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Dairy Innovation Strategies USA 2026

Devising Commercially Successful Strategies for the Dairy Industry

15 - 16

September

2026

Sheraton Grand, Chicago USA
Complimentary

Why attend?
Agenda
Speakers
Event Gallery
Sponsors
Media Center
Download Agenda
Contact Us

Why attend?

Dairy Innovation Strategies is coming to the USA September 2026. Get ready to explore the latest industry insights shaping the U.S dairy market.

What can you expect?

Knowledge Sharing: Keynote presentations, workshops, and panel discussions on various topics such as dairy farming practices, sustainability, technology advancements, and market trends.

Inspirational Speakers: Keynote speeches and presentations by industry leaders will inspire you and offer fresh perspectives on challenges and opportunities in the dairy sector.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry experts, dairy producers, researchers, and suppliers.

Access to New Technologies: The latest innovations and technologies in dairy production, processing, and packaging.

Market Intelligence: With sessions dedicated to consumer trends and the GlobalData team on hand, the experts will give you valuable insights into the global dairy market.

Regulatory Updates: You can discuss relevant policies, regulations, and compliance standards affecting the industry. This provides you with an opportunity to stay updated on changing regulations and ensure their operations meet the necessary requirements.

What to expect?

150+ Attendees to meet each year	25+ Exhibitors to meet each year	20+ Speakers	75% Attendees at Director+ level
150+ Attendees to meet each year	25+ Exhibitors to meet each year
20+ Speakers	75% Attendees at Director+ level

2025 Dairy Europe highlights

Agenda

15 Sep 2026
16 Sep 2026

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8 AM

Registration and Networking

8:50 AM

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Speakers

Mark Dempsey

Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

9 AM

Opening Keynote – Redefining Dairy: Innovation, Trust, and the New Consumer Era

From Legacy to Agility: How heritage dairy brands are evolving into fast-moving innovators
Health, Wellness C Trust: Meeting rising consumer demand for functional, clean-label, and gut friendly products
Data-Driven NPD: Leveraging real-time insights to design products consumers don’t even know they need yet
Purpose Meets Profit: Balancing sustainability goals with business growth in a challenging regulatory landscape

9:30 AM

Smart Packaging: Sustainability and Shelf-Life Redefined

Aseptic Excellence: Maximise product freshness and nutrients without refrigeration using cutting-edge barrier technology
Decarbonising the Pack: Reduce your carbon footprint with high-speed, low-waste filling systems and circular materials
Consumer Connection: Use on-pack digital solutions to provide instant transparency and traceability for every carton

Senior representative, SIG

10 AM

Net-Zero Strategies as a Driver for Innovation in The Dairy Industry

Setting targets to reduce emissions and become net zero by 2050
Emission reduction strategies – the broad range of measures being looked at by industry
Where does product innovation fit in the industry’s net-zero strategies

10:30 AM

Shark Tank

Each company will provide a 1-minute elevator pitch to showcase their innovations.

10:45 AM

Morning Refreshments and Networking

11:15 AM

The Post-Milk Generation: How to Empower the Plant-Based Revolution

Launching of new innovative plant-based dairy products
How plant-based is meeting consumer needs and expectations
Future outlook for plant-based dairy

11:45 AM

PET Perfection: Engineering the Future of Liquid Dairy

Transitioning to 100% rPET bottles to slash carbon footprints while maintaining premium brand aesthetics
Ensuring total product safety and long shelf-life with market-leading dry preform decontamination technology
Optimising high-speed lines with AI-driven diagnostics to reduce energy use and product giveaway

Senior representative, SIDEL

12:15 PM

Lunch and networking

1:15 PM

Panel Discussion: Key Trends in Dairy Enrichment, Fortification, Taste and Ways of Consumption

Functional Boosts: Target "total wellness" by adding immunity and mood-boosting ingredients to standard dairy
Taste vs. Health: Perfect the "guilt-free" experience—maintain premium, creamy textures in high-protein recipes
Convenience First: Win the snacking market with sippable, portable formats for on-the-go lifestyles

Precision Processing: Maximising Yield and Food Safety

Ensuring 100% shelf-stable safety for premium dairy drinks with advanced thermal processing.
Minimising product loss and energy waste using AI-driven flow control and smart filling.
Scaling quickly with modular systems designed for high-protein and plant-dairy hybrids.

Senior representative, JBTC

2:15 PM

GLP 1: Where Are the Opportunities for Dairy Brands?

Protein-First Solutions: Leverage dairy’s high-quality protein to combat muscle loss, a primary concern for GLP-1 users
Gut Health Focus: Introduce fiber-fortified and probiotic-rich dairy to manage common digestive side effects of GLP-1 therapy
Nutrient-Dense Minis: Develop "small-format, high-impact" snacks for those with reduced appetites seeking maximum nutrition in small bites

2:45 PM

AI-Driven Insights: Predictable Success in Dairy Innovation

Solve the "Say-Do" Gap: Use AI models trained on real-world data to predict in-market performance with 80% accuracy, far surpassing traditional testing
Iterative Concept Testing: Rapidly screen and refine up to 30 product ideas or packaging designs with results delivered in under 24 hours
Portfolio Optimisation: Identify the ideal price points, pack sizes, and value propositions that resonate most with specific consumer segments

Senior representative, Cambri

3 PM

Afternoon Refreshments and Networking

3:30 PM

Driving Demand: The Power of Checkoff Innovation

Market Expansion: Access deep consumer insights and R&D to unlock new growth channels for US dairy.
Trust Building: Leverage science-backed storytelling to reinforce dairy’s essential role in modern nutrition.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborative platforms to scale sustainable practices and enhance industry-wide value.

Senior representative, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI)

4 PM

Dairy’s Role in Healthy and Sustainable Diets

Positioning dairy as an essential, "all-in-one" source of bioavailable nutrients for balanced healthy diets.
Driving brand value by showcasing low-carbon farming practices and sustainable sourcing to eco-conscious buyers.
Highlighting dairy’s role in a circular food system, from upcycled feed to biodegradable packaging innovations

4:30 PM

Mineral Fortification: Boosting Value without Compromising Taste

Delivering 40% elemental calcium with Omya Calcipur
Utilising advanced particle engineering to ensure slower sedimentation and easy re-dispersion in dairy and non-dairy beverages
Reduce product carbon footprints by up to 90% compared to precipitated calcium carbonate by using Omya's natural mineral solutions

Senior representative, Omya

4:45 PM

Keynote: Key Consumer Trends and Preferences

Personalised Nutrition: Use dairy as a base for custom health goals, from muscle recovery to better sleep
Affordable Luxury: Position premium dairy as an accessible daily "treat" in a budget-conscious market
Radical Transparency: Win trust through clear labelling on animal welfare, origin, and clean ingredients

5:15 PM

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

Speakers

Mark Dempsey

Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

5:20 PM

Drinks Reception Sponsor: Resilux

Do What’s Right in Packaging - Close the Loop in Milk Bottles

Speakers

Davy Rosseel

Global Key Account Manager, Resilux Group

6:30 PM

End of Day One

8 AM

Registration and Networking

8:50 AM

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Speakers

Mark Dempsey

Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

9 AM

Keynote: Advanced Data Integration Strategy and AI Analysis

Using AI to forecast micro-trends and slash waste through hyper-accurate inventory management
Leveraging consumer data to create precision-targeted dairy products for specific health cohorts
Integrating real-time farm-to-shelf data to guarantee freshness and prove sustainability claims

9:30 AM

Plant-Based Performance: Enhancing Texture and Nutrition

Using potato-based starches and proteins to create perfect creaminess and "melt" in dairy alternatives
Replacing modified starches and additives with natural, functional ingredients for a shorter, friendlier label.
Fortifying high-protein formulations without compromising on taste or stable shelf-life.

Senior representative, Avebe

10 AM

Panel Discussion: Analyzing How Dairy Affects Immune Health

Key dairy ingredients for immune defense
Using fermented dairy and probiotics as the primary drivers of a resilient microbiome
Combining dairy’s high-quality protein with Zinc and Vitamin D for a complete "shield" profile

10:30 AM

Morning Refreshments and Networking

11 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.

RT1: Reserved for SIG

RT2: Reserved for SIDEL

12:20 PM

Lunch and Networking

1:20 PM

Keynote: Key Industry Regulations: Ensuring FDA Compliance

Traceability Deadlines: Finalise FSMA 204 compliance by July 2028; maintain 24-month electronic records for all high-risk dairy
Labeling Modernisation: Adopt new "Healthy" claim definitions by 2028 and distinguish non-cow sources (e.g., goat milk) in allergen statements
Standard Revocations: Review the 18 dairy "Standards of Identity" the FDA is revoking to allow more flexible product formulations

1:50 PM

Turning Dairy Data into Decisions: Quality, Efficiency, and Speed-to-Market

Digitizing QA/QC to reduce waste, rework, and compliance risk
Faster product development through structured data and insights
Real-time visibility across plants, suppliers, and product lines

Best Practice Agricultural Practices and Ensuring Animal Welfare

Shifting from basic compliance to "positive welfare" by measuring animal joy, curiosity, and natural behaviours
Deploying cooling tech and genetic selection for heat resilience to maintain productivity as global temperatures rise
Secure the "social license to operate" through third-party audits and real-time data that prove high care standards to consumers

2:45 PM

Smart Branding: Functional Packaging for Premium Dairy

Eco-Friendly Labels: Drive circularity with "Wash-Off" and ultra-thin technologies that ensure 100% PET bottle recyclability
Tamper-Evident Safety: Guarantee product integrity and consumer trust with integrated, high-speed shrink sleeve security
Interactive Engagement: Use digital watermarking and QR codes to turn packaging into a direct-to-consumer marketing channel

Reserved for CCL Labels

3 PM

Afternoon Refreshments and Networking

3:30 PM

Closing Panel Discussion: Next Steps for The Dairy Industry – Working Together to Advance the Industry

Collaborating on climate goals and nutrition science to strengthen dairy’s global reputation
Aligning on simple, science-backed communication to combat misinformation and plant-based myths
Driving industry-wide growth by pooling data on consumer shifts and emerging tech

4 PM

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

Speakers

Mark Dempsey

Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

4:10 PM

End of Conference

Speakers

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Mark Dempsey

Senior Consulting Director – Global, GlobalData

Mark brings over 20 years experience in the foodservice, retail and FMCG sectors to GlobalData. Mark joined the GlobalData team in 2017 following 5 years living in Canada where he was an insights leader for PepsiCo and strategy consulting leader for the NPD group. In his role at GlobalData, Mark brings bold thought-leadership to global partners across the manufacturer, retailer and distributor segments; always striving to find new ways to create growth by positively influencing shopper behaviour.

Mark brings significant FMCG knowledge and expertise to the conference having led research around the world on topics from shopper segmentation, to category market sizing to innovation planning and the study of global best practices.

Mark will be chairing the conference whilst sharing his views on the changing nature of next generation product offerings, the demands and expectations of today’s consumer, and the innovations and trends that will shape the future…

Session Details:

Chair’s Opening Remarks

2026-09-15, 8:50 AM

Session Details:

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

2026-09-16, 8:50 AM

Session Details:

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

2026-09-15, 5:15 PM

Session Details:

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

2026-09-16, 4:00 PM

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Davy Rosseel

Global Key Account Manager, Resilux Group

Davy Rosseel is Global Key Account Manager at Resilux Group and experienced in business development PET preforms and bottles. With his strong focus in Dairy and Plant Based Drinks Resilux can offer true sustainable packaging solutions for valuable and innovative food and drinks opportunities.

Session Details:

Drinks Reception Sponsor: Resilux

2026-09-15, 5:20 PM

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