Casual Dining 2020 confirms over 65 keynote speakers

Casual Dining, the restaurant, pub and bar event, has confirmed it has added CEOs, founders and senior directors from YO!, London Union, Loungers, Carluccio’s, Byron, Flat Iron, Imbiba, Pizza Pilgrims, Wahaca, Dishoom, Busaba, Yard & Coop, and Hippo Inns to its lineup of over 65 keynote speakers. The event, which is set to take place at ExCeL London on 25 and 26 March, has announced that Richard Hodgson, CEO of YO!, will be among the names looking forward to sharing “exclusive insights” at the show. He will be joined by Peter Martin, founder of the Atlantic Club, Jessica Parrish, former commercial director at Time Out Market, and Jonathan Downey, founder of Milk and Honey and London Union, to talk about the opportunities, as well as the pitfalls to be avoided, when taking restaurant and bar brands 'global'. Loungers’ Nick Collins, who has been seen as “instrumental” in growing the brand from 56 to 166 sites since he became CEO in 2015, has also been confirmed for an exclusive opening day interview. Collins will be talking with Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications, about everything from multi-site roll out to going public on the stock exchange. Event manager, Eva Ellis, said: “Casual Dining is the only UK event that annually attracts so many leading innovators, influencers, trailblazers and decision makers from across the casual dining sector together in one place at one time. “It always attracts the best, most exciting and inspiring brands and industry experts, which is a testament to just how invaluable it is to the industry it serves.” The full list of speakers can be found below: -Richard Hodgson, CEO of YO! -Nisha Katona MBE, founder & CEO of Mowgli -Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller, Smith and Turner -Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group -Nick Collins, CEO of Loungers -James Spragg, CEO of Casual Dining Group -Mark Jones, CEO of Carluccio’s -Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Byron -Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns & Restaurants -Chris Hill, CEO of New World Trading Co (NWTC) -Martin Wolstencroft, CEO of ARC Inspirations -Jonathan Downey, founder of Milk & Honey, London Union & Street Feast -Laura Harper-Hinton, owner & creative director at Caravan Restaurants -Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims -Tom Barton, director & co-founder of Honest Burgers -Lizzie Ryan, director at Imbiba -Charlie McVeigh, founder & investor at Bunker Projects -Chris Miller, founder & CEO of White Rabbit Fund -Baton Berisha, managing director of The Ivy Collection -Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron -Amber Wood, MD of Cosy Club -Simon Bunn, MD of Brewhouse & Kitchen -Simon Potts, MD of The Alchemist -Joycelyn Neve, MD of Seafood Pub Company -Anthony Pender, co-founder of Yummy Pubs -Laura Morris, co-founder of Yard & Coop -Mark Wogan, creative director / co-founder of Homeslice -Andrew Macleod, founder of Emilia’s Crafted Pasta -Andre Johnstone, business development director at wagamama -Steven Mangleshot, executive chef at wagamama -Mark Teed, head of food at Star Pubs & Bars -Antony Bennett, head of food at Loungers -Duncan McEwan, exec development chef at Casual Dining Group -Alice Bowyer, group executive chef at Liberation Pubs & Bars -Ross Pike, chef director at Oakman Inns -Seamus O’Donnell, executive chef at The Alchemist -Winston Matthews, food & beverage director at Busaba Eathai -Anna-Marie Mason, brand marketing director at Mitchells & Butlers -Jenny Mcphee, head of brand at The Alchemist -Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho -Sara Stark, marketing director at Dishoom -Oli Ingham, creative marketing lead at Wahaca -Simon Allison, head of marketing at Inception Group -Brian Trollip, operations director at Dishoom -Adrian Laws, operations director at Hippo Inns -Mark McFadyen, group operations director at Brewhouse & Kitchen -Chris Stagg, operations director at Peach Pubs -Will Prideaux, operations director at Nicholson’s - Mitchells & Butlers -Dave Lewis, operations director at Browns Brasserie & Bar -Steve Phillips, operations director at Busaba Eathai -Steve Hill, operations director at Bone Daddies -Jessica Parrish, former commercial director at Time Out Market -Jay Morjaria, chef & F&B consultant -Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality -Peter Backman -Karl Chessell, food & retail director at CGA -Graeme Loudon, commercial director at CGA -Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com -Dominic Allport, insights director - UK Foodservice at The NPD Group -Mark McCulloch, founder & CEO of Supersonic Inc -Peter Martin, founder of Atlantic Club and VP of CGA -Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications -Mike Berry, head of content at Fleet Street Communications -Ann Elliott, CEO of Elliotts Agency