DAY ONE, MONDAY, JULY 15, 2019: E-commerce, the Land of Opportunity
8:00 am - 9:00 am Continental Breakfast & Registration for All Attendees at the Tech Buffet
9:00 am - 9:10 am Welcome Remarks and Ice Breaker
9:10 am - 9:25 am Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
9:25 am - 9:45 am KEYNOTE | How the Changing Grocery eCommerce Landscape Requires New Retailer / Supplier Partnerships
Brick & Mortar retailing has long seen strong partnerships between retailers and suppliers. Grocery eCommerce can be an exception to this in that products are typically fulfilled from Stores and thus retailers don’t always have a reason to work closely with suppliers. Albertsons is changing this model by partnering closely with suppliers in several ways that is leading to significant growth and customer stickiness.
9:45 am - 10:05 am KEYNOTE | From Osmosis to Chicken Little: How Are You Influencing Your Organization’s Ability to Embrace Change?
Between macro-economic fears, the “that’s for the young folks” mentality, and the tremendous amount of decision making around technology investments, it’s no wonder that many companies have been slow to move or make sweeping changes. When it comes to digital strategy, moving your organization’s needle away from entrenched views has to be done in tandem, or at best, before, moving your sales needle. This session will delve into tactics that have and haven’t worked – and what you can do to be your own force for change at your company.
10:05 am - 10:45 am PANEL | Channel Surfing - Using E-Comm Channels Strategically
This panel will feature speakers from companies at different stages in development weighing in on some of the biggest strategic decisions they are making, and why.
•Maintaining pricing control versus expanding distribution
•E-comm only versus scaling into retail
•Does customer loyalty to a single channel exist anymore?
•Balancing convenience to your customer with price
•Anticipating changes in the market and pivoting accordingly
•Effectively using marketing dollars

Jason Lepes
Co-Founder/Chief Merchant, Head of Marketing & Supply ChainFoodkick by FreshDirect

10:45 am - 11:25 am Morning Refreshments & Networking Break in the F&B Expo Hall
11:25 am - 11:45 am KEYNOTE | Expanding the Magic: Scaling Operational Efficiencies While Keeping People First
Shipt was founded in 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then, the company has grown to offer same-day delivery to more than 250 markets and 80 million households nationwide. Shipt's Executive Vice President of Operations, Alice Francis will highlight Shipt's success with rapid growth while keeping a people-centric mindset.
11:45 am - 12:25 pm PANEL | Started on the Internet, Now I’m On Your Shelf!
Gather round children. A DTC brand that went omni-channel will impart tell the tale of their rise from farmer’s market to franchise, and what marketing and selling lessons they want you know from their hard won experience.
•Partnering advice for retailers that see the trends online and want to bring them in store
12:25 pm - 12:45 pm KEYNOTE | Automating the Retailer Rulebook: How to Optimize Product Content for Multiple Retailers
You’ve gone to great lengths to unify your product content strategy. But how do you manage a centralized strategy when shopper behavior varies from retailer to retailer? Couple that with seasonal search trends and constantly evolving template requirements, and you have a recipe for disaster. Or do you? Join us to learn how having the right tools, search data and ability to scale can help you conquer the retailer rulebook.
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm Lunch for All Attendees
TRACK A
I’VE DONE THIS FOR YEARS
“I’m looking for extra insight and nuggets of inspiration that can separate me from my competitors.”
1:45 pm - 1:55 pm Chairperson’s Afternoon Address
1:55 pm - 2:35 pm PROBLEM SOLVING WORKSHOP | Gimme a Boost! Using Data from Ratings and Reviews to Get Your Product on the First Page of Results
When it comes to optimizing content, there are always new tricks to be learned to keep up with ever-changing search algorithms and consumer assumptions. What can you do today to boost your results?
- Prioritizing your resources when it comes to images and video
- Integrating price tracking and monitoring of third parties into content management
- The prime number of reviews to get you boosted to page one
- Leveraging data to pull out key search terms to boost your organic ranking
- See how many impressions your competitors are getting versus you for specific search terms
Cindy Harling
Director of International & eCommerce SalesStash Tea
2:35 pm - 2:55 pm Tech Tasting + Review - Cheers to eComm! How Mike’s Hard Lemonade Combines Shopper Behaviors & Attitudes to Find Growth in New Channels
Think your category isn’t poised to win online? It’s time to think again – using a digital marketing strategy backed by verified purchase data. In this session, learn how Mike’s Hard Lemonade layered online shopper behavior, consumer surveys, and lookalike audiences to optimize their marketing campaigns--driving growth in an unlikely channel for their category.
Join Megan Putney, Senior Manager of Category Insights at Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Greg Jensen, CPG Account Director, at Numerator to learn how your brand can analyze your target shopper’s online journey and apply those insights to collaborate and create mutual wins with Amazon and other retail partners.
TRACK B
I’M NEW
“What fundamentals and core concepts should I focus on as I start my e-commerce journey?”
1:45 pm - 1:55 pm Chairperson’s Afternoon Address
1:55 pm - 2:35 pm CASE STUDY INTERACTIVE Do You Hear What I Hear? How to Make Sense of What Consumers Say and Do - - and React!
Drinkfinity launched with all the enterprise backing of PepsiCo and the nimbleness of your hippest DTC. Join Rich as he shares his playbook for going from idea to launch to product refinement based on consumer insights – and what advice he has for companies seeking to obtain candid and actionable insights without using one-way mirrors.
2:35 pm - 2:55 pm Tech Tasting + Review | Grocery is Changing: Think Differently Right Now or Risk Falling Behind
In the next four years, 1 in 5 shoppers will be skipping the stores and buying groceries online. The rapid growth in the consumer adoption of curbside pickup and other technologies means marketers must act now and adapt new tactics to win digital shelf space and turn shoppers into loyalist.
During this session, you’ll learn:
- The new set of fundamentals it takes to stay ahead of the curve and be a leader in online grocery
- The critical capabilities required to engage with consumers throughout their online journey
- How to adjust to emerging business models to attract first-time customers and lock in future purchases
TRACK C
TEST KITCHEN
Intimate discussion sessions designed to give attendees the opportunity to give and get feedback from their peers on top of mind topics.
1:45 pm - 2:35 pm Recipes for Success: Help Me Help You: Giving Your B2B Relationship a Tune Up and Five Year Plan
This discussion will delve into the B2B side of Digital F&B, providing a space to discuss ongoing challenges including:
•Helping your distributors better use their portals
•Optimizing digital channels including the provision of a digital shelf
•Developing tech to give your partners to grow their business
•Developing tools for emerging markets
•What is going to be the future for B2B – what is next?
2:55 pm - 3:35 pm PANEL Observe, the F&B Consumer’s Habits As They Migrate From the Store Aisles to the Digital Shelf
Speakers:
Carolyn Brown Head of eCommerce, North America Anheuser-Busch
Randy Browne Director of Analytics & Insights C. Mondavi & Family
Elizabeth Scherle Co-Founder and President Influenster
Chad Petersen Senior E-Commerce Director Lowes Foods, LLC
Andrew Mandzy Senior Client Partner Oracle Data Cloud
Carolyn Brown Head of eCommerce, North America Anheuser-Busch
Randy Browne Director of Analytics & Insights C. Mondavi & Family
Elizabeth Scherle Co-Founder and President Influenster
Chad Petersen Senior E-Commerce Director Lowes Foods, LLC
Andrew Mandzy Senior Client Partner Oracle Data Cloud
As shoppers transition their purchasing from pure in-store to a mix of shopping online, click and collect, and in-store, some interesting behavior has come to light. While assortment stays steady, a desire for more convenience (meal kits), ideation, and aspirational content has made its way into the mix.
•How these burgeoning expectations have impacted go to market strategies
•How has the industry responded to the demand for more finished options, wider variety, more organic, more individualized, personalized selections?
2:55 pm - 3:35 pm PANEL How to Structure Your Team for E-Commerce
Are you working with the same size team but all of a sudden needing to manage way more? This discussion will focus on aligning your internal and external staffing needs in tandem with your e-commerce goals, especially when it comes to vital processes like:
•Architecting the website
•Looking at SEO and paid search
2:55 pm - 3:35 pm Potluck: How the Sausage is Made: Tips and Tricks for Content Management on the Back End
3:35 pm - 4:15 pm Refreshment Break & Networking at the Tech Buffet
4:15 pm - 5:45 pm RECIPE SWAP ROUNDTABLES
Speakers:
Jamie Sullivan Director of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Soylent
Michele Brier Director of Shopper Marketing MilkPEP
Cliff Sharples Founder and Co-Ceo Fexy
Bobby Graziose Strategic Sales Director Corra
Shami Ahuja Sr. Director of Business Agility Nisum
Jack Kampsen Executive Sales Director Label Insight
Ryan Gibson VP, Client Partner Merkle
Sam Chang Director, Global Digital Commerce - Data & Analytics Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Marc Gallman Senior Growth Partner Course5 Intelligence
Jamie Sullivan Director of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Soylent
Michele Brier Director of Shopper Marketing MilkPEP
Cliff Sharples Founder and Co-Ceo Fexy
Bobby Graziose Strategic Sales Director Corra
Shami Ahuja Sr. Director of Business Agility Nisum
Jack Kampsen Executive Sales Director Label Insight
Ryan Gibson VP, Client Partner Merkle
Sam Chang Director, Global Digital Commerce - Data & Analytics Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Marc Gallman Senior Growth Partner Course5 Intelligence
ROUNDTABLE 1 Making Corporate Responsibility Efforts a Foundation of Your Business Strategy led by Jamie Sullivan, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Soylent
ROUNDTABLE 2 Powering Grocery E-Commerce: Connecting Consumers, Brands, Retailers and Recipe Publishers to Answer "What's for Dinner Tonight?"
Michele Brier, Director of Shopper Marketing, MilkPEP
Cliff Sharples, Founder and Co-CEO, Fexy
ROUNDTABLE 3 Leveraging Customer’s Behaviors to Create a Cohesive Brand Experience
Bobby Graziose, Strategic Sales Director, Corra
ROUNDTABLE 4 Total Makeover: Making the Three Key Decisions That Will Drive Scalable Digital Transformation
Shami Ahuja, Sr. Director of Business Agility, Nisum
ROUNDTABLE 5 Fill Out This Long Form for Me? Making Product Attribute Management for E-Commerce Easier and More Efficient Between Partners
Jack Kampsen, Executive Sales Director, Label Insight
ROUNDTABLE 6 Pivots to make NOW to get the most of the 2nd day of Prime Day
Ryan Gibson, VP, Client Partner, Merkle
ROUNDTABLE 7 Developing Your Multi-Channel Strategy for eTail Product Placement, Pricing and Promotions
Sam Chang, Director, Global Digital Commerce - Data & Analytics, Mars Wrigley Confectionery
Marc Gallman, Senior Growth Partner, Course5 Intelligence
5:15 pm - 6:45 pm Welcome Party at the Tech Buffet
The content is over for the day but the networking is shifting into high gear! Bring your revelations from a packed day of learning and your business cards to mingle, enjoy refreshments, and browse the hottest new tech.