Andy Yang, President of the American Restaurant Development Association; John Lam, Honorary President; and Daniel Chen, Co-President, were invited to attend the 2026 Globalization of Chinese Cuisine Conference.

Recently, the “2026 Globalization of Chinese Cuisine Conference and Chinese Food, Wine & Flavors Festival” was held at the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center in New York City. Andy Yang, President of the American Restaurant Development Association (ARDA); John Lam, Honorary President; and Daniel Chen, Co-President, were invited to attend the event. They joined distinguished guests from the global restaurant, investment, technology, cultural, and industry services sectors to explore new opportunities for the global expansion of Chinese cuisine and the future development of the restaurant industry.

The event brought together many prominent industry leaders, including Dong Zhenxiang, founder of Da Dong Artistic Conception of Chinese Cuisine; Steven C. Rockefeller III, Managing Partner of Rose Rock Group; Wu Li, Resident Vice President of the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry; Huang Geng, Honorary President of the World Chinese Restaurant Entrepreneurs Club and founder of Huang Ji Huang Three-Sauce Simmer Pot; Liu Hongtao, co-founder of Mahua FunAge and renowned film producer; Lee Yuen Hong, Chairman of Tsui Wah Group; Jack Yao, founder of Canada-based Big Way; Jiang Tianfan, founder of Zhichi Foods and Chief Culinary Geography and Regional Food Advisor at Xiaohongshu; Hu Lingxi, initiator of the TOA North American Asian Restaurant Industry Platform, Executive Chairman of NAAFIA, and Founding Partner of Yisheng Capital; Claus Pedersen, Managing Director of Convotherm; Xi Aining, Vice President of Welbilt China and North Asia; and Liu Zexuan, a key initiator of the event and founder and Chairman of Xiaomai Group.

During the event, President Andy Yang, Honorary President John Lam, and Co-President Daniel Chen engaged in in-depth discussions with entrepreneurs and industry representatives. Drawing on their extensive experience in the restaurant industry, participants exchanged views on the globalization of Chinese restaurant brands, development opportunities in the U.S. market, brand standardization and chain expansion, supply chain development, the application of AI and intelligent technologies, and the integration of capital and industry resources.

The discussions placed particular emphasis on how outstanding restaurant brands and proven business models can be effectively adapted to the U.S. market. Participants also explored the new opportunities that artificial intelligence, digital management systems, and smart equipment can create for restaurant businesses in operational efficiency, cost control, marketing, and multi-location management. Many guests shared insights into their respective industry resources, professional expertise, and future development plans while exploring possibilities for further collaboration.

For the American Restaurant Development Association, the event was more than an industry gathering—it also provided an important opportunity to build deeper connections with leading restaurant entrepreneurs, brand founders, technology companies, and industry partners. Andy Yang, John Lam, and Daniel Chen held further discussions with a number of guests, expressing their hope that continued engagement would help transform industry dialogue into meaningful and practical cooperation.

As Chinese cuisine continues to expand globally, competition is no longer limited to products and individual restaurant locations. It increasingly depends on a company’s combined strengths in branding, standardization, supply chain management, technology, capital, and localized operations. The American Restaurant Development Association will continue connecting outstanding industry partners, exploring new opportunities for the restaurant industry in the United States and global markets, and helping strong brands, valuable resources, and promising projects connect, collaborate, and achieve tangible results.