The state of the (US) restaurant industry

After several years of recession-fueled retrenchment, attendees of the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operator conference (MUFSO) were focused on the future and a return to growth as they posed questions to top chief executives in the industry Tuesday at MUFSO.

The answers did not disappoint, as NRN award winners covered expansion strategies -- and pitfalls to avoid -- as well as hot-button issues like health care reform.

Panelists for one of the final sessions at the conference, and typically the most popular, included Golden Chain award winners J. Patrick Doyle, Domino’s chief executive;Don Fox, Firehouse of America chief executive;Steele Platt, The Yard House founder and chairman;and Steve Romaniello, Focus Brands chairman, as well as Ron Shaich, Panera Bread executive chairman and Pioneer Award honoree;and Phil Hickey, O’Charley’s chairman and Norman Award honoree.

Read NRN's "The state of the restaurant industry"