important INFO
The Restaurant Catering Workshop begins at the Austin Marriot Downtown immediately following the Fast Casual Executive Summit. Day 2 of The Restaurant Catering Workshop will be held at the El Arroyo restaurant at 1624 West 5th Street in Austin.
Agenda
TUESDAY // OCTOBER 7, 2025
Check In Opens
All attendees, sponsors, and speakers must check in at the registration desk and pick up a name badge. Please wear your badge at all times during the Workshop.
- Cherryh Cansler | VP of Events & Publisher of FastCasual.com | Networld Media Group
The Future of Catering: Turning Off-Premises into a Scalable Growth Engine
Catering isn’t just a side revenue stream—it’s the future of restaurant growth. This session explores how first-party catering, corporate partnerships, and local sales strategies are shaping the industry. We’ll discuss evolving consumer behaviors, emerging technology, and how restaurants that invest in structured catering programs now will be the ones thriving in the years ahead.
- Kelly Grogan | Co-Founder | CRUMBS

The Technology You Need to Scale Catering Sales
The right tech can make or break a catering program.
This session will highlight:
- What restaurant brands need in a first-party ordering system
- How to track customer data & leverage insights for better outreach
- Best practices for integrating catering with POS & delivery management
- How AI & automation can support catering operations
Welcome Reception
Meet fellow attendees, industry leaders, and sponsors over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
WEDNESDAY // OCTOBER 8, 2025
Breakfast Briefing & Networking
Creating the Ultimate Catering Plan
In this interactive two-hour session, attendees will roll up their sleeves and build their Ultimate Catering Plan - a practical, step-by-step roadmap designed to grow sales, improve execution, and drive repeat business. From defining goals and identifying target clients to outlining marketing tactics, sales strategies, and operational needs, this session will guide operators through every essential component of a successful catering program. Attendees will leave with a customized plan they can take back to their teams and start executing immediately.
- Erle Dardick | Senior Partner | The Off Premises Growth Academy
- Kelly Grogan | Co-Founder | CRUMBS


The New Age of Catering Marketing: Driving Awareness & Conversions
Marketing for catering is NOT the same as marketing for restaurant traffic.
In this session, we’ll break down:
- How to market directly to businesses, event planners & corporate decision-makers
- Email & social media strategies that drive catering orders
- Leveraging first-party channels to reduce reliance on third-party platforms
- Local store marketing ideas to build community partnerships
Lunch & Learn
Mastering Catering Operations: The Key to Seamless Execution & Repeat Business
Scaling catering requires flawless execution—without it, even the best sales and marketing strategies won’t work.
This session will dive into:
- Best practices for order fulfillment & accuracy
- Delivery logistics that won’t slow you down
- Packaging and presentation strategies that impress clients
- How to set up catering-friendly kitchen workflows
- Brian Bailey | President & CEO | Ichor Restaurant Group
Presented by dlivrd
Winning Strategies from Restaurant Leaders
Hear from restaurant operators who have built high-performing catering programs.
Topics include:
- Lessons learned from scaling catering in a multi-unit environment
- How to balance in-store sales with catering operations
- What marketing & operations investments deliver the biggest ROI
“Ask the Experts” Roundtable
Attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with speakers and industry experts for a rapid-fire Q&A session on sales, marketing, operations, and catering program growth.
View 2024 Agenda