Toast Convenes Global Customer Advisory Board Summit to Build a Brighter Future for the Industry

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BOSTON, MA – Last month, our Boston headquarters was buzzing with energy as we welcomed restaurant leaders from around the world for our first-ever Global Customer Advisory Board (CAB) Summit. The event brought together members from our Independent, International, and Enterprise Customer Advisory Boards for two days dedicated to understanding the thousand little things that shape their success and brainstorming ways to continue to superpower their operations.

Founded in the U.S. in 2021, the CAB comprises thought leaders from across the Toast customer network who provide Toast with valuable industry and customer insights, helping guide the future of Toast and the restaurant community.

Toast also welcomed our inaugural Partner Advisory Council to the Summit. This was a unique opportunity for our valued technology integration partners to sit side by side with restaurant leaders, enriching our discussions by sharing their unique perspectives on the many details that impact the industry.   

"We are deeply committed to giving superpowers to the people and businesses that make the hospitality industry so special," shared Aman Narang, Toast Co-Founder and CEO. "Bringing these leaders together from diverse businesses all over the world allows us to listen closely to the realities of running a hospitality organization today, understanding every crucial detail. This ensures that the innovative solutions we build truly address the evolving needs of our customers, helping them be there for their guests and their communities.”

Toast Leaders engage in a Q&A session with Global CAB members. 

Left to Right: Aman Narang, Co-Founder and CEO; Steve Fredette, Co-Founder and President; Kelly Esten, CMO; Pete Sauerborn, COO; Nataki Edwards VP, Customer Experience. 

The Summit was designed as a welcoming space for honest exchange and shared discovery, focusing on the precision needed in our platform. Toast leadership engaged in deep listening sessions, gathering direct feedback on how our platform can better serve restaurants by striving to perfect the little things in our product that make a big difference. 

Attendees openly shared their experiences, challenges, and successes, fostering a supportive and forward-looking environment. This Summit was more than just discussions; it was about listening to one another, creating together, and building a shared vision for the future of our community.

“With the Global CAB, not only do you get an international perspective, but also Enterprise and small businesses with everybody coming together,” said Raheel Gauba, Independent CAB member and Owner at Ma’am Saab in Charleston, SC. “I'm grateful that Toast is here for us and our growth.”

Mark Landes, VP of Technology at Snooze Eatery, which operates 70 locations on Toast in the U.S, saw firsthand how bringing together such a group could benefit all.

“I talked to somebody yesterday who's using Toast and has one location,” said Landes. “They're doing something innovative that we could actually implement in ours. So it's been a good experience collaborating.” 

“Hearing about the common and unique challenges we each face—and the diverse ways we approach them—has been both insightful and inspiring. It has provided me with valuable ideas and perspectives to take back home,” said Marianne Pilloux, Operations Manager at Urban Leisure Group based in London, U.K.

This Global CAB Summit underscores Toast's dedication to customer-centric innovation and deep collaboration. By listening to and working hand-in-hand with these industry leaders, we're excited to drive meaningful improvements—addressing each of the little things with greater precision—and to introduce innovations that will benefit restaurants everywhere. We believe that by strengthening our community and fostering open dialogue, we can all contribute to a more vibrant and successful future for the restaurant industry.

Stay tuned for more updates from our Customer Advisory Boards and Partner Advisory Council as we continue to build the future of hospitality, one little thing and one solution at a time.