Group interaction and dialogue is a key part of the Summit.

Mike Wigell, founder of the FSES, had a vision that industry leaders could actually get together and solve problems rather than just hear about them.  "The industry is full of events where you go, hear the problems, and then leave without any real discussion of how to solve them" was a familiar line from Mike as he built the conference early on.  Mike believed that if you brought a group of people together, kept it small, and had representation from all links in the supply chain, honest dialogue and information sharing could result from such a setting.

The FSES has evolved into an invitation only event for leaders in the foodservice industry.  Attendance is limited to 80 people to obtain the intimacy and interaction of the event.  As many have experienced in the past, the uniqueness of the conference is the open dialogue and idea sharing that truly leads to business results.

The first year of the conference, 1996, was attended by approximately 20 individuals in the industry.  The culture of the conference over the years has evolved into a tightly connected group that extend their relationships throughout the year to make a noticeable impact on the industry and help each other when needed.  It is in this spirit that the conference planning committee maintains the integrity of the event to adhere to Mike's vision.