FS/TEC - Foodservice Technology Conference & Showcase
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About this event
FS/TEC (Foodservice Technology Conference & Showcase) 2026 — Event Overview
FS/TEC 2026 is the premier, innovation-focused restaurant technology conference built for operators and decision-makers who want to modernize how foodservice businesses run, grow, and compete. The event brings together restaurant leaders, technology innovators, and industry executives to explore practical solutions for today’s most urgent challenges—especially those tied to AI, cloud systems, operational efficiency, customer experience, loyalty, cybersecurity, and data-driven management.
Dates & Location
- Event dates: Sep 23 – 25, 2026
- Venue: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
- City & State: Grapevine, Texas
- Country: United States
Why Attend FS/TEC 2026
FS/TEC has been driving restaurant technology forward for more than 30 years. In just three days, attendees gain access to expert-led sessions, a large dedicated technology show floor, and high-level networking with senior leaders shaping the future of restaurant operations. The program is designed to help foodservice organizations turn “buzzwords” into real, bottom-line improvements by learning what’s working now and engaging directly with leading technology providers.
Key Program Pillars
- AI and next-gen restaurant technology: Learn how operators are adopting AI-powered tools and modern operational workflows.
- Digital customer experiences: Discover technology strategies that improve guest experiences and strengthen customer engagement.
- Cloud-based management systems: Explore how restaurants and foodservice groups are using cloud solutions to streamline performance and decision-making.
- Loyalty programs & customer data: Review practical approaches to capturing, managing, and activating guest data responsibly.
- Cybersecurity for foodservice: Understand risk areas and protective measures for restaurant technology ecosystems.
- Operational efficiency & automation: Focus on tools that improve margins through smarter back-of-house and business processes.
Featured Scale & Audience Signals (Official Event Metrics)
- 70+ expert speakers focused on AI and restaurant technology
- 230+ leading tech providers on the show floor
- 800+ top executives attending, including 43% at VP-level or higher
- 87% of attendees with decision-making authority
What Attendees Do at FS/TEC
FS/TEC is structured for high-value, action-oriented learning and conversation. Attendees can attend expert sessions, explore technology solutions on the show floor, and meet with industry leaders to address real-world challenges facing restaurant operators today. The event’s curated exhibitor approach is built to ensure that conversations are relevant—helping restaurant teams find solutions that can be applied to day-to-day operations.
Who the Event Is For
FS/TEC is designed for forward-thinking restaurant operators, senior management, and decision-makers involved in technology adoption and digital transformation across foodservice. It also attracts technology providers and industry executives who want to engage directly with restaurants and organizations actively evaluating and implementing new systems.
Conference & Showcase Positioning
“Where restaurant innovation meets foodservice technology,” FS/TEC combines education and hands-on discovery. With a strong lineup of speakers and an extensive technology showcase, the event is built for organizations that want to move quickly—from learning about emerging trends to connecting with solution providers that can support implementation.
If we tailor an outreach strategy to FS/TEC 2026, the strongest engagement typically comes from decision-makers and teams actively responsible for restaurant technology decisions—especially those focused on AI adoption, loyalty/customer data programs, cybersecurity, loyalty and guest engagement platforms, and operational systems that improve efficiency and performance.
Data sheet
FS/TEC - Foodservice Technology Conference & Showcase – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: September 23–25, 2026
Location: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas, United States
Event Status: Upcoming
Research Date: July 1, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | FS/TEC - Foodservice Technology Conference & Showcase |
| Event Date | September 23–25, 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center |
| City | Grapevine |
| State / Region | Texas (TX) |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Informa Connect |
| Official Event Website | informaconnect.com/fstec/ |
| Event Type | Conference, technology showcase, exhibition, education and networking event |
| Primary Category | Food & Beverages |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | IT & Technology, Hospitality, Business Services |
| Audience Reach | National with selective North American buyer interest |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | 800+ top executives reported by the organizer; attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer as a final audited count |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Moderate. Organizer marketing claims are available, but no independently audited attendance figure was published in the provided source text. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect restaurant operators and foodservice leaders with technology solutions, AI tools, operational software, and innovation partners. |
About the Event
FS/TEC is a long-running foodservice technology conference and showcase focused on the tools, systems, and operating models that help restaurants and hospitality businesses improve performance. The official positioning emphasizes restaurant technology solutions, foodservice innovation, AI-powered tools, customer data, cybersecurity, loyalty, and cloud-based operational software.
The event matters because it sits at the intersection of foodservice operations and enterprise buying decisions. It attracts senior operators, technology decision-makers, and solution providers looking to evaluate products, compare capabilities, and build partnerships. For B2B prospecting, FS/TEC is especially useful for identifying buyers with direct authority over digital transformation, systems modernization, guest experience, back-of-house automation, and margin improvement initiatives.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant operations leadership | Multi-unit restaurant groups, QSR chains, casual dining brands, franchisors | Budget owner, strategic evaluator, rollout sponsor | High-value prospects for POS, labor, analytics, and automation tools |
| Technology and digital leaders | Restaurant groups, foodservice operators, hospitality brands | CIO/CTO, IT director, digital transformation lead | Key for software, integration, cybersecurity, cloud, and data vendors |
| Procurement and sourcing teams | Enterprise restaurant groups, hospitality corporations, foodservice chains | Vendor selection, contract negotiation, supply approval | Useful for suppliers selling software, devices, services, and managed solutions |
| Operations and field leadership | Restaurant chains, hotel foodservice, commissary operators, foodservice management firms | Operational influencer, pilot owner, rollout gatekeeper | Strong fit for solutions improving speed, labor, compliance, and consistency |
| Finance and performance teams | Restaurant operators, hospitality groups, franchise systems | ROI reviewer, capex approval, value analysis | Important for vendors needing business-case-driven sales conversations |
| Menu, brand, and guest experience leaders | Restaurant brands, hospitality operators, convenience foodservice | Influencer for loyalty, personalization, ordering, and CX tools | Useful for customer engagement, ordering, and experience platforms |
| Industry consultants and advisors | Restaurant consultants, implementation firms, systems integrators | Advisory influence and referral channel | Can drive partner introductions and pipeline acceleration |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city / metro | Grapevine, Dallas-Fort Worth area | High | Strong local access for Texas-based restaurant groups, vendors, and partners |
| Host state / region | Texas and surrounding states | High | Texas is a major restaurant, hospitality, and franchise market |
| Nearby business hubs | Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio | High | Large concentration of multi-unit operators and technology buyers |
| National reach | United States | Very High | Event positioning and speaker/exhibitor mix indicate national relevance |
| International reach | Limited but possible North American participation | Moderate | Most relevant for solution vendors serving North American foodservice chains |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event targets restaurant and foodservice leaders across the U.S. with broad industry appeal. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yum! Brands | Restaurant operator / franchisor | Large-scale restaurant technology, loyalty, and digital ordering buyer | yum.com | CIO, CTO, VP Digital, VP Procurement, Director of Restaurant Technology | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Darden Restaurants | Restaurant operator | Multi-brand operator with enterprise-level systems and operational optimization needs | darden.com | VP Operations, CIO, IT Director, Procurement Director, Innovation Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| McDonald’s | Restaurant operator / franchisor | Global-scale digital, kiosk, loyalty, and supply chain technology buyer | mcdonalds.com | VP Global Technology, Procurement Manager, Category Manager, Digital Product Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | Restaurant operator | Technology-forward operator with strong interest in automation and guest experience | chipotle.com | Technology Director, Operations Director, Procurement Lead, Digital Transformation Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Texas Roadhouse | Restaurant operator | Large U.S. restaurant chain with systems, operations, and menu execution needs | texasroadhouse.com | VP Operations, IT Director, Procurement Manager, Menu/Innovation Leader | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Bloomin’ Brands | Restaurant operator | Multi-brand operator likely to evaluate restaurant tech, labor tools, and analytics | bloominbrands.com | CIO, VP IT, Director of Procurement, Operations Excellence Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Aramark | Foodservice management / contract catering | Enterprise foodservice provider with procurement, operations, and tech integration needs | aramark.com | Procurement Director, IT Director, Operations VP, Supply Chain Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Sodexo | Foodservice management | Large buyer of systems for operations, workforce, compliance, and digital ordering | sodexo.com | VP Operations, Procurement Lead, IT Director, Program Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Compass Group USA | Foodservice management | Enterprise foodservice operator with broad purchasing and technology needs | compass-usa.com | Procurement Director, CIO, Operations Director, Supply Chain Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| P.F. Chang’s | Restaurant operator | Mid-to-large operator likely to evaluate restaurant software, labor, and guest-facing tools | pfchangs.com | Operations Director, IT Director, Procurement Manager, Loyalty/CX Leader | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Information Officer (CIO) | IT / Digital | C-level | Owns enterprise technology strategy and major systems decisions. |
| 2 | Chief Technology Officer (CTO) | IT / Engineering | C-level | Evaluates architecture, integrations, and platform modernization. |
| 3 | VP Procurement / Director of Procurement | Procurement | VP / Director | Controls vendor selection, pricing, and purchasing approvals. |
| 4 | Strategic Sourcing Manager | Sourcing | Manager | Identifies suppliers and manages competitive evaluations. |
| 5 | Operations Director / VP Operations | Operations | Director / VP | Owns operational outcomes and adoption of new tools across sites. |
| 6 | IT Director / Infrastructure Manager | IT | Director / Manager | Responsible for deployment, security, and support of restaurant systems. |
| 7 | Category Manager / Buying Manager | Merchandising / Procurement | Manager | Manages category-level supplier relationships and product selection. |
| 8 | Digital Transformation Lead | Innovation / IT | Director / Manager | Leads modernization initiatives and vendor pilots. |
| 9 | Supply Chain Director | Supply Chain | Director | Evaluates inventory, logistics, and operational technology impacts. |
| 10 | Innovation / Guest Experience Director | Innovation / Marketing | Director | Tests loyalty, personalization, ordering, and CX solutions. |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restaurants | Core attendee base for restaurant technology solutions | POS, loyalty, ordering, analytics, labor tech |
| 2 | Hospitality | Foodservice and guest-experience overlap | Operations software, guest experience tools |
| 3 | Information Technology & Services | Technology buyers and integrators are central to the event | Cloud, integration, support services |
| 4 | Computer Software | Many vendors and buyers are evaluating software platforms | SaaS, analytics, scheduling, loyalty, back-office systems |
| 5 | Food & Beverages | Industry alignment with operators and foodservice brands | Menu tech, supply chain, innovation |
| 6 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Inventory, distribution, and replenishment are operationally important | Supply chain visibility, ordering, forecasting |
| 7 | Retail | Convenience and food retail overlap with foodservice tech | Ordering, self-service, loyalty, payments |
| 8 | Consumer Services | Consumer-facing service businesses buy experience technology | CX, personalization, operations tools |
| 9 | Business Supplies & Equipment | Relevant to equipment, hardware, and operational solutions | Devices, kiosks, peripherals, back-office hardware |
| 10 | Computer Networking | Restaurants depend on reliable network infrastructure | Network, connectivity, and managed services |
| 11 | Security & Investigations | Cybersecurity and operational security are relevant to tech stacks | Cybersecurity, compliance, risk reduction |
| 12 | Marketing & Advertising | Loyalty and guest engagement technologies affect marketing teams | CRM, personalization, loyalty, attribution |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | 800+ executives | Organizer-reported | Official event website | Use as directional marketing guidance, not an audited count |
| Exhibitor count | 230+ tech providers | Organizer-reported | Official event website | Indicates a substantial showcase floor |
| Speaker count | 70+ expert speakers | Organizer-reported | Official event website | Strong content-led event quality signal |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | No audited buyer count in provided source text | Buyer presence is implied by executive audience positioning |
| Sponsor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unavailable | No sponsor count in provided source text | Show floor is described as large, but sponsor total is not specified |
| Historical attendance | Prior-year attendee testimony indicates strong operator and executive engagement | Historical / qualitative | Official website testimonials | Useful for lead-quality assessment, not count validation |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI | Forecasting, personalization, efficiency | Executive demos, ROI conversations | AI analytics, predictive tools, automation |
| Cybersecurity | Protect payment and customer data | Risk-focused meetings with IT leaders | Security tools, monitoring, compliance services |
| Cloud / Software | Centralized management and scalability | Platform comparison and implementation planning | SaaS, integrations, managed services |
| Loyalty / CRM | Guest retention and personalization | Marketing and revenue-growth discussions | CRM, loyalty, CDP, campaign automation |
| Back-of-house automation | Labor efficiency and consistency | Operations-led product demos | Kitchen automation, scheduling, task management |
| Payments / Ordering | Seamless guest transactions | High-intent buyer meetings | POS, kiosks, mobile ordering, payments |
| Data / Analytics | Visibility into performance and margins | Business-case selling to executives | BI dashboards, reporting, data platforms |
| Operations / Workforce | Labor optimization and execution consistency | Multi-site operational improvement conversations | Scheduling, training, task, workforce tools |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event is explicitly centered on restaurant technology and foodservice innovation buyers. |
| Decision-maker availability | Very High | Organizer claims 43% VP-level or higher and 87% decision-making authority. |
| Data collection potential | High | Strong prospecting value for executive attendee lists, sponsors, and exhibitor networking. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear fit for restaurant, hospitality, software, and procurement-oriented targeting. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Texas and national restaurant hubs are likely strong buyer clusters. |
| Best outreach approach | High-touch executive outreach | Target decision-makers with ROI, operational impact, and innovation messaging. |
| Overall lead quality | Very High | Strong buyer concentration, clear solution alignment, and high executive participation. |
| Best use case | B2B attendee list building and buyer profiling | Best suited for technology, software, payments, operations, and service vendors. |
| Limitations / risks | Moderate | Some figures are marketing claims rather than audited counts; current-year attendee list not provided. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Restaurants; Hospitality; Computer Software; Information Technology & Services; Food & Beverages; Logistics & Supply Chain; Business Supplies & Equipment; Retail | Focus on organizations most likely to buy restaurant and foodservice technology. |
| Departments | IT; Procurement; Operations; Innovation; Digital; Supply Chain; Finance; Marketing | Capture both technical evaluators and commercial buyers. |
| Seniority | C-level; VP; Director; Head of; Senior Manager | Prioritize decision-makers and budget holders. |
| Job titles | CIO, CTO, VP Procurement, Director of Procurement, VP Operations, IT Director, Digital Transformation Lead, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Category Manager, Innovation Director | Match the event’s buyer profiles and buying authority. |
| Geography | United States; Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth metro; major U.S. restaurant hubs | Align outreach with likely attendance and regional business density. |
| Employee size | 200–10,000+; prioritize multi-unit operators and enterprise groups | These organizations are most likely to budget for technology rollouts. |
| Keywords | restaurant technology, foodservice, POS, loyalty, AI, automation, digital ordering, cloud, cybersecurity, operations, procurement | Refine contact and company searches for event-relevant prospects. |
| Company type | Restaurant brands, franchisors, foodservice operators, enterprise hospitality, software vendors, implementation partners | Filter to buyer-side organizations and partner ecosystems. |
| Revenue range | Mid-market to enterprise where available | Larger firms are more likely to invest in multi-site technology deployments. |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: (industry contains Restaurants OR Hospitality OR Computer Software OR Food & Beverages) AND (title contains CIO OR CTO OR Procurement OR Operations OR Digital OR Innovation OR Sourcing OR IT Director OR Category Manager) AND (geography contains Texas OR United States) AND (employee size >= 200). Add keywords such as “restaurant technology,” “POS,” “loyalty,” “AI,” “automation,” and “digital ordering” for higher precision.
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Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/TEC official event page | Official organizer source | Event name, dates, venue, city, organizer, audience positioning, speakers, exhibitors, and organizer-reported attendance indicators | High |
| Informa Connect | Organizer website | Confirmed organizer identity and event-hosting platform | High |
| Venue listing in official event page | Venue reference | Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; Grapevine, Texas | High |
| Official event testimonials and event copy | Organizer-published attendee feedback | Qualitative evidence of attendee type, decision-making authority, and buyer relevance | Moderate |
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Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to FS/TEC - Foodservice Technology Conference & Showcase — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
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