Top 5 Highlights from the 2024 Texas Restaurant Show
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS— The 2024 Texas Restaurant Show was a whirlwind of delicious food and exciting new products and ideas. Attendees left with their taste buds tingling and a newfound appreciation for the foodservice industry. After two days of exploring the exhibit hall and attending informative sessions, five key takeaways stood out. From the latest technology in kitchen equipment to innovative menu options, this year’s show did not disappoint. It’s clear that the restaurant industry is continuously evolving, and these takeaways prove that those who stay ahead of the game are sure to come out on top.
#1 Optimism
The Texas restaurant community, despite being confronted with numerous challenges such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and changing consumer preferences, is actively addressing our obstacles. Amidst these difficulties, there was a palpable sense of optimism and energy on the Show floor, as restaurant operators and exhibitors collaborated to discuss these uncharted waters and the ever-evolving landscape of the dining industry.
#2 Digital and Social Media Marketing
Attendees of the Show were highly engaged and enthusiastic as they packed several sessions focused on the latest trends and strategies in AI and digital and social media marketing. Social High Rise offered seven steps to success: acknowledge your guests, leverage your guest content, respond to your customer reviews, manage your local listings, engage your competitors’ guests, hire someone if you need to, and finally, use AI tools. In another education session, Figure 8 focused on leveraging third-party marketplaces: claiming all important links, highlighting first-party channels, and managing your menu strategically. Using these tools, almost all restaurants can make quick changes to significantly boost sales on third-party marketplaces—which is especially critical in this era of flat (at best) restaurant traffic.
#3 Company Culture & At the Table
Company culture and insights to career path success literally took center stage on the Main Stage at this year’s Show. Panelists Jeff Chandler, President & CEO at Hopdoddy, Clay Dover, President, CEO, and Taco Maker at Velvet Taco, and Lupita Corbeil, Vice President of HR at Den-Tex Central dba Denny’s, discussed the challenges to find, hire, train, and retain quality employees, plus what keeps a great employee coming back day after day.
Alicia Kelso, Executive Editor of Nation’s Restaurant News, moderated an At the Table discussion on Women in Leadership with TRA President & CEO Emily Williams Knight and fellow panelists Jeanette Ward, CPCU, President & CEO of Texas Mutual Insurance Company and Therese Gearhart, President & CEO of Women’s Foodservice Forum. These distinguished industry leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue and candidly shared their personal challenges and stories of success. Emily also had the opportunity to host a candid and in-depth At the Table discussion with David McKillips, president & CEO of CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese).
#4 Culinary Diversity
The central theme of this year’s Show, inspired by our presenting sponsor Eat Local. Eat Often., highlighted a diverse range of chefs representing various cuisines. As attendees strolled through the event, they experienced a vast array of products, services, and cultural experiences that reflect Texas’ expansive restaurant scene, boasting an impressive 57,000 eateries. The Japan Pavilion highlighted an assortment of Sakes and Japanese Whiskeys, while the lively Piazza Italia offered tastings of over 100 Italian wines, prosciutto, and regional cheeses. The Go-Texan Pavilion shone a spotlight on local Texas products, featuring a variety of fresh produce, seafood, and handcrafted goods, all contributing to the rich tapestry of culinary delights within the Texas dining landscape.
#5 Advocacy Matters
As our TRA Board Chair Skeeter Miller famously reminds us all, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. In this year’s rebranded Advocacy Lounge (formerly known as the PAC Lounge), we had the opportunity to meet with leadership from TABC plus Texas Senator José Menéndez, US Congressman Chip Roy, Texas Senator Pete Flores, and Texas Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins. Their politics vary significantly, but they had two things in common. First, they support restaurants. Each of the elected officials shared stories about what local restaurants have meant in their lives and to the communities they represent. Second, they all shared a common, unprompted message—policymakers need to hear from restaurants to improve our laws and regulations. We can’t expect policymakers to know how every proposal will impact restaurants when they are working on so many different issues at once, but that’s exactly what we bring to the table through the TRA’s advocacy efforts.
ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT SHOW
The Texas Restaurant Show is the Texas Restaurant Association's annual restaurant and foodservice show. The largest of its kind in the Southwest, it is backed by TRA’s 87 years of industry leadership, and is as bold, unique and packed with opportunity as the Lone Star state itself.
Part trade show and part educational conference, the Texas Restaurant Show motivates and inspires everyone – from first time restaurateurs to industry veterans. Engaging seminars and interactive panels are offered by industry thought leaders on trending topics and specialty pavilions offer an exciting, diverse and valuable glimpse into the latest products and services that the market has to offer. For more information, visit www.txrestaurantshow.com.
ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) serves as the advocate and indispensable resource for the foodservice industry in Texas. Now the state’s largest private sector employer, Texas’ $106 billion foodservice industry encompasses more than 56,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the workforce development arm of the TRA, the association proudly continues to protect, advance and educate a growing industry as the TRA celebrates its 87th anniversary year. For more information, please visit www.txrestaurant.org.