Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi to Headline Restaurant365 Transform 2026

James Beard Award-winning chef and entrepreneur will share lessons from building and growing one of food's most recognizable brands

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Restaurant365, the leading all-in-one restaurant management platform, today announced that Christina Tosi, James Beard Award-winning chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Milk Bar, will deliver the headline keynote at Transform 2026. Restaurant365's annual customer conference will take place November 1–3, 2026, at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Tosi opened the first Milk Bar in New York City in 2008 and grew the business into one of the most recognizable brands in the industry. At Transform, she will share what she has learned as both a founder and an operator: how to keep a brand fresh without losing what customers love, and how to put the right structure behind growth.

Those lessons come at a moment when restaurant leaders are being asked to do more with less. Food and labor costs remain high, consumer habits keep changing, and technology is rapidly evolving. Operators must decide what is worth trying, what will actually help their teams, and how to make changes without losing sight of the guest.

"Running a restaurant takes creativity, but it also takes discipline," said Tony Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Restaurant365. "Christina knows what it takes to build something people love and keep improving the business as it grows. That's the perspective we want at Transform. Operators are trying to understand where AI can actually help, and they want practical ideas that lead to better decisions and healthier margins."

Transform is built around tangible lessons from industry leaders who have tried new approaches and know what it takes to make them work. AI is now part of that conversation because the results are now showing up in restaurant performance. Restaurant365's State of the Restaurant Industry Mid-Year Report describes a growing Restaurant Profitability Gap between operators using AI and those that have yet to adopt it. Among active AI users, 62% report lower labor costs and 61% report lower food costs.

Across more than 30 sessions and five learning tracks, attendees will hear from leading restaurant operators, Restaurant365 experts, and industry partners. The agenda will cover where AI is delivering real results, how restaurants are managing food and labor performance, and what leaders are doing to build stronger businesses.

Transform will also include hands-on learning, a vendor showcase, the Restaurant365 Solutions Bar, and time for attendees to connect with peers and share what is working in their businesses.

To learn more and register for Transform 2026, visit transform.restaurant365.com. 

About Restaurant365

Restaurant365 is the platform that unifies restaurant accounting, inventory, workforce management, payroll, and operations into a single system of action. Powered by R365 AI — the intelligence engine built for the back office — Restaurant365 helps operators control food and labor costs, accelerate financial close, reduce manual work, and make faster, more profitable decisions. Its connected ecosystem includes integrations with hundreds of leading POS systems, vendors, and banks, delivering unmatched visibility across the business. Restaurant365 is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, ICONIQ, KKR, L Catterton, and Serent Capital. Additional information is available at restaurant365.com.

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SOURCE Restaurant365