News

Heartland Payment Systems hosting CEO roundtable at Fast Casual Exec Summit

October 7, 2014

A quartet of C-suite executives from the fast casual segment will participate in a roundtable Oct. 14 in Denver as part of the annual Fast Casual Executive Summit. The roundtable is being presented by Heartland Payment Systems and will be hosted by Heartland President David Gilbert.

Panelists this year include:

• Peter Cancro, CEO and founder, Jersey Mike's Subs;
• Scott Crane, CEO, Smashburger;
• Randy Gier, CEO, Pizza Inn and Pie Five;
• Amit Kleinberger, CEO, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt.

They will focus on current trends and future opportunities in fast casual, an industry segment that has seen an 11-percent increase in sales with 8-percent restaurant growth over the past year. The session, Fast Casual Executive Summit's 2014 grand finale, will also focus on the challenges these top executives faced in distinguishing themselves in a crowded, familiar market, to push their brands to the front of the fast casual pack.

"We're going to do more than find out what these business leaders did to make their brands stand out," Gilbert said in a news release. "I want to pinpoint the trends and innovations that are pushing fast casual — and the restaurant industry as a whole — forward."

The grand finale Fast Casual Executive Summit CEO roundtable session will take place Oct. 14, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (MDT) at the Four Seasons Denver. To register, visit http://www.fastcasualsummit.com/.