Speaker Series
The Kitchen Counter at the LRA Showcase
Presented by Ecolab
Located right on the show floor, we invite you to gather around The Kitchen Counter—a dynamic, educational speaker series designed to provide restaurateurs with cutting-edge insights and actionable strategies. This engaging series serves as a knowledge hub for the modern restaurateur, offering a refreshing break with timely topics that are shaping the industry today.
Whether you’re seeking innovative solutions or tips to boost your profit margin, The Kitchen Counter delivers key takeaways that can be immediately applied to your business. Join us for expert-led discussions that will help you stay ahead of the curve and turn challenges into opportunities. Ready to elevate your restaurant’s success? The Kitchen Counter is the place to be.
Saturday, July 25
State of the Restaurant Industry & Economic Outlook
Sponsored by the National Restaurant Association
12:15 - 1 p.m.
Restaurant operators face mounting challenges as rising costs and more cautious consumers put pressure on profitability. Meanwhile, the broader economy and consumer spending reflect a mix of resilience and uncertainty. This session delivers a data-driven analysis of current trends shaping the restaurant and foodservice industry and explores what lies ahead for 2026 and for 2027—helping operators anticipate opportunities and prepare for potential risks in a rapidly evolving market.
Chad Moutray, Ph.D., CBE, is Senior Vice President of Research & Knowledge and Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, where he leads economic analysis and provides data-driven insights shaping strategy across the restaurant and foodservice industry. He is a widely recognized voice on economic trends, regularly advising business leaders and contributing to national media and industry discussions.
His career includes senior economist roles at the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with academic leadership experience, giving him a rare depth across government, industry, and higher education.
What’s Cooking in the Kitchen: Essential Insights on Restaurant Labor & Employment Compliance with Michelle Anderson
Sponsored by Fisher Phillips
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Join Fisher Phillips Attorney Michelle Anderson for an exploration of critical labor and employment compliance issues facing restaurants today. In this session, Michelle will provide practical ways to navigate wage and hour laws, handle employee challenges, and ensure workplace policies and practices meet current regulatory standards. Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just starting out, this session promises valuable insights to help you stay ahead in the complex landscape of labor and employment compliance.
Sunday, July 26
Keeping Restaurants in Business: Financial Strategies Every Owner Should Know
Sponsored by Accounting Services Unlimited
11 - 11:45 a.m.
Running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and exceptional service, it requires a strong foundation. Join Thomas Fontes, owner of Accounting Services Unlimited, for a discussion on the financial strategies that help restaurants stay profitable, organized, and prepared for growth. In this session we will uncover the financial blind spots that quietly eat away restaurant profits, discover how successful operators track food and beverage costs, monitor vendor pricing, and know when to repair, replace, or lease equipment. You'll also learn how to evaluate labor costs, identify inefficiencies, and use your financial reports to make better business decisions.
Plus, let's see how your restaurant compares to others in the industry. What are top-performing restaurants doing differently? Where are others leaving money on the table? Walk away with practical strategies to improve profitability, strengthen operations, and uncover opportunities hiding in plain sight.
Recent Changes in Louisiana Law: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Sponsored by Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse
12:15 - 1 p.m.
A comprehensive review of recent changes in Louisiana law with a focus on what can help your business prosper and what may present a challenge if not properly accounted for in advance. Alan Yacoubian, the LRA’s General Counsel, along with several experts in the field will review changes in the law that have been passed by the Louisiana legislature during the past few legislative sessions. This review of recent changes in the law will provide a summary of the highs and lows of recent legislative sessions and then open floor to questions from the audience.
KEYNOTE SESSION: Restaurants of the Future with Futurist Shawn DuBravac
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Restaurants in the decade ahead will look and run differently than those operating today. Kitchens are shifting from reactive to predictive, guest relationships are becoming more personalized and less transactional, and the line between the digital order and the physical meal continues to narrow. A new generation of restaurant technology is learning what a kitchen needs before a shift starts, what a guest wants before they order, and where demand is headed before the market signals it. The operators who build for that future now will define what hospitality looks like for the next generation of guests.
Join futurist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Shawn DuBravac as he lays out a clear view of where the restaurant industry is heading in the age of AI and what it takes to lead there. Customizable for any concept, from quick service to fine dining, this session separates the structural shifts reshaping the business, in the kitchen, at the counter, and in the guest relationship, from the hype that obscures them. Dr. DuBravac will share the trends that matter, the questions operators should be asking their teams, and the moves that separate the brands building real advantage from the ones simply bolting on technology. Attendees leave with a clear, forward-looking view of the restaurant industry's next chapter and a practical way to start building for it.
Key Takeaways:
- Practical Examples Already Taking Shape: Early signals pointing to where the restaurant industry is headed.
- The Guest Experience, Reimagined: How the guest relationship is set to change in the coming years.
- A Glimpse into the Future: Where the restaurant industry is headed next and what that means for how restaurants are built and run.
- Inspirational Perspectives on Leading the Change: How to position a brand for the restaurant industry's next chapter.