning to profitability, UK MD Chris Phylactou will explain how innovation, marketing and expansion into new non-traditional locations is helping the UK business strengthen its core and build for the future.
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Drinks Reception