Kroger Store Brands VP to Speak at PLMA Conference

Juan De Paoli, Vice President Our Brands at Kroger, arguably the most influential store brand executive in the country, will be the featured speaker at PLMA's 2023 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference, March 22–24, at the Hyatt Grand Cypress, Orlando. 

De Paoli will speak at a breakfast session on Friday, March 24.

“We are pleased to welcome Juan De Paoli to our annual Meeting and Leadership conference,” said PLMA President Peggy Davies. “Juan’s 20-plus years of experience, vision and talent has greatly contributed to consumer engagement with retailers’ own brands.”

De Paoli joined Kroger in 2021 and he is responsible for driving Kroger’s private label vision, strategy, and program development to deliver long-term growth and enhance the company’s brand equity, strategic positioning, revenue, profit, and market value. He also provides leadership to and develops high-performing team members, oversees product development, testing, sourcing, vendor selection and private label marketing programs related to private label products. Prior to Kroger, he served as senior vice president of Private Brands, Ahold Delhaize USA; and spent 12 years at H-E-B in its Own Brand organization.

Additional conference speakers include Kevin Ryan of Malachite Strategy and the Culture Matters newsletter; James E. Dillard III, Executive Vice President and President, Consumer Healthcare Americas, Perrigo; Roger Davidson, an industry veteran and leading consultant in the food retail industry; Tim Pollard, Founder & CEO of Oratium; and Julien LeBlanc, Co-Founder and President, Blueprint North America.

The conference is themed What Does Winning Look Like for Store Brands?, reflecting the expanding role store brands play in U.S. retailing, particularly in the wake of 2022's record-breaking sales.

Kroger exemplifies that role, and De Paoli is responsible for driving the chain's private label vision, strategy and program development to deliver growth and enhance the company’s brand equity, strategic positioning, revenue, profit and market value. Prior to joining Kroger in 2021, he held leadership store brand positions at Ahold Delhaize, Ahold, Topco and HEB.

The annual conference brings together manufacturers, retailers, and many others and focuses on expanding private brand knowledge of the industry in general, as well as for personal and professional development.

To register for the conference please click here or for additional information, contact Carleen Foster at conferences@plma.com