NORWALK, Conn., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferdinand Metz, former President of The Culinary Institute of America, Certified Master Chef, and current President of The World Association of Chef's Societies is pleased to announce the sessions for the second annual Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Form taking place during the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center August 23 - 25, 2008. Nolan Bushnell, founder and former CEO of Atari Corporation and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and CEO of uWink (OTC:UWKI) (BULLETIN BOARD: UWKI) , will serve as the Opening Day Keynote Speaker on Saturday, August 23 at 12:30 pm. He will discuss the state of restaurant technology and uWink, his new technology company, which has created software and hardware solutions to make restaurants faster, more fun and efficient. On Sunday, August, 24 at 10:00 am, Ted Balestreri, owner of The Sardine Factory, will discuss the state of the California restaurant industry and how to survive a down economy. At 1:30 pm, Mark Sanborn, the best selling author of The Fred Factor, and an authority on leadership, team building, customer service, and change, will address the restaurant industry. In addition to these three dynamic keynote speakers, there will be two dozen complimentary educational sessions including innovative restaurant marketing ideas, better hiring practices, the road to operational excellence, the latest food trends, simple menu enhancements, practical paths to improve the environment, and legal strategies. Several of Los Angeles Magazine's Best New Restaurants will be represented in a panel discussion on how restaurants can keep their ideas fresh and new. "We've shifted the entire focus to center on the importance of moving a restaurant business forward faster by utilizing the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo as a great resource to give a company the tools it needs to stay competitive in this economy," said Ron Mathews, Industry Vice President, Reed Exhibitions, producers of the event. The Forum is pleased to announce attendance for all sessions is complimentary with an Expo badge. There will be two dozen 30-minute theater sessions held on the Show floor. Topics of these complimentary sessions include Get Smart, Go Green, Make Money; The Entrepreneur's Achilles Heel; Performance=Preference; Staying Alive in Today's Economy; WAVES for Teenage Workforce Success; The Next Level in Email Marketing; Social Networking; Local Store Marketing; The Most Common Hiring Mistakes; Mobile on the Menu' Avoiding Costly Lawsuits; and more. On August 23 an Accelerated One Day "Jump Start" Personal Chef Seminar will be presented by Candy Wallace, executive director, the American Personal & Private Chef Association (APPCA). The course completion includes full Personal Chef Certificate, Professional Personal Chef Training Manual entitled "The Business of Doing Business as a Personal Chef"(C), first-year membership in the APPCA, admission to the Foodservice Forum events sessions and access to the Exhibit Hall. The cost for this full day seminar is $995. The 2008 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will be held Saturday, August 23 - Monday, August 25, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will bring together 15,000+ foodservice industry professionals. The Expo Hall will feature 650 companies showcasing products ranging from equipment to gourmet foods. The "Hot Spot" Culinary Extravaganza will feature dynamic and entertaining demonstrations, and the 3rd annual Ultimate Barista Challenge will feature professional Baristas and their signature espresso beverages. The Show is produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions (NYSE:RUK), and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. For information on exhibiting or attending, call 800-840-5612 or visit http://www.westernfoodexpo.com/. DATASOURCE: Reed Exhibitions CONTACT: Amy Riemer, +1-978-478-4441, , for Reed Exhibitions Web site: http://www.reedexpo.com/ http://www.westernfoodexpo.com/

Copyright