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…

A Marketing professional with 15 years of experience across the most competitive FMCG and FMCD space across multiple geographies/cultures. Proven track record of delivering long-term sustainable growth with an ideal mix of strong strategic thinking skills coupled with deep cross-functional understanding

An innovation specialist and scientist with a wealth of experience in successful product development across a number of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages categories in Europe and Africa. This is drawn from my work with global corporates and leading brands. I have strong technical expertise in beverage, supported by deep knowledge of consumer insights, strategy and commercial execution. At Britvic, I’m excited to be part of our drive to innovate at scale, grow exciting brands and demonstrate the strategic importance and commercial impact of a courageous and successful R&D Innovation strategy.

Russell is a senior commercial leader with over 20 years’ multi-channel brand-building experience in FMCG and Retail. In his current position as Managing Director of Breakthrough Brands at Britvic PLC, Russell is responsible for leading the company’s new innovation incubator division where he uses his entrepreneurial skillset and big picture thinking style to bring challenger brands to market. This includes leading London Essence from seeded launch to £12m RSV in four years; establishing it as the main challenger to Fever Tree and the fastest growing premium mixer in the UK market. He is now also responsible for the recent addition to Britvic’s portfolio- Plenish. The brand offers great alignment with Britvic’s long-term sustainability strategy Healthier People, Healthier Planet and Russell will help to grow Britvic’s offering in the fast-growing plant-based segment.

In addition to being a strong commercial leader, Russell is also passionate about supporting employee wellbeing, promoting self-care in the workplace and being a mindful leader. In 2019, he led a global Britvic project to reposition and relaunch Britvic’s culture and values and he is currently Chair of Britvic’s B-Seen network which champions employees with diverse abilities and disabilities.

Karlijn is Global Brand Development Manager Heineken® 0.0 responsible for Strategy, Innovation & Comms for the leading Global 0.0 beer brand.

- An MBA from ESB Reutlingen, Germany with a focus on Strategic Marketing, Brand & Innovation Management
- A seasoned professional with more than 10 years of work experience in Strategic Marketing, R&D, Market Research, Project Management, Change Management & Innovation Management within the FMCG industry

Holly leads DV’s search agenda in identifying the next generation of founder-led spirits brands for potential investment, by staying on the pulse with evolving drinking trends and culture. Before DV she worked in food and drink retail, working on a wide range of insight projects for the UK’s leading grocers and FMCGs. Her experience gives her a great understanding of changing consumer trends and unique founder ideas which meet the lifestyles of today’s consumers.

Serial, multi-award winning entrepreneur and founder of a portfolio of businesses in the FMCG / CPG sector, including marketing and advertising, logistics and fulfilment, print and merchandise production. He has recruited and led high-performing executive teams across several businesses from foundation to multi-million dollar annual revenues and award-winning standing in their respective industries.

In 2019, created and founded now the world's largest, most widely available and most valuable non-alcoholic spirits company, Lyre's Spirit Co. Lyre's products have secured no less than 300 international wine and spirits awards in the first three years of availability and the prestigious non-alcoholic producer of the year in the New York Spirits Competition and a 2021 Spirited Award from the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

Mark's background experience is marketing focused and bridges the client / agency divide, bringing a thorough understanding of marketing strategy development and brand commercialisation for the FMCG / CPG industry.

I've spent over 10 years successfully launching 'better for you' and ethical brands within the competitive UK FMCG space. I'm driven by making a positive impact to both people and planet, by giving consumers delicious, sustainable and responsible choices for food and drinks they love

In 2019, Johnny Johnson decided to ditch the booze after getting fed up with the sluggish feeling he got the morning after drinking a few beers. After a couple of weeks of not drinking any alcohol he started to feel great. He was sleeping better, exercising more and his mental and physical health improved. There were no negatives. It was a revelation and one he predicted would take the world by storm. But he missed the taste of his favourite tipple, so set out and explored the world of alcohol-free beers. Not being overly impressed by the options available, he made it his mission to create a new alcohol-free beer, which not only tasted delicious and looked great but was also aligned with his new health goals. 10 months later UNLTD. Beer launched! Low calories, rich in vitamins B6 & B12, low in sugar, vegan friendly and gluten free, UNLTD. truly is 'The Beer with Benefits'.

Dominic has 20 years experience leading Account Management and Delivery teams within many leading insight companies including Nielsen, Mintel, Euromonitor and Which?, and has spent time running his own research and data consultancy.

Dominic has also built up an extensive track record of partnering with global FMCG, Foodservice, Retail & Real Estate clients to provide value-added insight, business intelligence and consultancy, with a particular focus on market and opportunity sizing, competitor analysis, product research and consumer insight.

Luke Boase is the founder of Lucky Saint, the UK’s award-winning 0.5% Superior Unfiltered Lager. The brand launched in October 2018, however the story of creating this exceptional alcohol-free beer started much, much, earlier.

Way back in 1842, in the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic, a revolution happened. Following years of sub-standard beer, a group of residents undertook to brew their own beer. That beer was unlike any beer-style that had been brewed before: golden in colour, crisp, dry and refreshing. Pilsner was born. And it has gone on to influence 80% of the beer we drink today, what we know as lager.

Fast forward to 2016, and the world has a drinking problem. So Luke had a thought: what if all the occasions on which he drank lager, could come with... or without alcohol?

Even in 2016, this was an unlikely idea. While alcohol-free beer was nothing new, it had never gained wide appeal. But against the advice of many, including one particular industry leader who suggested making fizzy sodas would be a better idea, he set out to discover just how hard it would be to brew a great tasting alcohol-free lager. And then build a brand that would empower people to drink it.

He spent the next two years working with six different brewers in three different countries, with this singular mission in mind. Ultimately joining forces with a 400 year old brewery in Bavaria who shared his passion for brewing beer of the highest quality.

Lucky Saint is a 0.5% Superior Unfiltered Lager. It’s brewed in accordance with German Purity Law, Reinheitsgebot, using the four natural ingredients you are supposed to find in a classic pilsner: Bavarian spring water, pilsner malt, Hallertau hops, single use yeast. That’s it, there’s no flavourings, no additives, no adjuncts. It is fermented for two weeks, and cold stored (or ‘lagered’) for a further four weeks, just like that original pilsner in 1842. And then it’s left unfiltered to retain as much flavour and character as possible. They call it heritage brewing for modern drinking.

Lucky Saint launched in October 2018 and has achieved wide success. It is listed leading on-trade accounts including 30 Michelin starred restaurants, some of the best bars in the world and some of the most brilliant local pubs. It is regularly voted the best alcohol-free lager, it was welcomed as the British Beer and Pub Association’s first alcohol free member and is on the journey to be accredited as a B-corporation.

Luke is driven by an entrepreneurial, and sometimes obsessive, curiosity for solving problems. Having worked across a range of industries from advertising, through fund management to oil & gas, solving the world’s drinking problem became that obsession in 2016. He lives in London with his wife and two young daughters.