QSR Media Asia Conference & Awards 2026

subject to change...

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM    Networking Registration

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM    Welcoming Remarks

9:05 AM - 9:25 AM    What's The Tea: Inside CHAGEE'S brand building playbook

With more than 6,000 teahouses worldwide across eight countries, CHAGEE has rapidly scaled from a single Yunnan store to one of the fastest‑growing modern tea brands in Asia.  This session will unpack the strategic marketing, digital engagement and brand‑building decisions behind this expansion.

• Eugene Lee, CMO APAC, CHAGEE

9:25 AM - 9:40 AM    QSR Trends and Outlook for SE Asia

Gain valuable insights into the economic forces impacting the QSR industry in SE Asia, from consumer spending shifts to geopolitical change. Tim Hill, Key Accounts Director, South East Asia, GlobalData Plc will break down key trends and future projections to help businesses navigate an evolving market.

• Tim Hill, Key Accounts Director, South East Asia, GlobalData Plc

9:40 AM - 10:10 AM    Leaders Panel

The panel features Michael Bruce, Director of Asia Pacific, Wendy’s, representing the global burger chain known for its fresh, never-frozen beef and growing APAC ambitions; Yuto Tago, Global CEO, Hot Palette Holdings Co., Ltd, the company behind Pepper Lunch and its rapidly expanding experiential fast-casual dining concepts; and Hendy Setiono, Founder and CEO, Baba Rafi Enterprise, one of the biggest kebab chains in Indonesia with over 1,300 sites. More to come...

Panelists:

• Michael Bruce, Director of Asia Pacific, Wendy's
• Yuto Tago, Global CEO, Hot Palette Holdings Co., Ltd (Pepper Lunch)
• Hendy Setiono, Founder and CEO, Baba Rafi Enterprise

10:10 AM - 10:55 AM    MORNING BREAK

10:55 AM - 11:15 AM    The Future of Pizza Innovation

Talking about Papa Johns viral Croissant Pizza, this session will explore how brands can remain relevant by perpetually gathering consumer insights to deeply understand global taste preferences and develop disruptive, bold innovation. Ann Zhang, General Manager APAC at Papa Johns, will share strategies for driving innovation that resonates with consumers and delivers commercial impact. Learn how global trends can be localized effectively, and why intentional innovation is the key to ensuring your brand is ready for the fast-paced future.

• Ann Zhang, General Manager, APAC, Papa Johns

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM    Speaking Session

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM    QSR and Money Panel 

What really gets a QSR brand funded today? The QSR & Money panel goes beyond the headlines, bringing investors and capital leaders together to reveal how they evaluate brands, opportunities, and risk. From emerging concepts to established players, learn what’s driving deal activity and where the smart money is heading next.

The panel features Amit Manocha, Group CFO, Everstone Group, a private equity firm whose Everstone Capital arm has backed major quick-service restaurant players including the master franchisee of Burger King in India and Indonesia; and Shaurya Ahuja, EY-Parthenon Partner, Consumer Products & Retail, Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, bringing strategic advisory in consumer and retail transformation. More to come...

Panelists:

• Amit Manocha, Group CFO, Everstone Group
• Shaurya Ahuja, EY-Parthenon Partner, Consumer Products & Retail, Ernst & Young Solutions LLP
• Saurabh Gupta, Managing Director - Head of Consumer, Retail & Healthcare, APAC, Mizuho

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM    LUNCH BREAK

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM    AWARDS PROGRAMME

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM    Is Your Efficiency Making Your Brand Invisible? 

The QSR industry has relentlessly optimised for efficiency. Service is now faster and smoother than ever, but efficiency is no longer a differentiator. As competitors converge, brands are pushed to compete on price and proximity, eroding loyalty and pricing power.

This session asks a different question: not “How can we be faster?” but “How can we be more memorable?” It explores a counterintuitive insight into customer behaviour: people do not remember consistency; they remember peaks. Drawing on examples from QSR and beyond, the talk offers a practical framework to focus investment where it matters most and build a brand that competes on more than speed and price.

• Suchit Kakar, Senior Strategist - Experience, Landor

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM    Speaking Session

• Representative, Kerry

2:00 PM - 2:10 PM    Speaking Session

2:10 PM - 2:40 PM    Next-Gen QSR Panel

What sets apart the QSR brands scaling quickly across Asia — and sustaining momentum? This panel brings together leaders from emerging and fast-growing QSR brands that have captured consumer attention, market share, or cultural relevance in their markets. Speakers will share the stories behind their growth, the localisation strategies that matter, and how they’re navigating their next phase of expansion.

• Walther Buenavista, CEO, Shawarma Shack
• Josh Bell, Principal & Director, Guzman y Gomez & YO-CHi SG

2:40 PM - 3:10 PM    AFTERNOON BREAK

3:10 PM - 3:25 PM    Speaking Session

3:25 PM - 3:35 PM    Speaking Session

3:35 PM - 4:05 PM    Marketing & Gen Z Panel

Explore how QSR brands are connecting with Gen Z and driving impact through creative marketing strategies. The Marketing & Gen Z Panel brings together brand leaders and marketers to discuss how campaigns can authentically engage younger audiences, leverage social media, and turn cultural relevance into measurable growth. Gain practical insights into building brand loyalty, staying on-trend, and turning marketing initiatives into revenue while resonating with Gen Z’s values and behaviours.

More panelists to be announced...

Panelists: 

• Alaric Sng, Senior Manager, Global Marketing, SSE Hong Kong Limited (Shake Shack)

4:05 PM    Cocktail Party