FCSI - The Americas

10/16/2026

World Food Day is a good moment to ask a design question: how much of a kitchen's waste is baked into its layout? The 2026 Kitchen Barometer report, shared with FCSI members, tracks how operators are juggling costs, sustainability, labor and digitalization all at once, and where consultants can help. Read the summary:
https://www.fcsi.org/industry/member-news/foodservice-at-an-inflection-point-how-the-kitchen-barometer-can-help-operators-navigate-converging-pressures/

Rising costs, staff shortages and increasing expectations are reshaping kitchen operations across markets. The Kitchen Barometer 2026 from Rational and Statista offers data-driven insights to help kitchen operators build that resilience and chart a path forward

10/12/2026

It's National School Lunch Week, and school dining is having a design moment. FCSI's "Lessons in lunch" cover story looks at cafeterias being rethought to feel more fast-casual than institutional, and what that means for flow, equipment and participation. A good read for anyone working in K-12:
https://www.fcsi.org/foodservice-consultant/worldwide/on-the-cover-lessons-in-lunch

With watchwords including ‘healthy’ and ‘convenience’, feeding primary and secondary school pupils today feels more like operating a fast casual restaurant than a servery of years gone by. Andrea Tolu takes the temperature of a sector in motion

10/11/2026

Two CEU stops this week. Nashville: the Fall FWE/Ovention Consultant Seminar runs Oct 14-16 with 12 CEUs, covering ventless speed cooking, precision holding and transport, and wraps with a behind-the-scenes bakery tour. Clayton, DE: Eagle Group's Custom Fabrication program runs Oct 14-15 with 5 CEUs on laser cutting, robotics and NSF-grade stainless. Both on the calendar:
https://fcsita.org/event/fall-2026-fwe-ovention-consultant-seminar/

Provided by FWE & Ovention 12 CEUs available This event will provide knowledge of various heating, holding and transport systems along with innovative ventless cooking technologies to assist in designing future client projects. We will review construction and design and fast service methods, which w...

10/09/2026

Consultants 45 and under: EPiC meets today at 2:00 PM Central. EPiC is FCSI The Americas' community for emerging foodservice consultants, with monthly sessions on everything from airport kitchen design to refrigeration systems, plus mentorship and leadership opportunities. Not on the invite list yet? Email [email protected] and we'll add you. Learn more:
https://fcsita.org/epic/

10/07/2026

When budgets get tight, what gets cut first? In FE&S magazine's latest survey, 54% of restaurant development pros said brand elements are the first thing to go under value engineering. Only 16% would cut kitchen functionality. Good news for the back of house, and a reminder of why an FCSI consultant belongs at the table early. Read more:
https://fesmag.com/topics/perspectives/this-week-in-foodservice/23818-ai-enters-the-kitchen-as-foodservice-design-budgets-tighten

10/05/2026

Happy World Architecture Day to everyone who designs the spaces we eat in. Reminder for architects and owners: the kitchen is the most expensive square footage in the building, and an FCSI consultant makes sure it works on day one and year ten. Find an FCSI Professional Member for your next project:
https://www.fcsi.org/find-a-member/

10/02/2026

Small footprints. College dining. Cookline and warewash solutions. The ITW Food Equipment Group 2026 Consultant Support Symposium covers all of it Sept 30-Oct 1 in Blue Bell, PA, with 12 CEUs on the table. If you're headed there, say hello to fellow FCSI members. Full agenda:
https://fcsita.org/event/itw-food-equipment-group-2026-consultant-support-symposium/

10/01/2026

Over 1,000 members in more than 35 countries, and one thing they have in common: they didn't get there alone. Networking was the #1 reason members engage with FCSI in our 2026 audience survey. Consultant, Affiliate, Corporate or Student, there's a membership built for where you are in your career. See the options:
https://fcsita.org/membership-information-applications/

09/28/2026

Help build Symposium 2027. FCSI The Americas heads to Orlando February 9-10, 2027, right before The NAFEM Show, and the education lineup is still taking shape. AI, technology, sustainability, labor, ownership transitions: what should the industry be talking about? Drop your session ideas in the comments or send them to [email protected].

👉 Register here: https://fcsita.imiscloud.com/_FCSI/Events/Event_display.aspx?EventKey=SYMP27

09/25/2026

Every great kitchen design is really designed for the people who work in it. On National Food Service Workers Day, thank you to the cooks, dish teams, servers and managers who turn our drawings into dinner service. If you have a crew that made a project shine, tag them below.
https://fcsita.org/