Vibe Conference 2023

Following the extraordinary upheaval of the pandemic, enterprises quickly realized there is no more “business as usual.” And in no industry is that truer than foodservice and hospitality. While massive numbers of veteran workers departed -- never to return, multiple generations of employees entered (or re-entered) hospitality roles, each looking for more than just a job. Younger workers particularly require meaningful employment, equity, flexibility, and accountability from their companies. But everyone wants a competitive and livable wage plus a sustainable career path. Meet Saru Jayaraman, the founder and president of One Fair Wage, who will share her efforts, experience, and the promising results of improving wages and opportunities for restaurant team members.

Jackie Summers’ and Dr. Hoby Wedler’s collaboration seems to have been preordained. As the first Black licensed distiller in America and the founder of Sorel Liqueur, and facing his own challenges, Jackie has devoted years to advocating for differently abled, disadvantaged, and marginalized people. Hoby, blind from birth, earned his PhD in organic chemistry, is a sensory expert, entrepreneur, and educator. These two have now professionally partnered to create a unified front to combat systemic barriers of all kinds. Toby has brought his gifts in chemistry and sensory literacy to improve the quality of Sorel – a complex blend of botanicals and now, the most awarded liqueur of 2022 - while scaling production. According to Jackie, the product not only tastes better, it’s less expensive to deliver. Imagine have a common desire to make the world more accessible while building a better brand.

Join Marian Leitner (Founder and CEO) and Elizabeth Banks (Chief Creative Officer) of leading canned wine company, Archer Roose, as they discuss the importance of sustainability within the wine category as well as the company’s own efforts to “drink their way to a cleaner planet” one canned wine at a time! Marian and Elizabeth will delve into various relevant topics such as the following…

• Importance of thoughtful alternative packaging due to global warming
• On-premise challenges such as staffing, margin protectors/enhancers, fast to service, 1-on-1 inventory management
• How Archer Roose’s efforts around sustainability work to align with their wider mission to create a better future for our planet while democratizing the wine industry
• The interview-style discussion is designed to create an “aha” moment for businesses to think outside the bottles
• Elizabeth will speak about what attracted her to AR, how it aligns with her brand ethos, the importance of sustainability in her line of work, and how that translates to her life