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Monday, May 8
| 8:30 AM |
Registration and networking breakfast
Epic 8:30 AM-9:25 AM |
| 9:25 AM |
Co-chairs opening remarks
Epic Hall 9:25 AM-9:30 AM |
| 9:30 AM |
A playbook on how to carve a competitive path (that's not built on convenience or price)
Epic Hall 9:30 AM-10:15 AM In this fascinating research-driven talk, best-selling author and global thought leader Doug Stephens will present a unique brand strategy model that will enable companies to target a path to uncontested dominance in their chosen categories. A new brand positioning lens that will help them to focus their messaging, operations, and customer experience to galvanize powerful market positioning and forge sustainable consumer loyalty. Speaking
Doug Stephens |
| 10:15 AM |
How to win consumers tomorrow? Understand their behaviour today.
Epic Hall 10:15 AM-10:55 AM From the pandemic to inflation to pending recession, the last handful of years have dominated the shopper scene with plenty of reasons to freak out. IMI's Don Mayo will unpack consumer realities and motivations as they pertain to how and why people buy. This will include a lens through North America and Canada – from pre pandemic through 2023, and looks forward into the next 18 months. This session is driven by data from more than 1.5 million consumer interviews since 2020, including fresh insights from 2023, and will also provide a summary of 50-plus brand case studies and guidance on what's working and what to avoid when it comes to driving ROI in 2023/24. Speaking
Don Mayo |
| 10:55 AM |
Networking break
Prologue 10:55 AM-11:10 AM |
| 11:10 AM |
30 mins with a retailer: Sobeys (Epic)
Epic Hall 11:10 AM-11:40 AM Join Sobeys' Geoff Day and Shawn Bloom as they walk through Empire's recent loyalty transformation, with the rollout of Scene+ across its banners. With a focus on how the organization works with partner brands, this session will showcase the plans and programs that leverage Empire's connected ecosystem and create value for both suppliers and consumers. Speaking
Shawn Bloom 
Geoff Day 30 mins with a retailer: Loblaw (breakout)
Novella 11:10 AM-11:40 AM Join Loblaw Media’s Ian Hewetson and Ray Balberman as they share the latest on in-store media opportunities that are launching across Loblaw’s extensive network of stores. This session will explore how these new opportunities will provide brands the opportunity to connect with customers shopping in store. Speaking
Ian Hewetson 
Ray Balberman |
| 11:40 AM |
Travel time
Epic Hall 11:40 AM-11:45 AM |
| 11:45 AM |
Gastronomy meets retail
Epic Hall 11:45 AM-12:15 PM Acid League food scientist Cole Pearsall shares his study of the relationship between food and culture, and how his scientific exploration led to the creation of a wave of experimental products in the condiment and beverage aisles. In this session, Pearsall will share the cultural insights and food trends that spurred the disruptive design of a host of premium vinegars, tonic and wine proxies, as well as how the company is winning at retail in the US, Europe and Canada. Speaking
Cole Pearsall |
| 12:15 PM |
Networking lunch
Prologue 12:15 PM-1:15 PM |
| 1:15 PM |
NeilsenIQ: The changing climate of sustainability
Epic Hall 1:15 PM-1:45 PM The green revolution we've been waiting for has been slow to materialize. But this is about to change. Consumers want "sustainability" to be the new business baseline. Three emerging drivers are creating an outlook of rapid change across the next 5-10 years that will force companies to transform and commit to real sustainable business models. This session, led by Nielsen's Nick Gibson, will also explore the ways consumer sentiment around sustainability is becoming a new foundational baseline in their decision-making and how retailers and brands have a role to play. Speaking
Nick Gibson |
| 1:45 PM |
The forces behind next-level innovation
Epic Hall 1:45 PM-2:45 PM So much change, so little time. Get up to speed on where consumers are going, what they want from brands and how macro/micro trends are playing into the next wave of products and packaging. Join agency and CPG execs at Ethnicity Matters, Kruger Products, Mondelez, P&G and Unilever as they discuss what comes next in R&D. From health trends to changing demos and sustainable packaging, this session will explore what’s bringing about changes in product dev and innovation. Speaking
Stacey Biggar 
Catherine McVitty 
Lisa Reid 
Bobby Sahni |
| 2:45 PM |
Travel time
Epic Hall 2:45 PM-2:50 PM |
| 2:50 PM |
30 mins with a retailer: Walmart (Epic)
Epic Hall 2:50 PM-3:20 PM Dig deep into Walmart Canada's Retail Media strategy and offerings with marketer Sherin Yassin. This session will build on the panel discussion with Walmart's Leanne Gibson on the value of RMNs, with Yassin walking through the various programs and partnerships the retailer has to offer brands in Canada. Speaking
Sherin Yassin Changing demographics. Changing strategies. (breakout)
Novella 2:50 PM-3:20 PM Canadian demographics are changing dramatically, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. There are new opportunities for manufacturers and retailers alike as immigration targets increase, Gen Z transitions into adulthood, and seniors become one of the largest consumer segments in the country. In this breakout session, Rupen Seoni, the Chief Revenue Officer at Environics Analytics, will share real-world examples of how brands and retailers can leverage data to stay ahead of major population shifts and meet the demands of a changing consumer market. Speaking
Rupen Seoni |
| 3:20 PM |
Networking break
Prologue 3:20 PM-3:35 PM |
| 3:35 PM |
What's in it for me? A frank discussion with RMNs on their value
Epic Hall 3:35 PM-4:15 PM CPG companies spend as much as 25% of gross sales on trade spend – more than they spend on digital advertising in general. As a result, advertisers want to know they're getting bang for their buck. Join OMD's Cathy Collier as she moderates a discussion between Retail Media Network (RMN) heavy-hitters Loblaws Media, Walmart Connect on how their offerings are evolving, what they bring to the table, how they're measuring effectiveness, and why media agencies and brands should invest in the channel. Speaking
Alfredo Tan 
Cathy Collier 
Leanne Gibson |
| 4:15 PM |
Store of the Future 2030
Epic Hall 4:15 PM-5:00 PM The world in 2030 will look very different to today and how people shop for their food and goods is changing rapidly. However, stores have not changed in any radical sense over the last 40 years and traditional store operating models are coming under increasing pressure. Retail needs a new model to ensure stores remain relevant. In developing a new framework for the Store of the Future, IGD undertook a global sweep of the major changes taking place in store. These were then segmented to provide a simple model that enables companies to benchmark themselves along the journey towards transformation. This session will outline five key themes that underpin IGD’s Store of the Future model and how best to optimise them to drive growth Speaking
Stewart Samuel |
| 5:00 PM |
Pre Show Cocktail
Prologue 5:00 PM-6:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM |
Shopper Innovation Awards
Epic Hall 6:00 PM-7:30 PM |