12th Spirits Strategies and Innovation Conference 2026

Priming you with the tools and connections for optimising strategies and innovation in the Spirits industry

22

October

2026
  • The Minster Building London
  • Ticketed
  • Why attend?
  • Agenda
  • Speakers
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Event Gallery
  • Sponsors
  • Media Centre
  • Articles
  • Contact Us

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Company Information

Creator of closure solutions, the Group delivers premium, innovative, and sustainable closure systems that protect products, enhance user experience, and strengthen brand value. With 37 production facilities and a presence in over 100 countries, the Group is a global leader in closures for spirits, wines, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, edible oil, and condiments. Through close collaboration with customers and design studios, Guala Closures turns ideas into high-performance, manufacturable solutions. With over 5,000 employees, 7 R&D centres, and 200+ patents, underscoring its commitment to innovation and industry leadership.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.gualaclosures.com

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At Kerry, we’re shaping the future of the food and beverage industry by providing healthier, tastier, and more sustainable solutions for our customers and their consumers. We are constantly seeking to help our partners innovate and grow by finding smarter and better ways to tackle the challenges facing the global food industry. Our work uses the latest science and technology to lower costs and reduce waste while also improving taste and nutrition. For more information, visit www.kerry.com.

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Pitcher, the leading provider of Sales Enablement 2.0 solutions, enables commercial teams to sell more effectively by creating an engaging buying experience for their customers. Pitcher’s Selling Experience Platform slashes time required for preparation, follow-up, and admin tasks by applying AI to the full selling spectrum: pre-call planning, just-in-time training, dynamic pitch decks, digital sales rooms, real-time inventory/pricing/order management, content and data analytics, one-click meeting follow-up, and post-meeting next steps.
Pitcher works with global brands spanning 140 countries across the health & life sciences, consumer packaged goods, financial services, technologies, publishing, and industrial manufacturing.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://pitcher.com

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Company Information

Nactarome Ltd are a leading food manufacturing company developing high-quality natural flavourings and blended seasonings for the sweet, savoury and beverage markets. We specialise in providing authentic tastes and cost-effective solutions with unrivalled technical and NPD expertise. Our industry best lead-times and clean-label solutions mean we are a strong choice for all your ingredient challenges.

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Company Information

Scott Smith is SVP/CMO of ProMach, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative packaging equipment and processing solutions for the Wine and Spirits industry. In addition to its strong portfolio of spirits solutions, ProMach serves the global food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors. With over 6,000 team members, ProMach is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH and is comprised of over 50 divisions, a number of which are headquartered in Europe. Scott began his packaging career with the Coca-Cola Company 30 years ago and has since served in numerous marketing and commercial roles, all supporting the Global consumer packaged goods market.

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Company Information

McCormick & Co is a global leader in flavour with over 6.5$ billion in sales, operating in the consumer & flavour solution segments across 170 countries. The company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavourful products to retail outlets, food & beverage manufacturers and foodservice businesses.

The McGiotti EMEA flavour house, located in Italy, brings tasteful and innovative solutions building on 95 years of expertise in natural flavours, herbs and spices extracts.

Thanks to our strong knowledge of the citrus world, high value-added flavours and mastery in soft drink beverages, we can offer customers different types of flavours, extracts and semi-finished products to meet both regulatory requirements and consumer taste preferences in the various markets in which we operate.

Our global team of flavour research experts continuously uncover emerging trends to help you beat competition with the next big taste creation.
Let’s create the future of flavour together!

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/

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SICPA Product & Brand Protection is a pioneer in authenticated security solutions for brands operating in a world of illegitimate trade. By anticipating our customers’ evolving security needs, we are pushing the limits of product safety while building more secure and reliable supply chains.

Backed by SICPA’s 100 years of experience and advanced operational capabilities, we deliver a comprehensive and customisable strategy with the aim of building a long-term relationship with our clients.

Our customer-centric approach offers a robust shield for end-consumers and helps our clients overcome new market challenges, all while building a safer future for trade and commerce.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.sicpa.com

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Hybrid BrandZ is at the forefront of innovation, delivering tailored solutions for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector and brand managers around the globe. Our flagship offerings include Artflow, a comprehensive artwork management solution designed specifically for brands and CPG companies, and IC3D, an advanced tool that creates virtual 3D packaging mockups at the speed of imagination.

Located in Belgium, Hybrid BrandZ operates as the brands business unit of Hybrid Software, reinforced by a global team of dedicated sales and support professionals. This strategic alignment empowers our clients to optimize workflows, ensure brand consistency, and realize creative excellence across all channels. By leveraging the comprehensive Hybrid Software portfolio and our innovative technology stack, BrandZ is committed to driving continuous innovation and delivering unparalleled results for our customers.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.hybridsoftware.com

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As one of the UK’s leading innovators of paper-based packaging solutions, Cepac is the supplier of choice for many drinks brands when it comes to decorative and transit corrugated packaging. Cepac is also a leading manufacturer of FSDUs and POS solutions, utilising flexo and digital print techniques for stand out graphics in-store.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.cepac.co.uk/

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Company Information

GCA Spirits builds on a strong foundation of expertise in glass production, offering both standard and custom-molded glass products for high-alcohol beverages. Catering to the luxury market, GCA provides flint and extra-flint glass options, known for their perfect transparency and brilliance. With high-quality tooling, superior cast iron molds, and cutting-edge technology, GCA ensures each bottle has a flawless surface. Custom-designed products give brands a unique identity, positioning them as exclusive and distinctive. The combined expertise of GCA’s design and production teams delivers quick and effective results for every project, meeting partners’ goals efficiently.

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RESILUX is a leading provider of innovative packaging solutions, specializing in high-quality PET products. With a commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles, Resilux designs and manufactures a wide range of preforms, bottles and jars that meet the diverse needs of various industries, including food and beverage, personal care, and household products. Its core business was back-integrated with PET recycling activities and has units in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Russia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania and the US.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - http://www.resilux.com/EN/index.html

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Beatson Clark, the UK’s only independently-owned glass manufacturer, offer the complete packaging solution for your spirit bottle.
We design, manufacture and decorate glass packaging for premium and niche drinks brands worldwide.
Our sustainable glass contains on average, 60% recycled materials. In addition, our spray paint is water-based, organic and applied with a low waste technique.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.beatsonclark.co.uk/

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Company Information

FlineBox transforms alcohol testing into a strategic tool for the spirits industry. Through real-time micro-surveys, it delivers actionable consumer insights across bars, clubs, and festivals. At the same time, it promotes responsible drinking, meeting growing ESG expectations. Fully customizable, it also serves as an engaging media platform, amplifying brand visibility at the most impactful moment.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://fline-group.com/en/about-fline/

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Founded in 1935 by İşbank at the directive of Atatürk, the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey, Şişecam is one of the most established industrial enterprises in Turkey with a corporate history spanning more than 85 years. Today, Şişecam ranks among the world’s most prestigious manufacturers thanks to its exceptional expertise and highly competitive operations.

Şişecam was founded to meet Turkey’s need for basic glass products. As one of the most powerful industrial conglomerates in the country today, Şişecam has also transformed into a global player in all key areas of the glass industry, as well as in soda and chromium compounds business lines.

Şişecam has undertaken major efforts to become an international success with its ever-growing production power, highly reputable brand image, superior product quality and value-creating sustainable growth approach. It is currently one of the world’s leading glass producers with production operations located in 14 countries on four continents and some 24,000 employees. Şişecam records sales in over 150 countries around the globe.

In addition, Şişecam is the only global producer operating in all three key areas of the global glass industry: flat glass, glassware and glass packaging. It ranks among the world’s top two producers in glassware, and among the top five global producers in glass packaging and flat glass. Şişecam is also worlds one of top three largest producers of soda and a world leader in chromium chemicals.

Şişecam is a global player in the key areas of the glass industry, such as flat glass, glassware, glass packaging, automotive glasses and glass fiber as well as in soda and chromium compounds. Additionally, Şişecam assumes a pioneering role in mining, energy and recycling business lines. It is taking further steps toward achieving its ambitious goals across the globe.

Combining its deep-rooted experience with a forward-looking vision, Şişecam adds value to all its stakeholders with a people-oriented and environment-friendly approach, in line with its strategies of sustainable growth that creates value.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.sisecam.com.tr/en

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Company Information

At Hillebrand Gori, we manage logistics for the global wine, beer and spirits industry, including the raw materials to craft them. With tailored solutions, we help to preserve quality during storage and transit, handling any quantity via any route. Strategically located worldwide, we’re committed to making logistics easy and sustainable.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.hillebrandgori.com

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    Why attend?

    Trending topics: Join us as we address the exciting innovations and advancements across the spirits industry. Through an in-depth programme aimed to maximise value, explore key topics such as: consumer spending patterns and drinking behaviour, packaging and sustainability, strategizing for long-term trends, innovations in technology, tackling economic challenges, brand identity and more.

    Prominent speakers: Hear first-hand from top brands through panel discussions, presentations, case studies and Q&As.

    High-level Audience: Join a high-level audience of decision makers. Connect with GM, MD, Directors and Heads of: Strategies, Marketing, Brand, Commercial, Product/Category development, R&D and many more.

    Networking opportunities: Meet, connect and network with the people that can transform your brand. Initiate powerful conversations with experts across the industry and discover future potential partnerships that will get your business ahead.

     

    WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2025

    150+

    Attendees

    		20+

    Speakers

    		75%

    Attendees at Director+ Level

    		15+

    Exhibitors
    150+

    Attendees

    		20+

    Speakers
    75%

    Attendees at Director+ Level

    		15+

    Exhibitors

    Testimonials

    Find out what you could be a part of:

    Agenda

    • 22 Oct 2026
    Expand All

    Streams

    Stream one

    Stream A: Innovation

    Stream two

    Stream B: Best Practice

    1:30 PM

    Case Study: Brand Story Launch & Scaling Up

    2 PM

    Revolutionising Spirits Packaging

    2:20 PM

    Case Study: Delivering Sustainability Against Aggressive Climate Targets

    2:50 PM

    Securing the Bottle: Advanced Trust and Authentication Solutions

    3:10 PM

    Retailers Insight: Drivers & Focuses

    8 AM

    Registration and Networking

    8:45 AM

    Breakfast Deep-Dive: The Premiumisation Paradox

    Speakers

    William Blackett
    Director of Consulting, GlobalData

    8:50 AM

    Chairman’s Opening Remarks

    Speakers

    William Blackett
    Director of Consulting, GlobalData

    9 AM

    Opening Keynote: Navigating the New Spirits Landscape

    9:30 AM

    Sealing the Future of Spirits Packaging

    Senior Representative, Guala Closures 

    10 AM

    EU Regulations & Compliance: Navigating ESPR and Smart Packaging

    10:30 AM

    Dragons Den

    10:40 AM

    Morning Refreshments and Networking

    11:10 AM

    Panel Discussion: Key Trends and Developments in the On-Trade

    11:40 AM

    Redefining Premium Spirits Through Bespoke Designs

    Senior Representative, Beatson Clark 

    12 PM

    Improving Your Brand’s Positioning and Market Presence

    12:30 PM

    Lunch and Networking

    1:30 PM

    Integration of premium RTDs into the on-trade as legitimate behind-the-bar tools

    1:30 PM

    Breakout Sessions

    2 PM

    Elevate the Pour: Monetising Cocktails via Bev-Top Media

    2:20 PM

    AI-Driven Personalisation & NPD

    Senior Representative, AI Palette

    2:50 PM

    Translating Brand Identity onto the Shelf

    3:10 PM

    Exploring Trends & Innovation in The Mixer Category

    3:40 PM

    AI-Driven Insights: Closing the Gap in Spirits Innovation

    4:10 PM

    Panel Discussion: Latest Innovations in Low- and No-Alcoholic Spirits

    Senior Representative, Cambri

    5 PM

    The Future of Flavour: Decoding Consumer Cravings

    5:15 PM

    Closing Keynote

    Gen Z & The 0% ABV Revolution: Engineering Mouthfeel and Flavour Science for Sober-Curious Youth

    5:45 PM

    Chairman’s Closing Remarks

    Speakers

    William Blackett
    Director of Consulting, GlobalData

    5:50 PM

    Drinks Reception Sponsored by Beatson Clark

    6:50 PM

    End of Conference

    Speakers

    Select a speaker to learn more

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    William Blackett
    Director of Consulting, GlobalData

    Will Blackett brings over 25 years of Drinks, Retail and Foodservice experience to GlobalData. Prior to joining GlobalData, Will worked clientside at Sainsbury's, McDonald's and Heineken, working in various innovation, brand and commercial roles. Will also has extensive consultancy experience, leading a global vertical at Dunnhumby and heading the Consumer division of Savanta, a full-service insight agency, where he partnered with some of the world's largest drinks companies.

    Session Details:

    Breakfast Deep-Dive: The Premiumisation Paradox

    2026-10-22, 8:45 AM

    Session Details:

    Chairman’s Closing Remarks

    2026-10-22, 5:45 PM

    Session Details:

    Chairman’s Opening Remarks

    2026-10-22, 8:50 AM

    View In Agenda
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    Erika Eklundh
    Founder, Gnista Spirits
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    Joyce de Has
    Co-Founder, Double Dutch Drinks
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    Plan Your Visit

    Venue

    The Minster Building London

    21 Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AG

    We are holding some rooms for event attendees at the Hyatt Place London City East for 2 consecutive nights (21-22 October) at a rate of £210 incl VAT per night, including breakfast. The cutoff date is 21st September 2025. To book your group rate, please click 'book your stay' below

    Book Your Stay

    Sponsors

    Select a sponsor to learn more

    LEAD SPONSOR

    SESSION SPONSORS

    ROUNDTABLE SPONSORS

    SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS

    EXHIBITORS

    NETWORKING SPONSORS

    BADGE & LANYARD SPONSOR

    Articles

    Spirits Industry Trends and Insights

    Explore the challenges and opportunities facing spirits marketeers today in an interview with Mark Dempsey Senior Consulting Director at GlobalData with Dekkers International a global trade marketing agency

    Mark talks about how spirits brands can win with Gen-Z consumers, the importance of embracing sustainability throughout the entire value chain, and the shift towards premiumization and no/low-alcohol options.
    Read Mark’s exclusive interview with Dekkers International here

    A solution for you at GlobalData!
    We offer our clients an advisory consulting service to help them solve their most complex and important challenges. Find out how here! Consumer Consulting Services

    Media Centre

    Just Drinks

    Become A Media Partner

    Check out what our speakers had to say about the conference and industry!

     

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    Enquiry

    Contact Us

    SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

    Ben Gemmell

    Head of Consumer Portfolio

    +(44) 207 661 8841

    SPEAKING ENQUIRIES

    Carlos Fernandes

    Conference Portfolio Manager

    +44 20 4540 7593

    MARKETING ENQUIRIES

    Madelayne Goodall

    Marketing Manager

    Sponsorship Enquiries

    To enquire about sponsorship opportunities for the conference, please contact:

    Ben Gemmell

    Head of Consumer Portfolio


    +(44) 207 661 8841

    Speaker Enquiries

    To enquire about speaking opportunities for the conference, please contact:

    Carlos Fernandes

    Conference Portfolio Manager