The combined events celebrate their 55th and fifth anniversaries Oct. 25–27 at the Orange County Convention Center, featuring education, culinary competitions and a $5,000 attendee giveaway.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Florida Restaurant Show and Pizza Tomorrow Summit are marking milestone anniversaries at the Orange County Convention Center, bringing restaurant, pizza and foodservice professionals together Oct. 25–27 for product demonstrations, education, culinary competitions and networking.
The Florida Restaurant Show is celebrating its 55th anniversary, while the Pizza Tomorrow Summit marks its fifth. One registration provides access to both events.
Organizer Restaurant Events announced a total of $5,000 in attendee giveaways during the three-day gathering. Attendees can pick up a ticket at registration for a chance to win.
More Than 400 Exhibitors Showcase Restaurant Solutions
According to organizers, the combined events feature more than 400 exhibitors showcasing food and beverages, equipment, technology and services.
Participating companies include Gordon Food Service, Back of House, PizzaMaster, Horizon Food Brokers, Keg Kraft Beverage Company, Galbani, Florida Dairy Farmers, Stirling Food Systems, Specialty Butter and OGGI Foods.
For operators facing rising costs, staffing challenges and changing technology, the events offer opportunities to compare products, meet suppliers and explore ways to improve efficiency and the guest experience.
Education Addresses Food Costs, Staffing and AI
More than 40 hours of education cover profitability, food costs, operations, marketing, artificial intelligence, staffing, leadership and customer engagement.
Featured programs include Restaurant Management 201 and 301, presented by Darren Denington, founder and operator of Service with Style, and Alison Anne, leader of Restaurant Revolution.
A new program, “The Wizard Behind the Curtain,” presented by Maverick Theory founder Michael Tipps, examines how owners and entrepreneurs develop restaurant concepts and turn ideas into businesses.
A Team Bundle Package offers savings and flexible attendance options for groups of six from the same organization, allowing employees to explore sessions relevant to their roles.
Culinary Competitions Spotlight Professional Chefs
The Sunshine Plate Challenge Arena features more than 30 professional chefs across four American Culinary Federation-sanctioned competitions, organizers said.
The announced schedule includes:
- Sunday, Oct. 25: Student and professional pastry sculpture competitions and the Professional Pork Challenge.
- Monday, Oct. 26: The Professional Seafood Challenge, sponsored by Bar Harbor Seafood.
- Tuesday, Oct. 27: The Professional Beef Challenge.
The arena’s Sunday programming also includes the Hospitality School Showdown, featuring culinary faculty and alumni representing four Florida hospitality programs.
Unox sponsors the arena, with product support from Gordon Food Service, Bar Harbor Seafood, Expedition Provisions, Yukan Foods, Pizzacini and Keg Kraft Beverage Company.
Pizza Tomorrow Summit Highlights Industry Innovation
The Pizza Tomorrow Summit features education, demonstrations and competitions focused on the pizza industry.
Its announced Monday programming includes a live taping of the “So You Want to Run a Restaurant” podcast with California Pizza Kitchen co-founder Rick Rosenfield. The session, sponsored by Back of House, includes a discussion and giveaway of his book, “The California Pizza Kitchen Story.”
The U.S. Pizza Team and Galbani Professionale U.S. are also hosting the 2026 Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup. Pizza makers and pizza acrobats compete in culinary and acrobatic events, with grand-prize winners earning a trip to compete at the World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy.
One Registration Connects Two Industries
By holding the events together, organizers give restaurant operators access to ideas emerging from the pizza industry while connecting pizzeria operators with equipment, technology and education relevant to the broader foodservice market.
The Florida Restaurant Show and Pizza Tomorrow Summit conclude Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Orange County Convention Center.