FUTURE OF F&B 2026

Fix Manpower, Streamline Operations & Turn Enquiries Into Revenue. In partnership with NTUC & e2i.

Organised in collaboration with NTUC and e2i, Future of F&B 2026 is designed for F&B operators navigating manpower shortages, rising costs and increasing operational complexity.

Presented together with HRnet, WECOFA, Koomi OS, Asiabots and Ruler Marketing, the event brings together workforce partners, HR leaders, technology innovators and growth strategists to share practical systems that can strengthen operations and support more predictable revenue.

Seats are limited due to venue capacity. Early registration is encouraged.

Margins are shrinking.

Manpower is tight.

No-shows and unpredictable demand make daily operations harder than ever.

Most F&B businesses are still trying to grow the old way: more promotions, more platforms and more operational chaos.

This summit focuses on building stronger systems behind the business.

Through practical sessions led by workforce partners, HR leaders and technology innovators, attendees will explore how to improve hiring pipelines, streamline operations, reduce manual work through AI and automation, and create more predictable revenue systems.

This session is designed for:

• Restaurant owners and founders
• Café operators and F&B entrepreneurs
• Multi-outlet F&B brands
• SME business owners facing manpower and cost pressures
• Operations managers and hospitality leaders

If you run an F&B business and are looking for practical ways to strengthen operations and improve revenue stability, this session is for you.

This is not a theory-heavy event.

You’ll leave with practical ideas to strengthen your workforce, improve operations, reduce manual work through AI and automation, and drive more predictable revenue.

If you run an F&B business and need clearer, smarter ways to operate, this session is built for you.

2:00 PM: Welcome and context
Emcee: Evan Hwong, Creative Director, Strategy & Operations, WECOFA

2:05 PM: Workforce transformation and productivity for F&B SMEs
Speaker: Serene Yeo, Account Manager & Cluster Lead, NTUC SME Partners
Focus: How SMEs can tap into NTUC programmes such as the Company Training Committee (CTC) to support job redesign, workforce transformation and productivity improvements.

2:20 PM: Strengthening your workforce through hiring and talent programmes
Speaker: Chloe Koh, Senior Manager, e2i
Focus: Addressing manpower challenges in the F&B sector through hiring initiatives, Career Conversion Programmes (CCP), and workforce support schemes that help businesses build stronger talent pipelines.

2:25 PM: Building demand systems that convert without creating operational chaos
Speaker: Ken Ong, Managing Director, WECOFA & SmartFlow AI by Ruler Marketing
Focus: How F&B businesses can combine smarter marketing with automation systems to generate demand, manage enquiries more efficiently, reduce missed opportunities and turn customer interest into more consistent bookings and revenue.

2:45 PM: The new profit engine for F&B leaders through AI and automation
Speaker: Chris Shum, Founder & CEO, Asiabots Limited
Focus: How conversational AI, Voice AI and intelligent automation are transforming business operations, helping companies improve productivity, streamline workflows and enhance customer engagement.

3:00 PM: Building professional HR systems without hiring a full HR team
Speaker: Grace Tang, Business Leader, LEAPS by HRnet
Focus: How growing F&B businesses can implement professional HR operations covering compliance, onboarding, payroll and performance management through HR-as-a-Service solutions.

3:20 PM: From chaos to clarity, how unified tech will define the next decade of F&B
Speaker: Andrew Tay, Co-Founder & COO, KOOMI OS
Focus: In a world where F&B margins are shrinking and operational complexity is rising, explore how integrating POS, payments and business systems can simplify operations and support smarter decision-making.

3:40 PM – 6:00 PM: Open networking

Connect with fellow F&B operators, SME leaders and industry partners. Share insights, explore collaborations and discover practical solutions that support business transformation.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Serene Yeo

Account Manager & Cluster Lead, NTUC SME Partners

Serene works with SMEs across sectors such as retail, F&B and hospitality to support workforce transformation through initiatives like the Company Training Committee (CTC), job redesign and skills upgrading.

Chloe Koh

Senior Manager, e2i

Chloe works with employers in the lifestyle sector including F&B, retail, hotels and attractions. She supports companies in addressing hiring challenges and developing local talent through workforce programmes and hiring initiatives.

Grace Tang

Business Leader, LEAPS by HRnet

Grace leads business growth at LEAPS by HRnet, helping SMEs build professional HR functions through HR-as-a-Service solutions covering onboarding, payroll, compliance and performance management.

Chris Shum

Founder & CEO, Asiabots Limited

Chris is a technology entrepreneur advancing the commercial use of artificial intelligence across Asia. Through Asiabots, he develops Voice AI and conversational automation systems that help businesses improve productivity and customer engagement.

Andrew Tay

Co-Founder & COO, KOOMI OS

Andrew works with F&B operators to modernise their technology infrastructure through unified systems combining POS, payments and operational insights.

Ken Ong

Managing Director, WECOFA & SmartFlow AI by Ruler Marketing

Ken connects demand generation with automation systems that convert enquiries into bookings and repeat visits, helping businesses reduce no-shows and stabilise daily sales.

Evan Hwong (Emcee)

Creative Director, Strategy & Operations, WECOFA

Evan is an operational strategist with F&B experience across Cedele Group and YOLOFoods. He bridges marketing and operations, translating O2O2O strategies into practical steps for F&B brands.

NTUC SME Partners

NTUC SME Partners works closely with businesses to support workforce transformation and productivity through initiatives such as the Company Training Committee (CTC).

e2i

e2i supports employers in addressing manpower challenges through hiring initiatives, workforce programmes and reskilling pathways.

LEAPS by HRnet

LEAPS by HRnet provides HR-as-a-Service solutions that allow businesses to run professional HR operations without maintaining a full internal HR department.

Asiabots Limited

Asiabots develops AI solutions including Voice AI, conversational systems and intelligent automation that improve productivity and customer engagement.

KOOMI OS

KOOMI OS provides unified POS and payment systems designed specifically for modern F&B businesses.

WECOFA

WECOFA helps SMEs build marketing systems that generate predictable demand and measurable business outcomes.

SmartFlow AI by Ruler Marketing

SmartFlow AI helps businesses automate enquiry management, follow-ups and booking confirmations to improve conversion and retention.