FS/TEC, the big annual conference for restaurant technology leaders, starts Wednesday in Grapevine, Texas.
More than 600 operators and 650 vendors will gather at the Gaylord Texan Resort for three days of educational sessions, networking events, a tech marketplace, and, as if that’s not enough, puppies.
The proceedings will have a little extra oomph this year: FS/TEC is turning 30, and it has a few special tricks up its sleeve to celebrate. (FS/TEC is owned and operated by NRN’s parent company, Informa.)
With an event of this size, there’s always a lot going on, and we’re here to help sort it out. We’ve pored over the agenda and have picked out the happenings that attendees should prioritize.
Wednesday
This year’s edition of FS/TEC is starting off a little differently than most. Rather than a big general session on the main stage, there will first be eight smaller breakout sessions (aka Innovation Forums) that attendees can choose from, followed by the main-stage programming.
Don’t skip these mini sessions. They’re more intimate and focused than the general session content, and there is usually a chance for audience Q&A at the end. Some speakers will even hang around after to chat one-on-one. They also tend to fill up fast, so it’s a good idea to get there a little early.
In this first batch of breakouts, two caught our eye, both relating to practical uses for artificial intelligence.
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Revmo AI will host a session called “Your First AI Skill.” CTO and founder Bobby Beckmann will build a working AI app in real-time and will share the template to recreate it with every attendee.
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In “AI Scheduling That Learns,” Harri will talk to an operator about the ins and outs of using AI to automate scheduling. This “candid conversation” will look at how AI is helping with one of the hardest parts of running a restaurant.
After that, be sure to get to the general session to catch Technomic’s indispensable industry overview.
Thursday
This will be the most jam-packed day of the conference, with wall-to-wall programming starting at 9:15, following the 8 a.m. networking breakfast.
Here are some highlights from the morning slate of Innovation Forums:
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If you’re interested in learning more about the growing trend of agentic AI, there will be two sessions focused on that topic Thursday morning, hosted by Oracle and Momos, respectively.
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And if you want hot takes, check out PAR’s Innovation Forum, which promises “a unique opinion” on the future of tech based on insights from PAR’s more than 500 restaurant clients.
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There will also be a lot of talk about how tech is impacting the back-of-house, with sessions hosted by Kitchen Armor and The Perfect Company, Crunchtime, BOHA, and Germany-based equipment maker U-Experten.
Later, on the main stage, a sit-down interview between foodie mega-influencer Keith Lee and Informa’s Foodservice Group Managing Editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister will be a must-see. A positive TikTok review from Lee can drive massive crowds to restaurants, thanks to his millions of followers. He will talk about how social media has changed the way customers discover restaurants and how operators can make the most of it.
After that, head to the marketplace to browse the latest and greatest tech products. There are a few things to watch out for here:
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New this year is the Intelligence Stage, which will host quick, TED Talk-style presentations from vendors, operators, and experts. Shameless plug: Senior Editor Joanna Fantozzi and I are doing a whirlwind talk called “What the Tech?” where we will swap takes on all things AI (what else?)
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Returning to the trade show this year are some adorable furry friends. The Puppy Playdate, sponsored by Texas pet shelter Operation Kindness, gives showgoers a chance to wind down with some quality puppy time. The puppies are adoptable, so leave room in your luggage.
At this point, you might want to get some fresh air. Step out of the convention center’s main entrance to see a live drone delivery demo by Wing. (It’s holding demos throughout the event, including at 2:30 and 4:55 on Thursday.)
Hang around after the last demo to be part of FS/TEC history: At 5:20, attendees will gather for a 30th anniversary group photo.
Friday
Every conference claims to save the best for last, but in this case, it might actually be true. All three main-stage sessions scheduled for Friday morning could be headliners in their own right.
The day kicks off with a talk by Stephen Witt, author of “The Thinking Machine,” a biography of AI powerhouse Nvidia and its CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang. It was named the best business book of 2025 by the Financial Times. Witt will talk about what the AI revolution means for restaurants and how operators can use it as a competitive advantage.
After that, we’ll hear from leaders of arguably the most interesting company in the industry right now: Food hall-delivery-robotics hybrid Wonder. Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze will talk to Tony Hoggett, Wonder’s North American CEO, and Michael Farid, SVP of robotics, about the company’s unique, tech-driven business model.
And finally, a chat with female executives shaping technology at two of the country’s leading beverage brands. (We’ve heard beverages are popular right now.) Danyel Bischof-Forsyth, CTO of 7 Brew Coffee, and Jyoti Lynch, CIO of Smoothie King, will talk about how things like AI, automation, and digital channels are changing operations and driving growth at their brands. They’ll be interviewed by Ellie Doty, chief business officer of Women’s Foodservice Forum.
After that, it’s time to mosey on home to decompress and digest all of the intel from the week. Don’t forget your puppy.
