Biography

Francis Loughran is a global leader in food and hospitality business strategy, advising owners, developers and property managers on how to maximise the growing opportunity from food and hospitality. He travels globally with his work, enabling him to remain at the forefront of emerging and evolving food and hospitality concepts.

Francis’ obsession with what’s new in food and his ability to decipher a cultural change that’s here to stay or a passing fad, has future proofed his clients’ developments time and time again. Since 2012, Francis has been a contributing food editor to the Australian Shopping Centre News. He is also contributing editor to the Middle Eastern Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) and a tutor for their Retail Learning Program. He’s a popular and energetic presenter and keynote speaker, inspiring audiences from Arizona to Adelaide with his insatiable passion for the business of food best practice and then pushing the envelope even further. A customer-centric approach coupled with a profit-driven philosophy is at the core of the diverse industry sectors he works with.

Francis instinctively knows that gathering over a meal is one of the most ancient forms of building community. In our modern world of technology, now more than ever, food plays an essential role as the social glue in any development. But so too does the ability to adapt to what today’s customer needs from the Business of Food – to order their food and have it delivered to a nominated destination; always maintaining an authentic relationship between creator and customer.

His disciplined approach to each customised food strategy places the customer at the centre of the decision-making process. As a result, customer experience and in turn customer spending is optimised and commercial value is maximised.

Some of his signature projects include Westfield Newmarket (Auckland), Westfield Sydney, Westfield Bondi Junction, Suria KLCC, The Dubai Mall, The Galleria Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Brisbane, Adelaide and Oman airports, The Emporium Melbourne, Chadstone, Starfield Cheongna South Korea, The Melbourne Arts Precinct, BHP Catering Strategy, Zoos Victoria, Harbord Diggers Club (Freshwater) and Stadium Australia, and Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town.