This new Executive Education learning platform features expert-led workshops and discussions on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the global private brand industry.
Designed for manufacturers, retailers, brokers, suppliers and service providers seeking practical insights, strategic thinking, and actionable takeaways, the series explores topics ranging from global trade and consumer trends to branding, sales effectiveness and retail strategy.
Sessions are led by recognized industry experts and thought leaders, providing participants with valuable knowledge and tools they can apply immediately in their organizations.
Executive Education Insight Series — An invitation to register for the series will be sent to trade show exhibitors and visitors only. Registration is mandatory. Your Show badge will be required for admission to any of the concurrent sessions.
First Session (10:00 AM · 60 minutes)
Tariffs and Store Brands: The Latest FMCG Outlook
— Neil Saunders, GlobalData
Session Summary:
This presentation with Neil Saunders of GlobalData examines the impact tariffs are having on the store brand landscape and how retailers and manufacturers are responding. It also explores consumer reactions to the impacts of tariffs and how this is reshaping the store brand experience. An outlook explores how this will evolve over 2027 and beyond and the implications for the industry.
About the Speaker:
Neil Saunders
Managing Director
Retail GlobalData
Neil Saunders is Managing Director of GlobalData’s U.S. retail and consumer division. In his role he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. Neil also works with major retail clients worldwide to help them understand the retail, shopper, and market landscapes – advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies.
Ultra-Processed Foods: What Manufacturers Need to Know
— Kantha Shelke, Corvus Blue
Session Summary:
A federal ultra-processed foods definition is in final review, and retailers are already writing their own. Dr. Kantha Shelke’s presentation will explain how private label manufacturers can navigate these new challenges. This includes a pragmatic read on what qualifications are, where portfolios are exposed, and go-to-market strategies. Shelke will also explore how to reformulate and communicate without forfeiting margin, shelf space, or consumer trust.
About the Speaker:
Kantha Shelke, PhD
Principal, IFT Fellow
Corvus Blue LLC
Kantha Shelke, PhD, IFT Fellow, is Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and Principal of Corvus Blue LLC, a food science consultancy advising C-suite executives on competitive intelligence and product portfolio strategy to lead, rather than follow, industry trends. Kantha serves on the Faculty Advisory Board on Food and Agriculture at McGill University, Montreal, and the Board of Trustees at Sonoran University of Health Sciences, Tempe, Arizona. She is an expert on advancing the understanding of food science, nutrition, food law, food safety, and culinary arts in the marketplace with science and sensibility.
Second Session (11:00 AM · 90 minutes)
The Core Principles of Sales Message Architecture
— Michael Hubble, Oratium
Session Summary:
As good as your solutions and products are, it’s always hard to tell a complex story well. But the way you tell your story matters, and executives are discovering that one of the most powerful levers they can pull is the lever of messaging. Oratium’s Michael Hubble will explore what goes wrong with traditional messaging and unpack the critical principles to build world-class commercial conversations aligned with how the human brain processes information.
About the Speaker:
Michael Hubble
Managing Director
Oratium
Michael Hubble is Managing Director at Oratium, where he has spent the past 20 years creating and presenting best-practice research for senior executives of health systems and corporations. Michael spent 11 years with the Corporate Executive Board (CEB), a leading management consultancy. At CEB, he worked with over 500 clients, including more than half of the Fortune 100, advising executive teams and boards of directors on organizational strategy and marketing strategy.
Building Winning Strategies Within a Retailer's Private Brand Portfolio
— David Mayer, Lippincott
Session Summary:
Private brands enable retailers to distinguish their proposition from alternatives to win share of basket while also providing stronger economics than national brands. In this session, David Mayer will detail what it takes to build a winning Private Brand and offer practical guidance for how to deliver results.
About the Speaker:
David Mayer
Senior Partner
Lippincott
David Mayer is Senior Partner at Lippincott where he leads the Marketing and Customer Strategy team that focuses on delivering growth through insight to clients including retail, wholesale and CPG companies. With more than 25 years of consulting experience, David has designed a number of private label portfolios including strategy, design and innovation and is a regular commentator on media and other topics within publications including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the World Economic Forum.
Click on any presentation title to view session details and speaker biographies.