GE Capital’s second annual Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit featured professionals from the franchising, finance, and legal sectors and the restaurant industry to address current issues facing the industry and individual operators.

After establishing a solid reputation in its inaugural year, the 2011 summit, attracted attendees from across Canada and the US. While many were senior-level executives from top Canadian franchisors, multi-unit operators and popular Canadian brands, the event also attracted independent restaurateurs who came seeking answers, feedback and information.

“Several of our individual franchisees attended the summit”, said Mike Cordoba, partner at Empresario Capital Partners, based in British Columbia.

Topics addressed included increases in regulatory challenges, food and commodity prices, and corporate social responsibility.

“First and foremost, an event like this allows you to network with people who are in the same boat,” comments Peter Fowler, CEO of SIR Corp, one of Canada’s most successful restaurant companies. “We share the same concerns and deal with the same issues, no matter what size operation we are. It’s a chance to rekindle relationships and simply share ideas but as well, at any one of the sessions, there’s always something new or a fresh idea that triggers you to remember a solution you can put to work. The information we can pick up at the Summit is invaluable.”