Emerging Trends with Jay Ashton

With a remarkable career in the hospitality sector spanning over 33 years, Jay Ashton is a renowned Brand Activation Manager at Sysco Canada. Known for his exceptional prowess in developing foodservice strategies, innovative marketing tactics, and engaging events, Jay has been integral to the transformation of brands over the past 19 years. Jay is a prominent figure in the Canadian foodservice industry, holding recognitions as one of the 50 Most Successful Personalities Globally and Canada's Top Foodservice Influencer. His podcasts on all channels including Spotify and iTunes which provide key insights into the restaurant industry, are among the top 10% of millions of podcasts worldwide. As the architect behind the Customer Business Resource department at Sysco Canada, Jay has devoted more than a decade to enhancing customer experience and amplifying the company's brand awareness within the industry. His expertise in content creation and digital marketing has played a pivotal role in showcasing Sysco Canada on various online platforms, effectively conveying the company's brand values in an authentic and engaging manner. Jay has also collaborated with hundreds of national and international brands, guiding them on content creation and social media strategies to successfully market their products within the restaurant industry. In 2020, Jay founded Sysco's Media Podcast Network (SVK), a unique platform for a Fortune 100 company like Sysco. SVK streams daily live foodservice and hospitality content on major media platforms, gaining reputation for its authenticity and broad range of topics. As an influential keynote speaker, Jay consistently inspires his audiences. In 2023, he will discuss the incorporation of AI in relation to foodservice trends, providing crucial insights into the future of the industry. Jay's guiding principle is simple yet powerful: "Creativity is genius having fun - Let's just create."