5 reasons to attend MenuDirections

Noncommercial operators from across the country will gather next month for MenuDirections, the annual event hosted by FoodService Director and its parent company, Winsight.

MenuDirections, taking place Oct. 17-19 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, offers a unique opportunity for operators from all segments to come together for three days of education and inspiration. Though its culinary focus comes through in its name, MenuDirections is about so much more than just the menu.

Here are some of the reasons operators should attend.

Look behind the scenes at college foodservice.

2022’s event marks the first time that MenuDirections will take place on a college campus—and attendees will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities that entails. They’ll get an inside look at Notre Dame’s dining services during a campus tour on Tuesday morning and hear more from members of the dining team in a general session presentation later that day.

Get a chance to reconnect with industry peers.

After taking things online in 2021, FoodService Director is delighted to bring back MenuDirections in person this year. Operators can catch up with vendors and peers over meals, during one of several networking breaks and throughout our Tuesday evening awards celebration at Foley’s, a club on the Notre Dame campus.

Learn how next-gen innovators are changing the game.

Foodservice is forever changed in the wake of COVID-19, and operators are confronting fresh challenges at every turn. During Monday’s session “The Hard Pivot: The New Model for Dining Services” and a number of workshops led by FSD’s editors, operators will hear how their peers across noncommercial—and those on the restaurant side of the business—adapted amid a global crisis and how they’re positioning their teams for the future. They’ll also learn how technology is playing a larger role than ever in the front and back of house.

In addition, during Wednesday’s session dubbed “What’s The Next Service Style?,” Molly McGrath, director of operations for All Day Kitchens, will share how her company leverages tech to offer a unique approach to food delivery, and Notre Dame Professor Nitesh Chawla, an expert in the fields of artificial intelligence and data science, will on Tuesday discuss Big Data and how it informs the modern world.

Find fresh ways to foster loyalty.

Loyalty comes in many forms in a foodservice operation. And with today’s competitive environment, it’s not just a matter of winning over customers, but also employees and potential hires. In his Wednesday session “Cultivating Loyalty,” Editor-at-Large Peter Romeo will explore a number of tactics foodservice brands are employing to build loyalty among their customer base as well as their teams.

Uncover menu strategies that spell success.

Lizzy Freier and Katie Belflower of market research company Technomic will close out the conference with a wealth of insights on how operators can drive sales and build buzz among the demographics they’re trying to reach. Attendees will also get a chance to test new products and consider fresh menu applications during several culinary workshops, as well as throughout the MenuDirections vendor fair.

For more information on MenuDirections or to register for the event, click here.