The global food and beverage industry is in the midst of some radical changes with the potential to dramatically transform what people eat and drink and the manner in which they do so. Two powerful disruptive forces are increasingly weaving their way through the industry and predominately [undergirding] driving these changes: the rise of digital retailing platforms and evolving consumer preferences and expectations.
Consumers are prioritizing fresh and premium qualities in the foods and beverages they purchase and are seeking out convenience in accessing these items. At the same time, digital platforms for internet retailing have grown in other consumer goods industries and altered purchasing habits and expectations, and the food and beverage industry is starting to catch up. Digital services like food delivery, meal kit subscriptions and click and collect options have proliferated, boosting convenience by offering a slew of new opportunities for consumers to access food and beverages. In an industry long dominated by brick-and-mortar, this rapid digital revolution has presented daunting challenges for manufacturers and retailers alike, along with significant questions about the future landscape of the food and beverage industry.
Digital Food & Beverage 2018, taking place July 16-17 in Chicago, will delve into these changing dynamics and the growing challenges facing the food and beverage industry. Organized by the creators of eTail, which has provided programs aimed at assisting omnichannel retailers across industries, the conference will feature stimulating discussions aimed at providing key takeaways for those confronting these digital upheavals. From manufacturers to retailers to technology providers, the conference will bring together prominent thought leaders from an array of industry stakeholders who are focused on internet retailing and digital marketing, providing an opportunity for those in the food and beverage industry to connect, share insight and strategize about embracing the digital future.
Making the transformation
Learning how to adopt new technologies and strategies for growth in the digital age will be key topics throughout the first day of the conference. Overcoming the challenges inherent in these transitions is vital for success, and thought leaders will provide their insight and expertise on how to transform businesses “from bites to bytes”.
- July 16 | 9:35 AM | A More Perfect Union – How CPGs and Retailers are Sharing More Data and Why That is Good for Everyone
- Data sharing has just begun to gain steam in the F&B industry but even initial efforts are yielding priceless insights when it comes to getting ahead of trends and connecting with the customer.
- Moderator:
- Spencer Millerberg, CEO and Founder, One Click Retail
- Speakers:
- Esmee Williams, VP Consumer/Brand Strategy, Allrecipes.com
- Linda Crowder, Senior Director, Peapod Interactive, Peapod
- Andrew Freeman, Global Director, eCommerce Capability, Kellogg Company
- John Carroll, Vice President – General Manager eCommerce, The Coca Cola Company
- July 16 | 11:35 AM | This Morning, on the Tonight Show: Taking the Leap into New Technologies: How to Build Your Case, Engage Your Leadership, and Manage the Transition
- Shoe-horning legacy systems to the previously unimagined demands of e-commerce is often unwieldy if not downright untenable. Convincing your organization of the value of e-commerce for internal ops and the customer experience can be a challenge even to receptive ears when, in order to get approval to spend you need to provide solid evidence of an unquantifiable concept. Understanding and conveying the value of e-commerce tools to management and staff is the first and ongoing hurdle in the digital transformation for many companies.
- Moderator:
- Chris Perry, Senior Director of eCommerce, Kellogg’s
- Speakers:
- Matt Lichtfuss, Director of E-Commerce and Web Development, Espresso Services Inc.
- Chad Petersen, Senior E-Commerce Director, Lowes Foods, LLC
- Keith Anderson, VP, Strategy & Insights, Profitero
Meeting consumers where they are
As purchasing options like delivery and click-and-collect continue to expand, brick-and-mortars that ignore these opportunities place themselves at risk of being left behind. To address these shifts, day-two of the conference will touch on the logistics of meeting consumers where they are amidst changing expectations about the process of receiving and purchasing food and beverages. Attendees will be able to hear observations and suggestions on utilizing these changing purchasing formats from experts with experience successfully embracing them.
- July 17 | 11:55 AM | Enabling Voice Capabilities to Connect Your Products with Millions of Hands Free Shoppers
- This mix of traditional and emerging companies will weigh in on voice search and voice capability for ordering.
- Speakers:
- Tim Harvey, SVP and General Counsel, Strategic Business Development IoT, Chef’d
- Thomas Parkinson, Co-Founder, CTO & Senior VP of System Development/Management, Peapod
- Omar Haque, Vice President & Head of eCommerce, Acelerada at Grupo Bimbo/Bimbo Bakeries
- July 17 | 3:55 PM | Will Meal Kits Get Swallowed Up by Grocery? The Next Chapter of Dinner in a Box
- Enterprising grocers are working to position themselves in the nexus of convenience that meal kits provide, without the hassle of delivery. In some cases, this extends to partnerships with existing meal kit companies. In others, the grocer is taking on meal kit prep themselves. This group discussion will delve into ongoing developments as the meal kit plot thickens.
- Speakers:
- Sarah Bugeja, Director of Marketing, Acquisition, Chefs Plate
- Sean Butler, SVP, Retail, Chef’d
- Jennifer Beechen, VP Marketing, Green Chef Corp.
Use code DFB18EURO to receive 25% off your registration, and to learn more about Digital Food & Beverage 2018, visit https://bit.ly/2HYaAXh. Discount not applicable for solution providers.