11th Spirits Strategies and Innovation Conference 2025

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

22 - 23

October

2025
  • The Minster Building London
  • Ticketed
  • Why attend?
  • Agenda
  • Speakers
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  • Sponsors
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Featured Speakers

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Oyin Akiniyi​

Global Brand Director, Chivas Brothers

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Christian Visalli​

Spirits Global Managing Director, Familia Torres

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Jack Orr-Ewing​

CEO, Duppy Share

Joined Duppy Share in 2017, having previously worked at Tesco, Harris and Hoole and strategy consultancy for hospitality brands including McDonalds, EAT, Premier Inn and Costa Coffee. Read Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford, and MBA at INSEAD 16J.

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Jack Gething​

UK Southern Sales Manager, MangroveUK

Jack began his career working in Mexico City for Mezcal Amarás (formerly Amores), before moving back to the UK in 2020. He is now running the southern sales team for premium spirits distributor Mangrove Global Ltd, who have a portfolio of 40 independent brands from all over the world that they’ve either seeded or helped grow in the UK market

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James Shillcock​

Global Commercial Director, CleanCo

James Shillcock is the Global Commercial Director of CleanCo, the UK’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand. James has been with CleanCo and the Founding team from day 1 in 2019.

CleanCo develops a range of non-alcoholic spirits covering gin, rum, vodka, tequila and whiskey, and the brand is now listed across all major retailers in the UK, plus Nobu, Claridges, Hakkassan and other world-class operators. The brand recently launched into Walmart in the US and is already the fastest growing non-alc spirits brand in the US.

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Marian Bruce​

Director and Founder, Highland Boundary

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Alex Watson​

Co-Founder & CEO, Renais Spirits

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Paul Thomas​

International Insight Director and Global Head of Shopper Insight, Suntory Global Spirits

Paul is currently Head of Insights for EMEA and Shopper at Beam Suntory, prior to that he was Global Head of Insights for Asahi, and also headed up Insights for Africa at Diageo and looked after Insights in the UK for Ferrero.   Paul has also held pure innovation roles, and has worked across a number of agencies.

Paul’s superpowers in research are around team leadership, cultural understanding and simplification – landing big insights in the simplest way possible to drive business change.

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    Sponsors Include

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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

    Social Links:

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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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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    Company Information

    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 2025
      • 23 Oct 2025
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      8 AM

      Registration and refreshments

      8:50 AM

      Chairman’s opening remarks

      Speakers

      9 AM

      Opening Keynote: Navigating the New Spirits Economy: Challenges and Opportunities in 2025

      • The impact of economics shifts, inflation and cost-of-living adjustments on consumer spending
      • Analysing the global spirits market performance, category growth, and economic influences
      • Emerging trends impacting sales and brand strategies – the rise of premiumisation, sustainability, and experiential drinking

      Speakers

      David Harris
      Alcoholic Beverages Director, Research and Analysis, GlobalData

      CONSUMER INSIGHTS & BEHAVIORAL SHIFTS

      9:30 AM

      Digital Closures in the Spirits Industry: Unlocking New Opportunities for Engagement, Authenticity, and Traceability

      Speakers

      Piero Cavigliasso
      Group Chief R&D Officer, Guala Closures

      9:50 AM

      Interview: The experience economy – Why Consumers today expect more than just a drink

      • Generational shifts: how is the new generation such as Gen Z, Millennials and Boomers redefining spirits preferences
      • What has changed? Understanding what drives purchase decisions today
      • The growing demand for authenticity and mindful consumption – how is it reshaping demand and consumer interaction?

      Speakers

      Kevin Baker
      Head of Global Beer & Cider Research – GlobalData
      Xavier Crane
      Co-Founder, Mixtons

      10:20 AM

      Dragon’s Den

      10:30 AM

      Morning refreshments and networking

      11:10 AM

      Panel Discussion: Health, Wellness & Moderation: The rise of No – and Low-Alcohol Spirits

      • Why mindful drinking is growing – debating cultural shifts and government regulations
      • Innovating for taste and experience – discussing distillation and formulation for no – and low-alcohol spirits
      • Understanding how to position alcohol-free products alongside traditional ones

      Speakers

      James Shillcock
      Global Commercial Director, CleanCo
      Marian Bruce
      Director and Founder, Highland Boundary
      William Blackett
      Director of Consulting, GlobalData
      Imme Ermgassen
      Co-Founder, Botivo Drinks

      BRANDING & PRODUCT POSITIONING IN THE SPIRITS INDUSTRY

      11:40 AM

      Raising the bar on Flavour Complexity through Culinary-Driven Cocktail Creation

       

      • Consumers looks for adventurous & sophisticated taste
      • Mixology can tap into Culinary insights to create appealing cocktails
      • Savoury combinations in beverage can push the boundaries of complex beverages creation

      Speakers

      Antonio Ferrillo
      R&D Director Flavours EMEA, McCormick

      11:55 AM

      Communicating a distinctive brand identity in a competitive market

      • Seeding a premium brand in the on-trade
      • Establishing brand DNA – creating a memorable and authentic identity
      • Navigating a distributor

      Speakers

      Jack Gething
      UK Southern Sales Manager, MangroveUK

      12:25 PM

      Lunch and networking

      1:35 PM

      Case Study: What drives Premiumisation? creating an aspirational brand

      • The growing demand for premium and luxury products – why are consumers willing to pay more for luxury spirits – understanding consumer psychology
      • The role of authenticity, heritage and exclusivity in premiumisation
      • Effective pricing strategies for premium positioning

      Speakers

      Racheal Vaughan Jones
      Chief Marketing Officer, Compass Box

      2:05 PM

      Utilising AI-Powered Technology to Transform Retail Execution

      • Explores how AI-powered sales enablement is transforming how beverage brands engage customers, execute in retail, and drive growth.
      • Addresses top retail execution challenges identified by industry surveys, including lack of unified data, limited insights, and fragmented field tools.
      • Demonstrates how Pitcher’s all-in-one platform unifies content, CRM, order management, and analytics to empower sales reps with actionable insights before, during, and after every meeting.
      • Showcases AI-driven capabilities such as automated presentation creation, next-best-action recommendations, and real-time customer engagement analytics.
      • Emphasizes how Pitcher helps CPG and Bev/Alc leaders reduce prep time, improve execution, and strengthen buyer relationships — leading to measurable sales impact.
      • Underscores the shift toward Sales Enablement 2.0, where automation and intelligence replace manual, disconnected workflows

       

       

      Speakers

      Andy Baillie
      Vice President of Sales, Pitcher

      DIGITAL MARKETING & CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT

      2:25 PM

      How “Creators” are impacting Branding and Product Positioning

      Speakers

      Julie Pender
      Creative Content Manager, Havana Club

      3:05 PM

      Afternoon refreshments and networking

      Speakers

      Melianthe Leeman
      Global Category Director - Wine & Spirits, O-I Europe Sàrl

      3:35 PM

      Streamlining Spirits Productions: Innovations in Bottling and Packaging

      • Advancements in automated bottling lines
      • Smart labelling technologies

       

      Sponsored by ProMach

      Collaborations & Cross-Industry Influences

      4 PM

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      • The power of collaborations between spirits and luxury brands
      • Cross-Industry Partnerships: Spirits Meet Music and Culture
      • Case Study: celebrity endorsements and strategic partnerships – successful cases

      Speakers

      Jack Orr-Ewing
      CEO, Duppy Share
      Alex Watson
      Co-Founder & CEO, Renais Spirits
      Christian Stindt
      Marketing Director, Mast-Jägermeister UK
      Rob Wallis
      Co-Founder, MOTH
      Oyin Akiniyi
      Global Brand Director, Chivas Brothers
      Rowena Curlewis
      Co-Founder and CEO, Denomination

      4:40 PM

      Fireside Chat: Cocktail Culture & On-Premise Strategies: Winning in Bars & Restaurants

      • How bars, mixologists, and on-trade venues drive brand perception
      • Creating signature cocktails and brand-driven experiences
      • Exclusive venue collaborations and sponsorships

      Speakers

      Nidal Ramini
      Advocacy Director, Europe & Emerging International Divisions, Brown-Forman

      5:10 PM

      Chairman’s closing remarks

      6 PM

      Drinks reception

      8 AM

      Registration and networking

      8:50 AM

      Chairman’s opening remarks

      Speakers

      9 AM

      Opening Keynote: How can spirits look to grow in 2025 and beyond

      Speakers

      Paul Thomas
      International Insight Director and Global Head of Shopper Insight, Suntory Global Spirits

      SALES AND DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES IN A DIGITAL WORLD

      9:30 AM

      Sponsorship slot: The e-commerce revolution – how digital retail is transforming spirits sales

      • Navigating the legal landscape of online spirits sales – understanding compliance challenges in global markets
      • Creating a high-converting online storefront – how AI driven personalisation and product recommendations can boost conversions

      10 AM

      The art of reinvention: How legacy & Emerging Spirits brands can thrive in a changing world

      • How can you modernise your brand whilst maintaining your core identity
      • Successfully responding to shifting trends such as premiumisation, sustainability and digital marketing - The power of brand adaptability
      • Consumer Loyalty vs new market penetration – finding the right balance between keeping long time customers engaged while attracting new generations

      Speakers

      Christian Visalli
      Spirits Global Managing Director, Familia Torres

      10:40 AM

      Sponsorship slot: SPOTLIGHT: The future of smart distribution – leveraging AI & Tech to optimise supply chains

      • The rise of AI & Automation in Spirits Distribution – how AI-driven demand forecasting improves inventory management
      • Building a smarter, more efficient distributions network – leveraging automated warehouses and fulfilment centres to reduce costs

      10:55 AM

      Morning refreshments

      11:25 AM

      Speaker hosted roundtables

      • Interactive roundtable sessions offer a unique opportunity to come together with your peers to share best practice and develop solutions to critical challenges facing the industry as a whole. Hosted by industry experts and each focused on a single issue, roundtables are an exciting, interactive way to build your personal network and learn from the experience and expertise of others.Each roundtable session lasts for 40 minutes, and delegates may attend up to 2 roundtables.

      Roundtable 1: Beyond Security - Next-Gen Closures and the Continuous Battle for Brand Protection

      Roundtable 2: AI and Data Driven Marketing: Hype or future of Spirits Branding?

      Roundtable 3: Is it possible to scale without losing authenticity?

      Roundtable 4: Sustainability & Profitability: can they coexist?

       

      12:45 PM

      Lunch and networking

      Product and Category Innovation

      1:45 PM

      The growth of novel spirit categories

      • The evolution of the spirits landscape over time
      • What are the new spirit categories influencing Europe?
      • How has the bartending community incorporated these new trends?
      • What does the future hold for the growth of these categories?

      Speakers

      Raj Batra
      Founder and CEO, Diistil

      2:10 PM

      DioniLife – Topic TBC

      Speakers

      Nik Keane
      CMO and Co-Founder, DioniLife

      2:25 PM

      Beyond Borders: Expanding your spirits brand internationally

      • Identifying key markets for global expansion – how to analyse global trends to determine expansion opportunities
      • Navigating regulations and compliance in different regions – import/export laws, labelling regulations and tax structures in different markets
      • Maintaining brand consistency internationally – how to build a culturally relevant brand for international customers

      Speakers

      Gernot Allnoch
      Founding Partner – Operations Europe, Mezcal San Cosme

      3 PM

      Afternoon refreshments and networking

      Retail and Distribution Strategies

      3:30 PM

      Fireside Chat: Women in Spirits: Leadership, Innovation & Breaking Barriers

      Speakers

      Marian Bruce
      Director and Founder, Highland Boundary
      Kevin Baker
      Head of Global Beer & Cider Research – GlobalData

      3:35 PM

      How to link the information collected in the digital product passport (DPP) with an authentic product?

      With the EU’s push for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the spirits sector is increasingly focused on how DPPs can support sustainability, transparency, and brand protection

      • What a Digital Product Passport is and its relevance to the spirits industry
      • Outlining the risks and counterfeiting challenges associated with digital identities
      • Showcasing how technologies can ensure product authenticity

      Speakers

      Ilham Chahboune
      Business Development Director, Sicpa

      3:50 PM

      A view from the outside, an overview of spirits trends from a consumer facing founder and CEO

      • Recent findings from our consumer survey on taste and trends
      • Category growth through approachability
      • Consumer led messaging & products - Making the products people want

      Speakers

      Will Tapster
      Director, Alkemy Distillery

      4:35 PM

      Chairman’s closing remarks

      Speakers

      Mark Dempsey
      Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

      Speakers

      Select a speaker to learn more

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      James Shillcock
      Global Commercial Director, CleanCo

      James Shillcock is the Global Commercial Director of CleanCo, the UK’s leading independent non-alcoholic spirits brand. James has been with CleanCo and the Founding team from day 1 in 2019.

      CleanCo develops a range of non-alcoholic spirits covering gin, rum, vodka, tequila and whiskey, and the brand is now listed across all major retailers in the UK, plus Nobu, Claridges, Hakkassan and other world-class operators. The brand recently launched into Walmart in the US and is already the fastest growing non-alc spirits brand in the US.

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Health, Wellness & Moderation: The rise of No – and Low-Alcohol Spirits

      2025-10-22, 11:10 AM

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      Nidal Ramini
      Advocacy Director, Europe & Emerging International Divisions, Brown-Forman

      Session Details:

      Fireside Chat: Cocktail Culture & On-Premise Strategies: Winning in Bars & Restaurants

      2025-10-22, 4:40 PM

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      Jack Gething
      UK Southern Sales Manager, MangroveUK

      Jack began his career working in Mexico City for Mezcal Amarás (formerly Amores), before moving back to the UK in 2020. He is now running the southern sales team for premium spirits distributor Mangrove Global Ltd, who have a portfolio of 40 independent brands from all over the world that they’ve either seeded or helped grow in the UK market

      Session Details:

      Communicating a distinctive brand identity in a competitive market

      2025-10-22, 11:55 AM

      View In Agenda
      Next speaker
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      Gernot Allnoch
      Founding Partner – Operations Europe, Mezcal San Cosme

      Session Details:

      Beyond Borders: Expanding your spirits brand internationally

      2025-10-23, 2:25 PM

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      Next speaker
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      Jack Orr-Ewing
      CEO, Duppy Share

      Joined Duppy Share in 2017, having previously worked at Tesco, Harris and Hoole and strategy consultancy for hospitality brands including McDonalds, EAT, Premier Inn and Costa Coffee. Read Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford, and MBA at INSEAD 16J.

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

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      Alex Watson
      Co-Founder & CEO, Renais Spirits

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

      View In Agenda
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      Christian Visalli
      Spirits Global Managing Director, Familia Torres

      Session Details:

      The art of reinvention: How legacy & Emerging Spirits brands can thrive in a changing world

      2025-10-23, 10:00 AM

      View In Agenda
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      Raj Batra
      Founder and CEO, Diistil

      Session Details:

      The growth of novel spirit categories

      2025-10-23, 1:45 PM

      View In Agenda
      Next speaker
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      Marian Bruce
      Director and Founder, Highland Boundary

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Health, Wellness & Moderation: The rise of No – and Low-Alcohol Spirits

      2025-10-22, 11:10 AM

      Session Details:

      Fireside Chat: Women in Spirits: Leadership, Innovation & Breaking Barriers

      2025-10-23, 3:30 PM

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      Will Tapster
      Director, Alkemy Distillery

      William has many years of industry experience, most recently creating award-winning spirits first in Africa and now back in his rural hometown, where he is the co-founder of Alkemy Distillery. Alkemy focuses on food miles and emissions avoidance through innovation, along with promoting UK agriculture and sustainable practices in a way that does not detract from the end product.

      Session Details:

      A view from the outside, an overview of spirits trends from a consumer facing founder and CEO

      2025-10-23, 3:50 PM

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      Damian McKinney
      CEO, DioniLife
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      Christian Stindt
      Marketing Director, Mast-Jägermeister UK

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

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      Antonio Ferrillo
      R&D Director Flavours EMEA, McCormick

      Experienced R&D Director with deep passion for the flavour industry and broad experiences across several multinational companies including Sensient, Kerry and now McCormick Flavour Division. Driven by a dynamic, inspired, entrepreneurial, disruptive, trusting, collaborative, purposeful, excellence-obsessed approach to spark the R&D engine for Business value creation and Company's growth.

      Session Details:

      Raising the bar on Flavour Complexity through Culinary-Driven Cocktail Creation

      2025-10-22, 11:40 AM

      View In Agenda
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      David Harris
      Alcoholic Beverages Director, Research and Analysis, GlobalData

      Session Details:

      Opening Keynote: Navigating the New Spirits Economy: Challenges and Opportunities in 2025

      2025-10-22, 9:00 AM

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      Paul Thomas
      International Insight Director and Global Head of Shopper Insight, Suntory Global Spirits

      Paul is currently Head of Insights for EMEA and Shopper at Beam Suntory, prior to that he was Global Head of Insights for Asahi, and also headed up Insights for Africa at Diageo and looked after Insights in the UK for Ferrero.   Paul has also held pure innovation roles, and has worked across a number of agencies.

      Paul’s superpowers in research are around team leadership, cultural understanding and simplification – landing big insights in the simplest way possible to drive business change.

      Session Details:

      Opening Keynote: How can spirits look to grow in 2025 and beyond

      2025-10-23, 9:00 AM

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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:

      Panel Discussion: Health, Wellness & Moderation: The rise of No – and Low-Alcohol Spirits

      2025-10-22, 11:10 AM

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      Piero Cavigliasso
      Group Chief R&D Officer, Guala Closures

      Session Details:

      Digital Closures in the Spirits Industry: Unlocking New Opportunities for Engagement, Authenticity, and Traceability

      2025-10-22, 9:30 AM

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      Xavier Crane
      Co-Founder, Mixtons

      Xav is the co-founder of Mixtons, one of the UK’s fastest-growing challenger cocktail brands. With a background in brand vision and consumer psychology, he’s focused on redefining how cocktails are experienced, both in retail and at major events. Under his leadership in 5 years, Mixtons has grown to become the largest RTD cocktail presence on the UK festival circuit and is building a community around discovery, flavour, and memorable social experiences

      Session Details:

      Interview: The experience economy – Why Consumers today expect more than just a drink

      2025-10-22, 9:50 AM

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      Imme Ermgassen
      Co-Founder, Botivo Drinks

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Health, Wellness & Moderation: The rise of No – and Low-Alcohol Spirits

      2025-10-22, 11:10 AM

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      Kevin Baker
      Head of Global Beer & Cider Research – GlobalData

      Session Details:

      Interview: The experience economy – Why Consumers today expect more than just a drink

      2025-10-22, 9:50 AM

      Session Details:

      Fireside Chat: Women in Spirits: Leadership, Innovation & Breaking Barriers

      2025-10-23, 3:30 PM

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      Racheal Vaughan Jones
      Chief Marketing Officer, Compass Box

      Racheal is the Chief Marketing Officer at Compass Box. She started her career in drinks at Chivas Brothers over a decade ago, before entering the world of challenger brands, leading the marketing for Lucky Saint, JUBEL and Shandy Shack to name a few. She joined Compass Box in May 2023 and has recently led the launch of their new Core Collection.

      Session Details:

      Case Study: What drives Premiumisation? creating an aspirational brand

      2025-10-22, 1:35 PM

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      Rob Wallis
      Co-Founder, MOTH

      Co-Founder at cocktail RTD Brand MOTH, Rob started MOTH with his best friend and launch into Waitrose in 2021 quickly becoming the UK's leading Premium RTD brand. MOTH has also launched into the US market and is in high growth across multiple states.

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

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      Oyin Akiniyi
      Global Brand Director, Chivas Brothers

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

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      Ilham Chahboune
      Business Development Director, Sicpa

      In February 2015, Ilham Chahboune joined SICPA SA as Sales and Marketing Manager, where she was responsible for marketing materials and product management related to Product and Brand Protection.

      Since then, Ilham has advanced to the role of Business Development Director. In this position, she is responsible of developing and growing business in the Wines & Spirits, Luxury, and Cosmetics segments by introducing SICPA technologies, ranging from physical materials to digital solutions.

      Prior to joining SICPA, Ilham held positions at Philip Morris International, Nestlé, and SC Johnson.

      She holds a degree in International Business from Iona College and New York University (NYU), New York, USA.

      Session Details:

      How to link the information collected in the digital product passport (DPP) with an authentic product?

      2025-10-23, 3:35 PM

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      Andy Baillie
      Vice President of Sales, Pitcher

      Session Details:

      Utilising AI-Powered Technology to Transform Retail Execution

      2025-10-22, 2:05 PM

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      Julie Pender
      Creative Content Manager, Havana Club

      Session Details:

      How “Creators” are impacting Branding and Product Positioning

      2025-10-22, 2:25 PM

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      Rowena Curlewis
      Co-Founder and CEO, Denomination

      Rowena is co-founder and CEO of leading drinks branding specialist Denomination. This female-owned and led agency has offices in Sydney, London, San Francisco and New York. Denomination works across the drinks industry for a broad cross-section of clients from boutiques to multinationals, and across all disciplines of branding design and innovation.

      Now in its 23rd year, Denomination continuously pushes boundaries in a bid to capture consumers’ hearts. The agency is a leader within the drinks design industry in terms of driving sustainability, and has been certified Climate Neutral since 2021. Denomination has been awarded Global Design Agency of the Year a record seven times by Harpers Wine & Spirits, and - amongst the 350+ international awards that the agency has won - includes five coveted DBA Design Effectiveness Awards.

      Rowena has a BA Communication from Charles Sturt University, an GMQ from AGSM UNSW, and is a GAICD. Outside of Denomination, Rowena sits on both profit and not-for-profit boards as a non-executive director.

      Rowena’s insight, passion and knowledge about the drinks industry means she is a regular contributor to drinks, business and design press, and has judged, lectured and chaired panels in design, innovation and drinks branding.

      Session Details:

      Panel Discussion: Power Partnerships – How collaborations and lifestyle branding are shaping the future of spirits?

      2025-10-22, 4:00 PM

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      Nik Keane
      CMO and Co-Founder, DioniLife

      As the CMO and Co Founder of DioniLife, the exclusively non-alcoholic portfolio company founded by spirits industry innovators, Keane is responsible for global marketing initiatives.

      With more than twenty-five years of experience in the adult beverage industry, he has an exceptional track record in international marketing – both turning round and accelerating performance.

      Keane has driven brand sales in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia at different price points and scale at Diageo and then led marketing at the Stoli Group. He has experience leading brands in most categories of spirits and beer including Tanqueray Gin, Captain Morgan Rum, Guinness, Talisker Malt Whisky and Kentucky Owl Bourbon.

      As a marketing leader Nik has built teams and capability programmes for company mission delivery. He thrives on providing front line support for sales by building creatively positioned brands with effective commercial drivers that lead to results

      Session Details:

      DioniLife – Topic TBC

      2025-10-23, 2:10 PM

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      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

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