Building a C-Suite Community in Food Service: The Power of The Nest

The Nest Founder Mark Hatch shares the scoop on creating an exclusive safe haven where like-minded C-Suite thought leaders collectively take on restaurant industry challenges. In this interview, Mark Hatch, founder and managing director of The Nest by Informa, discusses how creating a dedicated community for restaurant chain executives from companies like Five Guys and Shake Shack is revolutionizing industry networking, problem-solving, and collaboration. Learn how targeted micro-events and a culture of transparency are fostering trust and driving industry evolution. Launched in 2023, the NEST Group, an operator-only member community for C-suite executives in the restaurant industry, provides a confidential platform for leaders from emerging and established brands to solve complex challenges through peer-to-peer collaboration. At the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in May, the NEST Group gathered for peer-to-peer networking, tours, education and other activities. Members had access to the NEST Lounge where they could meet, relax and grab a drink or snack on the show floor at McCormick Place. Considering launching a member-based executive group for your industry? Find out the origin story, what’s working and how they are planning for continued growth from The Nest’s founder. Main topics: The origin and mission of the Nest group for restaurant executives Strategies for fostering authentic peer-to-peer relationships How targeted events create value for high-level decision-makers The role of vendor partnerships in strategic industry support Growth plans and the vision for industry-wide influence In this episode: Hatch shares the story behind founding the Nest community, emphasizing its role as a safe haven for C-level leaders The importance of relationship-building and authenticity in executive networks Key attributes of effective micro-events that maximize engagement and value How the industry is prioritizing technology, partnerships, and communication amidst labor and food cost pressures Practical advice for trade show organizers to implement similar communities in their events The significance of creating intimate, operator-only spaces within large industry gatherings Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and overview of the Nest lounge at the Restaurant Show 00:22 - Mark Hatch on the purpose of the Nest group and its significance 01:06 - Key members and how top restaurant chains participate 01:29 - The origin story of Nest and Mark’s relationship with industry leaders 02:28 - Growth milestones and future membership goals 03:10 - Mark’s passion for food service and connecting industry operators 03:38 - The role of trust, problem-solving, and network building in Nest 04:08 - Details on current C-level roles involved in the community 04:16 - What membership includes beyond physical gatherings 05:22 - Insights from recent industry events and built-in conversations 06:37 - Top concerns of restaurant C-suites: tech, costs, partnerships 7:41 - How vendor relationships foster collaboration and value 8:56 - Tips for launching a similar network in other industries 10:02 - Future growth plans and member referral success 11:39 - The importance of micro-events and targeted engagement 12:29 - The significance behind the name "Nest" and its guiding philosophy 13:04 - Closing remarks and final thoughts