FS TEC 2025: What It Means for Catering Technology.

FS TEC is always a crystal ball for the restaurant industry. Three days of ideas, innovation, and connection that point to where operators are heading next.

This year, our team came back energized. The buzz was everywhere: AI, Loyalty, and Learning Management Systems. And as we listened, it was clear that these aren’t just “restaurant tech trends”; they’re directly shaping catering’s future too. At Monkey, this is music to our ears, because catering isn’t a side project for us. It’s who we are. Our DNA. And our roadmap is already aligned with exactly what operators need next.

Here are our key takeaways, through the lens of catering software:

1. AI Is Crucial — But Needs Purpose

At FS TEC, AI was the star of the show. But the conversations revealed something important: excitement is high, yet many operators still aren’t sure how to apply AI in ways that truly help their teams.

In catering, the opportunities are crystal clear. AI can:

• Predict demand and help kitchens prep smarter.
• Automate scheduling and staffing for large, complex orders.
• Answer phones and manage orders without bottlenecks.
• Personalize marketing and loyalty outreach at scale.

At Monkey, AI isn’t a shiny extra. It’s being woven into the very workflows that power catering, from order management to analytics, so that operators see real impact.

2. Loyalty Is Moving Into Catering

Loyalty programs were another hot topic, and for good reason. The best operators aren’t just rewarding frequent visits; they’re finding ways to build deeper guest relationships that drive repeat business.

For catering, this is massive. Corporate accounts, repeat clients, and event planners are the backbone of catering growth. The ability to surprise-and-delight, recognize loyal catering customers, and connect loyalty to catering transactions creates stickier, more profitable relationships.

Monkey’s end-to-end platform makes this possible by connecting catering operations with CRM and loyalty integrations, so every order becomes a chance to strengthen the bond.

3. Learning Management Systems Unlock Scale

One theme that resonated across sessions: growth stalls without training. For catering, this is doubly true. Catering orders are larger, more complex, and often higher stakes than dine-in or delivery. Consistency is everything.

That’s where LMS tools come in. Operators are realizing they need to train and retrain staff quickly, across multiple locations, without losing standards.

Monkey’s platform pairs perfectly with this shift, streamlining operations so catering teams stay sharp, informed, and ready to deliver flawless experiences every time.

4. Catering Tech Is Now a Competitive Edge

Perhaps the most important realization? Technology purpose-built for catering isn’t optional anymore. It’s the difference between a program that just “gets by” and one that scales profitably.

This is where Monkey stands apart. Our platform was built for catering from day one; not as a feature bolted onto restaurant tech, but as an end-to-end system designed to handle the unique complexity of catering. Paired with our team’s unmatched industry expertise, it gives operators not just software, but a partner who deeply understands their business.

FS TEC 2025 showed us the jungle is moving fast and catering is moving with it. AI, Loyalty, and LMS aren’t just trends; they’re pillars of what’s next.

At Monkey, we’re proud to be on the frontlines, building the most complete catering platform and helping our partners unlock their Mojo every step of the way.

🐒 The Monkey has been released. And we’re just getting started.