Watch 2020
About the Summit

The Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit is heading into its 15th year in Toronto on Thursday November 13th, 2025. The CRILS Summit has always been a vibrant gathering of thought leaders, all dedicated to sharing knowledge, insights, and the latest trends shaping the hospitality industry.

In this milestone year, we are also celebrating that we are now part of National Bank of Canada (NBC).

This year we are excited to be hosting at the RoseRock Place, one of NBC homes in Toronto. We fill the room with like-minded individuals who want to learn, network and be part of the industry event of the year! We cannot wait to celebrate 15 years of memories at the CRILS Summit 2025!

 

The 15th Annual Canadian Restaurant
Investment & Leadership Summit 2025!

On November 13th in Toronto we will host the 15th annual Restaurant Summit that focuses on delivering thought leadership around the industry's most topical issues. CEOs and executives from leading brands along with industry experts, will share their perspectives on the future of the foodservice industry in Canada.

We hope you join us to Celebrate 15 years!



 

 

 

 

 

 

What:
2025 Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit
When:
November 13th, 2025
Where:
RoseRock Place, 121 King Street West, Toronto, Canada
Request Information
Session One

Session # 1
The Foodservice State of the Nation 

One of the most loved panels at the Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit is the Food Service State of the Nation. Jacob Mancini of National Bank of Canada, and Vince Sgabellone of Circana, take the stage at dueling podiums to discuss the current state of the foodservice industry. They talk about what has happened in the last 12 months, what is happening NOW and what they foresee for the future. They share insights, data, trends and anecdotes all from and about Canadian Restaurants and Food Service.

 

Speakers:

Jacob Mancini - Jacob oversees all aspects of the restaurant lending business which provides financing for branded restaurant chains on both a corporate and franchisee level. He specializes in portfolio & business development for both national & regional chains. Prior to joining CWB, Jacob spent 13 years with GE Capital’s franchise finance division, including 9 years in commercial and business development, 2 years in sales support and operations, and 2 years as a credit and structuring manager.

Jacob Mancini

Jacob oversees all aspects of the restaurant lending business which provides financing for branded restaurant chains on both a corporate and franchisee level. He specializes in portfolio & business development for both national & regional chains. Prior to joining CWB, Jacob spent 13 years with GE Capital’s franchise finance division, including 9 years in commercial and business development, 2 years in sales support and operations, and 2 years as a credit and structuring manager.

Vince Sgabellone, Circana - Vince has worked in many different roles across the food and foodservice industry. From sales to marketing, distribution to product development, from manufacturers to operators. All of this has served him well since entering the research industry with Circana more than a decade ago. In his role Vince combines his analytic abilities and natural curiosity with his expertise in the industry. He helps his clients to understand the market, the competition, and the consumer.

Vince Sgabellone, Circana

Vince has worked in many different roles across the food and foodservice industry. From sales to marketing, distribution to product development, from manufacturers to operators. All of this has served him well since entering the research industry with Circana more than a decade ago. In his role Vince combines his analytic abilities and natural curiosity with his expertise in the industry. He helps his clients to understand the market, the competition, and the consumer.

Session Two

Session # 2
The Canadian Economic Landscape

 

Stéfane Marion,Chief Economist and Strategist and members of the team from The National Bank of Canada have been providing monthly Economic Impact Videos for over five years. For the first time, they will be joining the CRILS Summit to provide us an Economic Outlook.

Do not miss this discussion around the Canadian Economy and the impacts from all around the globe on the Hospitality Industry. 

Speakers:

Stéfane Marion - Stéfane has held his role with NBC since 2008. He has consistently ranked among the top three economists in Canada by institutional investors surveyed by Brendan Wood International, earning the number one position in 2025. Under his leadership, the Economics and Strategy Group has earned widespread recognition for the accuracy of its forecasts, including the 2025 award for Best Canadian Dollar Forecaster from Focus Economics.

Stéfane Marion

Stéfane has held his role with NBC since 2008. He has consistently ranked among the top three economists in Canada by institutional investors surveyed by Brendan Wood International, earning the number one position in 2025. Under his leadership, the Economics and Strategy Group has earned widespread recognition for the accuracy of its forecasts, including the 2025 award for Best Canadian Dollar Forecaster from Focus Economics.

Session Three

Session # 3
The CEO Panel

The CEO Panel of the Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit is a conversation where restaurant and franchise CEOs from across Canada, discuss the evolution of the restaurant industry. Year after year, the CEO Panel is a fan favourite. As we embark on the 15th year of the CEO Panel, we invite CEOs who are not afraid to challenge the status quo, who are willing to answer the tough questions and ultimately want to help everyone in the room succeed and make the restaurant industry even better. 

Stay tuned and check back in for more details about are exciting CEOs for the 15th annual CRILS celebration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speakers:

Nick Dean, President The Keg - Mr. Dean is the President of Keg Restaurants Ltd, an iconic Canadian brand and one of North America’s leading casual fine dining restaurants. His oversight includes operations, product, people & culture, marketing, corporate services, & franchising. Since joining The Keg in 2019, Mr. Dean has been influential in optimizing & restructuring talent, innovating the business FOR GROWTH, and ultimately maintaining The Keg’s image as one of Canada’s most trusted restaurant brands.

Nick Dean, President The Keg

Mr. Dean is the President of Keg Restaurants Ltd, an iconic Canadian brand and one of North America’s leading casual fine dining restaurants. His oversight includes operations, product, people & culture, marketing, corporate services, & franchising. Since joining The Keg in 2019, Mr. Dean has been influential in optimizing & restructuring talent, innovating the business FOR GROWTH, and ultimately maintaining The Keg’s image as one of Canada’s most trusted restaurant brands.

Bruce Miller, M.B.A. CEO & Co-Owner, Pilot Coffee Roasters & Bridgehead Coffee - Bruce Miller is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of proven success in the Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods, Sports, and Hospitality/Retail sectors. He has consistently delivered exceptional results by driving top-line growth, expanding margins, and significantly increasing shareholder value—whether for large multinationals or early-stage and turnaround ventures.

Bruce Miller, M.B.A. CEO & Co-Owner, Pilot Coffee Roasters & Bridgehead Coffee

Bruce Miller is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of proven success in the Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods, Sports, and Hospitality/Retail sectors. He has consistently delivered exceptional results by driving top-line growth, expanding margins, and significantly increasing shareholder value—whether for large multinationals or early-stage and turnaround ventures.

Craig Pike, Craig's Cookies - Craig Pike, founder of Craig’s Cookies, turned his mom’s chocolate chip recipe into a nationwide brand that champions the 2SLGBTQIA+ and local communities. From theatre actor to home baker to entrepreneur, his journey proves how passion, values, and customer-first thinking create beloved brands.

Craig Pike, Craig's Cookies

Craig Pike, founder of Craig’s Cookies, turned his mom’s chocolate chip recipe into a nationwide brand that champions the 2SLGBTQIA+ and local communities. From theatre actor to home baker to entrepreneur, his journey proves how passion, values, and customer-first thinking create beloved brands.

Session Four

Session # 4
Tech in Hospitality 

Tech in Hospitality: Does Tech Enable or Erode Humanity in Restaurants?

As AI and modern technologies reshape the restaurant industry, operators and technologists are asking a critical question: Can innovation enhance, rather than replace, the human connection at the heart of hospitality?

Technology is reshaping every corner of the hospitality industry. From AI-driven guest experiences and mobile check-ins to data analytics and smart infrastructure at the front and back of the house, this session will talk about using technology to enable humanity. Together, we'll examine how technology is being used to personalize experiences, improve efficiencies, and elevate—not eliminate—the soul of hospitality. Is it possible to scale empathy with AI? Or are we trading connection for convenience? Afterall, isn’t hospitality a human business?

Speakers:

Anat Davidzon, Managing Director of International at Chipotle Mexican Grill - Anat Davidzon is the Managing Director of International at Chipotle Mexican Grill. She is responsible for overseeing the company’s restaurants in Canada and Europe, aligning local strategy with Chipotle’s overall operational vision, ensuring execution of standards, and sustainably building a support model for rapid expansion. Prior to this, Ms. Davidzon served as Managing Director of Canada, where she improved restaurant economics and more than doubled Chipotle’s footprint in the market.

Anat Davidzon, Managing Director of International at Chipotle Mexican Grill

Anat Davidzon is the Managing Director of International at Chipotle Mexican Grill. She is responsible for overseeing the company’s restaurants in Canada and Europe, aligning local strategy with Chipotle’s overall operational vision, ensuring execution of standards, and sustainably building a support model for rapid expansion. Prior to this, Ms. Davidzon served as Managing Director of Canada, where she improved restaurant economics and more than doubled Chipotle’s footprint in the market.

Thank you to all our Sponsors for their participation and support in planning and developing the 2025 Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit. 

Media Partner

Premier Research Sponsor

Contributing Partner, Canadian Chain Restaurant Industry Review

Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Summit Host:

National Bank of Canada will be hosting the Canadian Restaurant Investment & Leadership Summit (CRILS) for the first time and is honoured to be part of the event that has been brining bring the industry together for 15 years.

The members of The National Bank of Canada Franchise Finance team are experts in providing both corporate franchisor and franchisee-level financing for prominent restaurant brands and leading hotel owners in Canada. We believe in getting to know the operations, opportunities, and challenges of each of our clients so we are able to provide them with customized, flexible financing solutions that will help them achieve their business goals.