Annual Meeting: Keynote Address

Berlin/Copeland/Foster Ballroom

3 p.m.-5 p.m.  

State of the State - Karen Bremer, Executive Director, Georgia Restaurant Association

Restaurant Neighbor Award Presentation: Applebee's/AmRest, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc., HomeGrown Restaurant Concepts, Radial Cafe

View from the Chair - Patrick Cuccaro, Affairs to Remember Caterers

Keynote Address- Carlos Herrera - Chief Economist – Foodservice & On-Site with Coca-Cola North America

Carlos Herrera is the Chief Economist – Foodservice & On-Premise with Coca-Cola Refreshments. The main thrust of his work is to increase the visibility of ‘what’s to come’ through a deeper understanding of the Foodservice industry from an economic perspective.  His forecasts are a key input to the development of strategic and operational plans. Carlos regularly shares his insights on the impact of the economy on consumers and the restaurant industry with the executive leadership, boards of directors, and franchisees of leading foodservice companies around the world.  

He has spent the last 18 years at Coca-Cola North America serving in various capacities in Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Strategic Planning.  Prior to that, Carlos worked for 9 years at Federal Express and holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Today, Carlos, will share with us his thinking on how do changes in the economy impact consumers, particularly consumers in the Foodservice industry.  How can we tell where we are in the economic cycle and what does it mean for our businesses.

Carlos comes to us through our partnership with The Coca-Cola Company in the U.S. and has generously agreed to share his thinking and perspective with ALL of us today.  However, respectful of that relationship, the presentation materials will remain confidential.  This means that we will not be distributing his presentation.