MAIN INSIGHTS: MARKETING EXPERTS ASSOCIATION (MEA) FUTURE VISION (2025)

The Marketing Executives Group (MEG) gathered recently in Chicago, marking the unofficial beginning of the National Restaurant Association Show. The exclusive meeting, which is strictly for marketing professionals, focuses on actionable strategies, networking, and tactic-driven discussions[1].

According to MEG, the annual event gathers marketing experts from the C-suite to directors and managers, with a focus on branding, digital, consumer, and field marketing[2]. The aim is to create a platform for meaningful conversations and innovative ideas in the restaurant industry.

One key takeaway from MEG 2025 was the importance of developing a strong brand rather than relying solely on promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers[3][4]. By creating genuinely interesting and engaging content tailored to the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), restaurant brands can reflect their values, as opposed to basing their image on margins. The benefits of such a strategy can provide a more significant payoff compared to the traditional tactic of "Buy One, Get One" offers.

Another essential trend discussed at the event concerned working with creators to drive growth for restaurants. Big or small, influencers can help establish trust, capture attention, and boost recommendations, outperforming ads[3]. For those looking to get started with influencer marketing, a helpful guide has been provided[4].

Furthermore, MEG highlighted the current use of AI in the restaurant industry[5]. AI technology can help with various aspects of the restaurant business, including menu and limited-time offer (LTO) idea generation, predicting customer churn, triggering retention plays, managing review responses, creating personas, upselling recommendations, copywriting, creative ideation, segmentation, and analyzing guest behavior.

Finally, the focus on improving fundamentals remains crucial for a successful marketing strategy in the industry[6][7]. This includes an emphasis on personalization, technology, operational efficiency, customer loyalty programs, and local community engagement.

If you attended the MEG conference, feel free to share your thoughts on what stood out to you. For help building or fixing your restaurant marketing system, consider reaching out to Rev at [email protected].

References

"Marketing Executives Group (MEG): Get Ready for the MEG 2025 Restaurant Marketing Conference," Rev, May 9, 2025, https://www.rev.co/
"About MEG," Marketing Executives Group, 2025, https://megmarketing.com/about/
Rev, "Top Takeaways from MEG 2025: Be a Brand, Not a Promo," May 12, 2025, https://www.rev.co/blog/top-takeaways-from-meg-2025/
Rev, "All Your Influencer Marketing Questions-Answered," June 5, 2022, https://www.rev.co/blog/all-your-influencer-marketing-questions-answered/
Rev, "Biggest Takeaways: The Marketing Executives Group (MEG) 2024," December 18, 2024, https://www.rev.co/blog/biggest-takeaways-the-marketing-executives-group-meg-2024/
"Steal This Proven Marketing System," BSM Consulting, 2023, https://bsmconsulting.co/en/
NRA Show, "Why Branding Matters in the Restaurant Industry," National Restaurant Association, May 16, 2021, https://www. nrashow.com/articles/why-branding-matters-in-the-restaurant-industry
The Marketing Executives Group (MEG) emphasized the significance of exploring potential collaborations with creators in the restaurant industry to drive growth, outperforming traditional advertising methods.
The use of AI technology in the restaurant industry was spotlighted by MEG, with applications ranging from menu and limited-time offer idea generation to guest behavior analysis and personalized marketing strategies.