SCAE Conference

‘The only constant we have in this world is change’…… François de La Rochefoucauld, 17th century writer

From the 17th Century to today, and for sure tomorrow, this will still ring true. So the focus of this year’s SCAE Conference at Caffè Culture could not be more apt, as it is all about change. Not change for change’s sake, but changing to keep abreast of our vibrant coffee industry as it develops to meet the needs and demands of the ever-changing 21st century.

Day One is entitled ‘Managing Change’ and focuses on change management strategies. Industry experts from international groups such as Starbucks and Caffè Nero will describe how they are meeting challenges and how they think it best to tackle them. Whatever size your business is, a strategy needs to be in place. Who better to listen to than Jeff Grout, a motivational business speaker who has advised, inspired and motivated those in industries as diverse as Morgan Stanley, Tesco, UBS and Saracens RFC.

Day Two, ‘A Whole New World’, is an exploration into different concepts for different markets. From the UK to Scandinavia, and mainland Europe to New Zealand, our guest speakers will share their knowledge of the latest developments in their corners of the coffee globe. So, if you want to adopt a fresh approach that has already been tried and tested on another continent, or if you are looking to expand into new markets, these experts could turn on that light for you.

Day Three is ‘Design 2020’ and provides an insight into the evolution of the café bar concept, which today has to carefully balance a combination of leisure, retail and workspace. Consumer trends are constantly being forecast, monitored and recorded –- and the demands put upon the coffee/café bar are frequently cited by other industry experts as the barometer of our times.

Our leading industry expert on this final day is David Schomer of Vivace in Seattle whose own unique insight has led him to determine what works most effectively for both the operator and the customer.

Be inspired, come and question – but don’t miss this opportunity to network the challenge of change.

Mick