Your Guide to the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show

The National Restaurant Show is packed with opportunities, but to get the most out of it, you need more than just a badge—you need a strategy. Whether you're here to discover products, attend sessions, or make connections, planning ahead is the key to turning a busy show into real results.

• Plan your visit to your goals
• Discover how Knowledge + Community = Profit
• Continue the profit conversation
• Sample Wisconsin cheese
• Visit the Emerging Brands Pavilion
• Watch the 2025 keynote with Carla Hall

Plan your visit to your goals

The National Restaurant Show is the biggest food service industry event of the year, featuring 2,225 exhibitors across 900 product categories. So you need to go in with a plan. That's why the NRA show team created The Show To Go planner. Here's how to get the most out of it.

1. If you haven't already, register for The National Restaurant Association Show. It costs $170–$300, depending on badge type and registration timing, with discounts available for members and young professionals.
2. Create your profile for The Show To Go 2025. Even if you went last year, they don't remember your 2024 info. Once you have a profile, you can access your own customizable planner.
3. Add the SESSIONS AND EVENTS you want to attend. Find the ones that align with your goals and make sure the ones you choose don't overlap.
4. Add the EXHIBITORS you'd like to visit. Use the filters to narrow down what you're looking for. Some notable places to check out are the Tech Pavilion, A Taste of the States, Organic and Natural Pavilion, the Global Food Expo, and The Beverage Room.
5. Get The Show To Go 2025 app. It's available on iOS (Apple) or Android (Samsung and Google). The app will give you a mobile view of your planner and will even notify you when your events are about to start.

Discover how Knowledge + Community = Profit

Making money in the restaurant world isn’t something you do alone—it takes a team. In this session, SpotOn is bringing together industry leaders who’ve been in the trenches to share how they’re building financially smart teams and stronger businesses.

You’ll hear real stories, get practical tools, and pick up tips to dodge common money mistakes. Whether you're tightening up your budget or planning for the long haul, this is all about growing together and winning as a team.

Continue the profit conversation

From Numbers to Know How: Where Restaurant Leaders Share, Learn, and Grow Monday, May 19, 11:00 am, CT at SpotOn Booth # 6045

Join Amy Hom, Jonathan Gillespie, and Maddy Shannon after the session to keep the conversation going with networking and refreshments. Connect with fellow restaurant leaders who are passionate about building financially savvy teams, sharing real-world strategies, and driving profitability across the industry.

Whether you're looking for fresh ideas or future collaborators, this is your space to swap insights and spark new opportunities

Talk shop with Restaurateur-in-Residence Scott Youkilis

Book a 15-minute session to brainstorm strategies to boost your margins with Scott Youkilis. Scott was the chef-owner of four restaurants in San Francisco, and uses his 30+ years of industry experience to help restaurateurs.

He'll be chatting 1-on-1 with operators during the show, on topics ranging from reducing voids and discounts to cutting food costs without skyrocketing menu prices, to coaching upsell techniques. All operators and restaurant styles are welcome – whether you’re a SpotOn client or not.

Sample Wisconsin cheese

Menus that create lasting memories are built on exceptional ingredients and the stories they tell. It’s the passion behind each ingredient that turns a meal into an experience. Discover Wisconsin's finest cheeses, meticulously crafted by award-winning cheesemakers, and paired to perfection for a taste unlike any other. Each bite tells the story of Wisconsin’s cheese legacy.

Visit booth 5814 for an immersive journey through Wisconsin’s rich flavors. You’ll taste, learn, and be inspired in ways you won’t forget.

Visit the Emerging Brands Pavilion

​The Emerging Brands Pavilion at the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show is where fresh ideas meet industry opportunity. Located in the North Hall at the end of aisles 9100–9200, this dedicated space showcases first-time exhibitors—companies in business for three years or less—offering innovative food, beverage, equipment, and technology solutions.

It’s a must-visit for anyone eager to discover the next big thing in foodservice. Explore the future of flavor and function—visit the Emerging Brands Pavilion and meet the trailblazers shaping tomorrow’s menus.

Watch the 2025 keynote with Carla Hall

​Renowned for her vibrant culinary career and television presence, Carla Hall will deliver the keynote for the show on Sunday, May 18th at 1:00 pm. Transitioning from an accountant to a celebrated chef and TV host, Hall embodies the philosophy of cooking with love and living with joy. Her address will highlight her journey, emphasizing the importance of passion and purpose in the foodservice industry, and inspiring attendees to lead with authenticity and heart.

Attending the National Restaurant Show is an excellent opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in the dynamic food service industry. So, mark your calendars, prepare yourself, and get ready to make the most of the 2025 National Restaurant Show.