PLMA’s 2018 Roundtable Conference focuses on the big challenges and opportunities facing private label retailers and manufacturers as they compete in a marketplace that is changing more rapidly than ever. This year’s Roundtable will be held 21-22 February in Dublin.

    

Ireland was selected because it has become a microcosm of retailing trends throughout Europe. Both Aldi and Lidl have carved out significant market share for themselves while traditional retailers like Dunnes, Supervalu and Tesco have counterattacked with their own brands to maintain customer loyalty. The programme will also focus on the ever-growing challenge from E-commerce not only in Ireland but across all major European markets.

The Roundtable Conference begins on Wednesday afternoon, 21 February. David Berry, Country Manager, Kantar Worldpanel, will focus on “Retailing and Private Label in Ireland.” This will be followed by a store tour with visits to major retailers in Dublin.

On Thursday 22 February, the session will begin with the presentation “Industry in Transition: What is Happening to Retailing?” by Michael Jary, partner, OC&C Strategy. He will analyse the forces driving retailing and how retailers can cope with the changes.

This will be followed by “Industry in Transition: What is Happening to Private Label Manufacturers?” by Judith Kolenburg, PLMA’s Research Director. She will discuss the findings of an exclusive PLMA study of suppliers.

Next will be a panel discussion focused on “Finding Answers, Finding Solutions.” The panel will be moderated by Edgar Elzerman, Retail Consultant, ECI.

A look at the impact of technology will be examined in a presentation entitled “Meet Alexa and Siri, Voices from your Future,” by Benjamin Gautier, Senior Consultant at Wavestone.

The final presentation looks at “What is New in Product Trends” by David Jago, Director of Innovation & Insight at Mintel.

Host hotel for PLMA’s 2018 Roundtable Conference will be the Intercontinental Dublin. Click below for more information.