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It’s undeniable that restaurants were challenged heavily in 2025, but what does that mean for 2026? Foodservice industry veteran John Inwright discusses the prospects for a new year, what’s working for successful operators, and the headwinds and tailwinds that could define the year.
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More about John Inwright:
John Inwright was recruited to lead the creation and development of Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Cooperative, Inc. (QSCC) in November 2009. John reported directly to Wendy’s QSCC Board of Directors and worked closely with Wendy’s brand leadership and its trading partners, ensuring that QSCC accomplished all member and brand objectives. He accomplished a stellar record of high performance with outstanding documented results.
John has worked in the restaurant and foodservice industry for most of his career, beginning as a 12-year-old fry cook at a New Jersey boardwalk restaurant. His executive experience range — including supply, distribution, logistics, procurement, and operations — gives him powerful insight into every link of restaurant operations and supply chain.
Prior to joining QSCC, John served for almost three years in the supplier and manufacturing community as EVP & General Manager for the Commercial Division of Nice-Pak/PDII, a global expert providing infection control products and prevention methods for the foodservice and healthcare industries.
John previously served as EVP & Chief Procurement Officer of U.S. Foodservice, one of the country’s largest broad-line foodservice distributors. During that time, he restructured the company’s procurement team following a massive investigation of fraud centered in its procurement and finance functions.
Before that, as SVP of Purchasing for Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op, LLC (the supply chain co-op for Yum! Brands and its franchisees), John served the procurement, distribution, and logistics interests of the franchise and corporate restaurants across A&W, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.
John is an exceptionally well-respected thought leader throughout the foodservice industry. His significant strengths include innovation, integrity, relationship-building with franchisees, and supplier/distributor trading partners. Maybe most important, he is recognized by his peers as a breakthrough leader in developing high-performance associates and teams.
John served for 10-year on the Board of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, most recently as Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee. He previously served Chair for the Supply Chain Sub-Committee of the National Council of Chain Restaurants and is a past member of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), and the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA).
John previously served as a board member for the NRA’s Foodservice Purchasing Executive Group. Via invitation, he was a member of two of the world’s leading corporate think-tanks, the Conference Board and the Corporate Executive Board.
Today, John serves as Chairman of the Board for GS1 US. He previously served as Vice Chair and as Chairman of the GS1 US Audit & Finance committee. He has been a member on various boards, including private companies, trade associations, and charitable foundations, since 1993.
Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-inwright-7a46433/
