Au Bon Pain CEO Sue Morelli gave an early-morning keynote address on day two of the Fast Casual Executive Summit in Dallas.

Morelli said Americans are living in a time of “recession haircuts” where families are choosing to cut their children’s hair at home. To survive the recession, the company has strategically re-evaluated its plan for the future.

Morelli said Americans are living in a time of “recession haircuts” where families are choosing to cut their children’s hair at home. To survive the recession, the company has strategically re-evaluated its plan for the future.

After Morelli’s keynote, Ed Frechette, Au Bon Pain’s SVP of marketing, answers a question from the audience about the brand’s marketing strategy. Also pictured: Joe Tortorice, CEO of Jason’s Deli (center), and Dawn Duffy of American Clearinghouse.

After the keynote, executives were divided into eight groups for a Brain Exchange discussion session. Each table was given a topic — such as menu development, social media marketing or team dynamics — to discuss for 30 minutes.

From left: Jeffrey Seeberger, VP of Franchise Development for Taco Bueno, Alan Hixon, president of Mooyah Burgers and Fries and Caya Aufiero, founder of Urban Eats Café.

About 16 executives were in each brain exchange group. Table leaders included Joni Thomas Doolin from the People Report, Erle Dardick from Monkey Media, Linda Duke from Duke Marketing and Dawn Duffy from American Clearinghouse.

Valerie Killifer, senior editor of FastCasual.com, takes a break with Michael Fagan, COO of Duke Marketing.

The Nik Bhakta, COO of Genghis Grill, chats with Salad Creations president and CEO Jeff Levine.

spirit large img

The first session of day two was Internet Marketing Real-Time & the Power of Social Media. Session panelists were (from left) John Pepper, co-founder of Boloco, Paul Barron, publisher of FastCasual.com, and Boris Bugarski, CEO of mUrgent.

Paul Barron jokingly tweets about John Pepper’s talk about Twitter, the social media Web site many brands now use to communicate with guests.

Chris Dahlander, founder of Snappy Salads, asks the Internet marketing and social media panelists a question.

The second session of the day, Culinary Experience for the Innovators, featured panelists Dan Ross from U.S. Foodservice (left) and Phil Costner, COO for la Madeleine French Country Café.

After the session, Costner is interviewed by Karen Robinson-Jacobs with the Dallas Morning News.

Also interviewed was Sue Morelli, CEO of Au Bon Pain, who talked with The Food Channel reporter and video producer Christen Nehmer.

From left: Casie Caldwell, president and CEO of Greenz, and Linda Hofflander with Wireless Ronin.

Attendees heard from NRA Chairman Michael Kaufman, who discussed new imperatives along with the creation of the Fast Casual Alliance. The council is the first of its kind for the NRA and will be used as the model for any future industry councils.