Franchising’s Power Boosted by Peer Learning
Education and collaboration lie at the heart of franchising success; Savory Fund knows this firsthand. On Tuesday, 10th September, Restaurantology® Summit 2025 will bring together more than 700 restaurant operators, founders and executives at The Depot music hall in Salt Lake City. By offering a “backstage pass” to raw conversations, Savory ensures attendees leave armed with proven tactics and fresh insights. As Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing director of Savory Fund, puts it, “When one of us wins, we all win, so join us as we turn up the volume on authentic connection and innovation.”
Savory’s operator-first ethos shines through each session. From marketing myths to legal pitfalls; from sustainable leadership to the casual-dining resurgence; every panel emphasizes hands-on experience over textbook theory. This approach transforms education into action, empowering franchisees and brand leaders to adopt best practices immediately.
Backstage Pass to Industry Insights
At the core of Restaurantology® 2025 is the keynote “Pink Boxes + Big Bets,” featuring Crumbl co-founder Jason McGowan in conversation with Andrew Smith. McGowan and Smith will unpack the Crumbl journey from single-store startup to billion-dollar brand; the candid format reinforces the Summit’s commitment to learning from real stories rather than hypothetical case studies.
Additional highlights include:
- High-impact panels on funding strategies for scale, next-gen restaurant tech and more
- Private concert + social on Monday, 9th September, featuring Washed Out to foster informal idea-sharing
- FREE admission covered by Savory and partners such as Coca-Cola, Ecolab, Sysco and 858 Partners
This mix of structured learning and unfiltered dialogue accelerates cross-pollination of ideas; it’s where emerging brands gain the edge by hearing war stories directly from veterans and peers.

Walking the Walk: Savory’s Franchise Footprint
Savory Fund’s deep franchise expertise extends across 11+ category-defining brands including Swig, Mo’ Bettahs, South Block, Via 313, Houston TX Hot Chicken, Hash Kitchen, PINCHO and The Sicilian Butcher. By championing operator-to-operator storytelling, Savory not only writes checks but also writes the playbook for sustainable growth.
Whether you’re a founder fine-tuning your first franchise agreement or an executive steering a multi-unit rollout, Restaurantology® Summit offers a dynamic arena for education, mentorship and collaboration—proving that in franchising, shared knowledge is the ultimate competitive advantage.