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Why Attend?

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

Find out what you could be a part of:

Agenda

  • 22 Oct 2026
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Streams

Stream one

Stream A: Innovation

Stream two

Stream B: Best Practice

1:30 PM

Case Study: Brand Story Launch & Scaling Up

  • Outpacing the crowd with bold new flavours
  • Identifying areas that large competitors are too slow to fill
  • Winning the category by proving our product moves faster than legacy brands

2 PM

Revolutionising Spirits Packaging

  • Engineering eco-designed luxury glass bottles that reduce carbon footprints
  • Reducing weight to significantly lower transport emissions
  • Partnering to increase recycled glass content

2:20 PM

Case Study: Delivering Sustainability Against Aggressive Climate Targets

  • Identifying key areas where sustainability can be achieved
  • Balancing long-term decarbonisation targets with current supply chain, glass manufacturing, and agricultural realities
  • Driving structural change, from low-carbon distillation technology to alternative packaging and circular distribution

2:50 PM

Securing the Bottle: Advanced Trust and Authentication Solutions

  • Defending brand integrity by implementing next-generation forensic and digital security markers
  • Gathering traceability data required by upcoming European mandates
  • Allowing shoppers to verify authenticity and trace origin stories with a quick smartphone scan

3:10 PM

Retailers Insight: Drivers & Focuses

  • Favouring premium, high-turnover brands that resonate with consumers
  • Designing specialised in-store and online spaces for low-and-no alcohol alternatives
  • Simplifying the purchasing experience for mindful drinkers

7:45 AM

Breakfast Deep-Dive: The Premiumisation Paradox

Spirits led the premiumisation wave harder than any other alcohol category, but cracks are showing. Is “trading up” a durable consumer behaviour or a post-pandemic anomaly? 

  • Are spirits brands pricing themselves out of Gen Z's consideration set?
  • Can premium spirit based RTDs expand the category or simply redistribute it (at a lower margin)?

Join this expert-led, peer-to-peer deep-dive session to hear from those in the know. Take back to your business an understanding of what it takes to succeed and lessons learned from those who have been there, done that. 

Delegates must pre-register interest prior to the day of the event.

Speakers

William Blackett
Director of Consulting, GlobalData

8 AM

Registration and Networking

8:50 AM

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Speakers

William Blackett
Director of Consulting, GlobalData

9 AM

Opening Keynote: Navigating the New Spirits Landscape

  • Understanding today's mindful consumer: A look at how changing drinking habits and a focus on wellness are affecting the spirits category
  • Balancing value and premiumisation: Maintaining premium positioning while adapting to tighter consumer budgets and selective spending habits
  • Managing global uncertainty: Adapting supply chains and market strategies to navigate geopolitical shifts and trade challenges

9:30 AM

Sealing the Future of Spirits Packaging

  • Crafting premium, eco-designed closures that reduce environmental footprint without compromising on luxury aesthetics
  • Leveraging smart closure technologies and NFC elements to drive consumer engagement and brand authentication
  • Implementing advanced anti-counterfeiting solutions to secure product integrity and build consumer trust globally

10 AM

EU Regulations & Compliance: Navigating ESPR and Smart Packaging

  • Overarching Framework: Understanding the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
  • The Data Hurdle: Navigating DPP compliance by linking supply chain data to smart packaging
  • Packaging Mandates: Critical updates on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
  • Operational Impact: Integrating serialized QR codes and digital connectivity into primary packaging

10:30 AM

Dragons Den

Each company will have the opportunity to deliver a one-minute pitch.

10:40 AM

Morning Refreshments and Networking

11:10 AM

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

  • Menu maximisation: The power of brand call-outs and placement in venues
  • Navigating headwinds: Pinpointing current operational and financial challenges
  • Unlocking growth: Identifying the biggest emerging opportunities for venue success

11:40 AM

Redefining Premium Spirits Through Bespoke Designs

  • Providing premium tailored and standard spirits bottles
  • Re-engineered, lightweighted bottle designs that reduce raw material consumption
  • Reducing carbon emissions and through closed-loop circularity

Senior Representative, Beatson Clark 

12 PM

Improving Your Brand’s Positioning and Market Presence

  • Identifying key business indicators (KBIs) that contribute to successful brand positioning
  • Plan your go-to markets and expansion of your presence
  • Define target e-market channels you want to address
  • Implementing your strategy and generating revenue growth

12:30 PM

Lunch and Networking

1:30 PM

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

  • Analysing how bartenders are embracing spirits-based RTDs to streamline bar workflows
  • Innovation in ready-to-drink (RTD) canned and bottled cocktails
  • Premiumisation of the pour-and-serve format

1:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

2 PM

Elevate the Pour: Monetising Cocktails via Bev-Top Media

  • Instant Viral Engagement: Turns every cocktail foam into a highly shareable, user-generated social media asset
  • Premium Brand Sponsorships: Unlocks new revenue streams by printing corporate logos and event branding directly onto drinks
  • Elevated Guest Experience: Drives repeat visits and premium price points through personalized, interactive beverage theatre

2:20 PM

AI-Driven Personalisation & NPD

  • Using AI to identify occasions driving consumer preference and loyalty
  • Exploring how major brands use AI and big data to predict flavour trends
  • Accelerating NPD timelines from years to months

Senior Representative, AI Palette

2:50 PM

Translating Brand Identity onto the Shelf

  • Designing highly distinctive bottle profiles and graphic layouts that command immediate consumer attention
  • Communicating heritage narratives and sustainability credentials that connect emotionally with modern drinkers
  • Future-proofing visual identity through digital packaging and smart labels

3:10 PM

Exploring Trends & Innovation in The Mixer Category

  • Exploring innovation in premium non-carbonated mixers
  • Analysing the drivers behind the recent growth in spirit-specific sodas
  • Examining how mixer flavour profiles are advancing past simple sweet or bitter notes

3:40 PM

Afternoon Refreshments and Networking

4:10 PM

AI-Driven Insights: Closing the Gap in Spirits Innovation

  • Leveraging AI to improve accuracy in forecasting consumer purchase behaviour
  • Testing complex flavour profiles and sustainable packaging concepts
  • Optimising pack and shelf design before a product hits the retail shelf

Senior representative, Cambri

4:30 PM

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

  • Analysing recent changes in the global low- and no-alcohol market
  • Evaluating how retailers are responding to low- and no-alcohol spirits
  • Prioritising zero-proof variants of iconic spirits

 

5 PM

The Future of Flavour: Decoding Consumer Cravings

  • Building innovative, on-trend flavour profiles
  • Engineering premium taste experiences
  • Designing customized extracts and label-friendly flavour solutions

5:15 PM

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

  • Identifying what percentage of Gen Z consumers drink alcohol
  • Abstinence rates are rising: How are brands pivoting from simple alcohol replacements to complex, botanical-forward formulations?
  • Analysing dealcoholisation techniques and flavour engineering that mimic the exact mouthfeel, viscosity, and aromatics of traditional full-strength spirits

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, 7:45 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

Sponsors

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SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS

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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

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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

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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


Head of Consumer Portfolio

Ben Gemmell


+(44) 207 661 8841

SPEAKING ENQUIRIES


Conference Portfolio Manager

Carlos Fernandes


+44 20 4540 7593

MARKETING ENQUIRIES


Marketing Manager

Madelayne Goodall