Creating a food culture, redefining food and beverage and the emerging food revolution are set to be among the topics at this year’s Global Restaurant Investment Forum 2017.

The event acts as the annual networking and intelligence event for the international restaurant and hospitality community.

GRIF, which will be held from April 10th-12th at Fairmont the Palm, will assess the global landscape for growth, analyse consumer behaviour and review the investment and behavioural trends impacting the business.

Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, managing director, Middle East, Bench Events, organiser of GRIF, said: “Our roster of expert speakers is set to deep
dive into the issues at the heart of the international restaurant industry, debating current trends with a view to forecasting the future potential of this
exciting, evolving sector.”

Ahead of the event, Laurent Plantier, founder, FrenchFood Capital, who is speaking at GRIF on the session Adding Value as an Investor, asserted:

“Today, we don’t eat the same way we used to do and tomorrow we won’t eat the same way we do today.

“It’s why it can be said that we are facing a food devolution.

“There are three drivers behind this,” continued Plantier.

“Firstly, the world is facing limited resources for a fundamental requirement - by 2050, more than nine billion people will need to eat every day.

“Secondly, the food journey must adapt to new lifestyles, and thirdly, there is an ever-increasing desire to eat better.”

GRIF 2017 will feature a stimulating conference programme that will debate these trends and markets in depth, as well as offering interactive culinary tours, vibrant networking receptions, and a franchise master class.

Speakers at this year’s event said the networking opportunities GRIF provides are essential forums for anyone operating or investing in the business of food and beverage.