HRC, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, has unveiled the seminar programme for its TechX stage, TechX in partnership with Foodsteps, which is dedicated to showcasing the very latest tech trends and innovations in foodservice and hospitality.  

HRC has also partnered with Peach and Tech on Toast to curate a dynamic programme of content across the three days of the show, which takes place on 17-19 March at Excel London.  

Peter Martin, Co-Founder Peach 20/20 and The Atlantic Club, comments: "I am delighted to be hosting sessions on the TechX stage at HRC this year. The industry is at an inflection point; boards are rethinking business models and embracing tech as an enabler - from transforming guest and team experiences to fundamentally reshaping their P&L. We have some incredible speakers and conversations lined up – basically it’s free consultancy for anyone looking to thrive in 2025 and beyond." 

Day One 

Day one of the show will kick off with a fireside chat between Martin and Tom James, MD of Bill’s Restaurants. The discussion will take a look at how technology is transforming the hospitality industry, from AI-powered chatbots to self-service kiosks and digital ordering.  

This will be followed by a session on how AI can revolutionise operations and enhance guest experience, hosted by Chris Fletcher of Tech on Toast, joined by Frankie O’Connell of Blank Street Coffee UK and Matt Grimshaw of Youda.  

Fletcher says: “Tech on Toast is excited to join HRC’s seminar programme, bringing our expertise in hospitality technology to the forefront. We’re committed to supporting operators in navigating the evolving tech landscape and look forward to engaging with industry leaders at the event.” 

Jo Lynch of KAM will then take to the stage to moderate a discussion between Dan Brockman of Airship & Toggle, Rebecca Farrer of wagamama, Rhiannon Scarlett of TGI Fridays UK and Richard Dawson of dunnhumby on cultivating customer loyalty through technology.  

Lynch will also moderate a panel on navigating the tech stack and bespoke products vs. Add-on solutions with Joel Robinson of Openr, Tommy Giraux of Honest Burgers Ltd and William Connors of Wingstop UK.  

Giraux comments: “Really excited to join the panel at HRC to talk about navigating the tech stack. Balancing bespoke and add-on solutions is a challenge we all face in hospitality.” 

Connors adds: “The HRC seminar programme is a fantastic opportunity to meet with hospitality professionals, exchange ideas, and have fun. Every year I learn how to stand on the shoulders of industry giants, so I can grow within my business." 

Day Two 

The second day of HRC will see the TechX stage cover how to make the most of your CRM, with speakers including Edwina Low of Harry Ramsdens, Harry Fielder of Umi Digital, Ruth Carpenter of Pizza Pilgrims and Yogesh Ram of The Athenaeum.  

This will be followed by an insightful discuss on the evolution of food delivery, moderated by Tech on Toast’s Chris Fletcher and featuring panellists Chris Matthews of Pret a Manger, Florian de Chezelles of The Salad Project and Deliverect’s Joe Heather.  

Day two will conclude with a discussion on how tech is transforming culinary operations, moderated by FEA Chief Executive John Cunningham with panellists Ben Keal of Sylvester Keal, James Shaw of Google and Rehan Uddin of the Asian Restaurant Owners Network.  

Uddin comments: “Taking part in the HRC seminar programme is an exciting opportunity to discuss how cutting-edge kitchen technology is revolutionising the hospitality industry. I’m looking forward to sharing insights and connecting with industry leaders to drive innovation forward.” 

Day Three 

The final day of HRC will see the TechX stage cover how connecting brands to guests can drive long-term success, with panellists Dom Rosenfold of Pepper, Harry Ridley of Levy, Compass Group, and Katie Akers of Market Halls.  

Brendan Kelly of JKS Restaurants, Erika Biggadike of 4C Associates and Tim Doubleday of Burger King UK will then take to the stage to discuss to potential of AI in forecasting, and how to unlock new predictive powers for hospitality CFOs.  

We’re a people-first industry, and it’s important we keep that connection as the core of everything we do,” says Kelly. “People talk about AI as a replacement, I believe it is an addition. It’s about giving our teams these tools so that they can enhance rather than automate the guest experience, which will in turn improve the bottom line.” 

Finally, Tech on Toast’s Chris Fletcher will be joined by Dominic Ashworth of Gaucho and Mike Philips of Nightcap to discuss how technology is driving recruitment in the hospitality sector.  

To view the full seminar programme for HRC 2025, including the Vision Stage, in partnership with Future Menus by Unilever Food Solutions and designed by Harp Design, head to hrc.co.uk/seminar-programme.