4 Reasons to be at GE Capital's Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit

TORONTO, April 10, 2014 /CNW/ - As the Canadian economy continues its long recovery from the previous recession, few sectors stand to gain as much as the restaurant industry.

At a time when many businesses are struggling to post any growth at all, Canada's restaurants saw a 4 per cent year-over-year increase in 2013 to bring sales to an astounding $68-billion - which is equivalent to the gross domestic product of entire countries such as Cuba and Belarus.

The Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit, produced by GE Capital, will be held in Toronto on May 6-7 and will bring together industry insiders, operators, chain executives, franchise operators, investors, lenders and key suppliers from across the country. Here are four reasons you don't want to miss the fifth annual event. 

Context: As one of the most well recognized and respected figures at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Amanda Lang is the perfect person to interview Cara's new chief executive officer Bill Gregson about his company's game changing acquisition of Prime Restaurants Inc. Find out how Mr. Gregson and Fairfax Financial Holdings president Paul Rivett will draw value from the deal that sees Cara assuming ownership of iconic restaurants such as East Side Mario's, Casey's, and a network of pubs and brasseries.

Insight: Amanda Lang returns for a second session that promises to offer an unrivalled level of insight into the commercial real estate trends that will affect the growth and profitability of Canada's restaurant sector. The blue chip panel includes Blake Hutcheson (chief executive officer of Oxford Properties), Craig Wright chief economist at RBC Capital Markets and Peter Senst (president of Canadian Capital Markets at CBRE).

Exclusivity: Attendees will have access to the full Canadian Chain Restaurant Industry Review, an exclusive and insightful report commissioned by GE Capital and compiled by fsSTRATEGY and The NPD Group Canada. The report digs into provincial dining trends - such as which province has the highest per capita commercial food service sales (spoiler alert: Alberta), and insight into other macro trends that will affect the restaurant industry in the coming year.

Networking: There is no other place to rub shoulders and learn from the biggest names in the industry. Senior level executives from literally dozens of the country's most respected restaurant chains look forward to attending each year, and make themselves available to anyone looking for insight or advice as they mingle with attendees.

For more information on attending the Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit, review the program and register before Saturday April 12 to save.

SOURCE: Big Picture Conferences Inc

Orie Berlasso, Director Big Picture Conferences [phone]
[email protected] 
www.bigpictureconferences.ca

Ed Khediguian, Senior Vice President, Franchise Finance GE Capital - Franchise Finance , 514-394-3201
[email protected]