Association Introduction

The American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA) was officially established in New York in August 2026. Co-founded by Yang Hui, John Lam, Tony Wang, Daniel Chen, Zheng Xu, Yang Yingqin, Eddie Zheng, Ryan Zhu, Chen Kezhu, and other entrepreneurs, brand founders, and industry leaders with extensive experience in the North American restaurant industry, ARDA is a comprehensive industry development platform rooted in North America and connected to the global market.

Andy Yang serves as the Association’s inaugural President, John Lam as Honorary President, and Tony Wang as Chief Advisor. Its members include entrepreneurs and professionals from restaurant brands, franchise and chain operations, food supply chains, technological innovation, capital investment, and professional services.

Guided by its mission to “Unite the Industry, Serve Businesses, Connect the Value Chain, Innovate for the Future, Cultivate Talent, Empower Growth through Capital, Promote Brands, and Advance Cultural Exchange,” the Association is committed to integrating industry resources and connecting businesses, brands, supply chains, capital, technology, and talent. Its goal is to build a comprehensive industry service ecosystem based on resource sharing, complementary strengths, and collaborative development.

Looking ahead, the Association will focus on key areas including brand standardization, scalable chain development, supply chain integration, digital operations, capital-driven growth, professional talent development, and global brand expansion. It will promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence, smart equipment, the health and wellness sector, and innovative business models with restaurant operations, helping businesses reduce costs, improve efficiency, overcome growth barriers, and strengthen their core competitiveness.

The Association will also actively foster collaboration with government agencies, communities, business organizations, capital markets, and international industry partners. It aims to help outstanding restaurant businesses enter the mainstream U.S. commercial market and support brands in progressing from single-location operations to chain-based, scalable, and international growth—further enhancing the industry standing, social influence, and global competitiveness of Chinese-owned restaurant businesses in North America.

The American Restaurant Development Association will uphold the principles of collaboration, shared opportunity, and mutual success. By strengthening its foundation through industry standards, driving advancement through innovation, and building collective strength through cooperation, the Association will work alongside industry partners to create a more open, efficient, innovative, and sustainable restaurant industry ecosystem in North America.