October 6th

4:10 pm

Registration

4:40 pm - 4:45 pm

Welcome Day Opening Remarks

4:45 pm - 5:45 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT

Panel: Shopfloor Safety – Understanding the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Plant-Level Operations

Welcome Day Panel 1

Welcome Day Panel 1

Welcome Day Panel 1

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Safety in food manufacturing touches nearly every aspect of our businesses. Join our panel of leading manufacturers to hear their report from the shopfloor and how they are developing and advancing their safety procedures and policies.

  • Achieving a single source of truth and increased visibility into everyday operations in order to:
    • Monitor real-time processes
    • Document procedure and policies
    • Use these aids in traceability and accountability
    • Provide actionable reporting and analytics
5:45 pm

Drinks Reception

October 7th

Stream 1 Chair
Stream 2 Chair
7:30 am - 8:15 am

Registration & Breakfast

8:15 am - 8:20 am

Opening Remarks and Important Announcements

8:20 am - 8:30 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

8:30 am - 9:05 am KEYNOTE

Managing Energy Consumption and Costs

Mike Kuntz

SVP of Manufacturing, NUSA

Nestlé

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  • Developing a comprehensive energy management plan by utilizing energy audits so companies have a detailed look at where
    improvements can be made to ultimately reduce costs
  • Investing in replacing older equipment with newer more energy efficient models which can lead to improved product quality and
    reduce downtime
  • Optimizing production processes to reduce energy consumption and costs by adjusting productions schedules, cutting down on
    idle time and more
  • Exploring the use of renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources
9:05 am - 9:40 am KEYNOTE

Fireside Chat: Building an efficient and resilient supply chain, fit for future growth

Second Keynote

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  • Insight from Diageo on maximizing growth while optimizing complex manufacturing operations.
  • Pioneering the future of the spirits industry through supply chain digitization— accelerating productivity with robotics and automation in our distilleries and bottling facilities.
9:45 am - 10:20 am Workshops
Stream One

Leveraging the Cloud to Enhance Food Manufacturing Productivity

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Learn how modern Smart Factory solutions are revolutionizing manufacturing by connecting 4.0 technologies such as cloud computing, IIoT, AI, analytics, machine learning and data lake architecture with your existing systems allowing an evolution to Smart Manufacturing.

Stream Two

Casting a Wide Net: Frontline Transformation at Scale

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Digital transformation only creates impact when it reaches the frontline. Pacific Seafood shares how modernization can move beyond maintenance to drive enterprise-wide change. By empowering teams with clearer workflows, faster responses, and documented best practices, they not only reduced downtime but also built a culture of accountability and continuous improvement that spans plants and shifts.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cut unplanned downtime while improving clarity and consistency of work
  • Build adoption, accountability, and lasting engagement with frontline teams
  • Measure success through both operational performance and cultural impact
  • Scale change across plants, shifts, and roles for sustainable results
10:25 am - 12:05 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50 am: Meeting Slot 1/Networking
  • 10:55 am – 11:15 am: Meeting Slot 2/Networking
  • 11:20 am – 11:40 am: Meeting Slot 3/Networking
  • 11:45 am – 12:05 pm: Meeting Slot 4/Networking
12:10 pm - 12:45 pm Case Studies
Stream One - Value Chain Strategy

Scaling New Heights: Danone’s Transformative Operations Turnaround

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  • Learn how to drive transformation across large-scale operations
  • See how to align operations with evolving business priorities
  • Discover ways to leverage innovation to accelerate change
  • Explore strategies for building resilience and adaptability at scale
  • Understand how to deliver measurable impact through transformation
Stream Two - Shop Floor Enhancements

Transforming Food Manufacturing Toward World-Class Performance

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  • Turnaround approach – Where to start, and what’s critical to drive it
  • The journey – From stability to predictability
  • Building the case and gaining momentum
  • Becoming a competitive advantage for the business
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm THEMED LUNCH DISCUSSIONS

Explore this year’s themed lunch discussions led by industry leaders, where executives engage in focused conversations over a meal, discussing topics they’re passionate about alongside their peers.

Turning Food Waste into Profit. How Circular Economy Strategies Drive Growth

Celeste Rincon

Continuous Improvement Manager

Dessert Holdings

Improving Plant Reliability and Uptimes

Ernest “Lee” Meche Jr.

Director, Plant Reliability

Darling Ingredients, Inc.

Modernizing Food Production at the Speed of Technology – Building a Technology Roadmap Over Vast Terrain

Dan Dietz

Senior Director, Engineering and Technical Services

J.M. Smucker

Manufacturing’s Contributions and ROI from Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

Carter Figueroa

COO

Melinda's Foods LLC

Integrating Risk Management into Quality Management and Automated Systems

Niraj Jha

Sr Dr Logistics & Supply Chain

Niagara Bottling LLC

Discussing Safety Management’s Big Three: Behaviors, Processes, Environments

Jesus Parra

Canada Supply Chain Director

The Hershey Company

1:45 pm - 2:20 pm KEYNOTE

Driving Faster Decisions in a Complex Global Supply Chain

Amy Haigler

Vice President, Americas Supply Chain Operations

McCormick & Company

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  • Streamline cross-functional collaboration to improve supply chain agility and responsiveness
  • Leverage Integrated Business Planning (IBP) to create accountability and reduce decision-making bottlenecks
  • Balance flexibility with discipline to manage a broad, global portfolio of raw materials and finished goods
  • Apply escalation triggers and process rigor to minimize risk and respond to issues before they escalate
2:25 pm - 3:00 pm Workshops
Stream One

From Compliance Burden to Competitive Advantage

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  • Learn how food manufacturers can stay ahead of evolving regulations and customer standards.
  • See how built-in quality assurance and compliance controls support operational excellence.
  • Explore ways to scale compliance across multi-site operations using integrated solutions.
  • Discover how Sage X3 can help food manufacturers balance risk, quality, and cost while scaling across multiple sites.
  • Leave with strategies to align compliance initiatives with long-term business goals.
Stream Two

Unlocking Industrial Autonomy: Strategic Pathways for Food & Beverage Executives

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As a leader in CPG manufacturing or operations, you’re already navigating the complexities of efficiency, scalability, and innovation. This session will offer practical insights and proven strategies to help you move toward autonomous operations with confidence.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • A Strategic Vision for Autonomous Operations: Understand how technologies like AI, digital twins and edge computing are reshaping the future of manufacturing, and what that means for leadership and decision-making.
  • Leading Approaches Shaping the Future: Focus on the innovations that are delivering real value in food and beverage industrial operations.
  • Accelerating Value Through Practical Steps: Learn how to assess readiness, prioritize high-impact use cases, and build a roadmap that aligns with your business goals.
3:05 pm - 4:15 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 3:05 pm – 3:25 pm: Meeting Slot 5/Networking
  • 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm: Meeting Slot 6/Networking
  • 3:55 pm – 4:15 pm: Meeting Slot 7/Networking
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm Case Studies
Focus Group - Exhibition Hall

Panel: Dairy - Navigating the Future of Dairy: Key Challenges Faced by Large Manufacturers in a Changing Landscape

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  • Technological Advancements and Automation
  • Sustainability and Environmental Pressure
  • Regulatory and Policy Pressures
  • Supply Chain Disruptions
4:20 pm - 4:55 pm KEYNOTE

Fireside Chat: Transforming the Palette: Leading Bazooka Candy Brands’ Global Shift to Natural Colors

2nd to last Keynote

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  • Vision for Reformulation. How the initiative aligned with Bazooka’s long-term brand values, consumer expectations, and global trends in transparency and clean labeling
  • Forming the Right Team. Building a cross-functional operating structure—R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, Procurement—resourced with purpose and clarity
  • Defining and Scoping the Challenge. Establishing global portfolio breadth, identifying high-impact SKUs, managing regulatory nuances, and setting timelines and success metrics
  • Strategic Simplification through Partnership. Collaborating early with Commercial, Marketing, and the ELT to prioritize SKUs, rationalize complexity, and ensure alignment from innovation to shelf
  • Governance and Decision-Making Cadence. Creating an agile operating rhythm for decision-making, risk escalation, and real-time learning across functions and regions
  • Managing Change and Maintaining Quality. Ensuring flavor, visual appeal, shelf-life, and consumer experience remained intact through disciplined testing and iterative formulation
  • Early Wins and Learnings. How we leveraged pilot markets, consumer feedback, and external partnerships to accelerate outcomes and gain momentum
  • Looking Ahead: Building a Clean-Label Operating Model. Embedding these reformulation principles into Bazooka’s long-term product development, sourcing, and innovation strategies
4:55 pm - 5:30 pm KEYNOTE

Preparing Our Organizations for Disruption and Instability Ahead

Keynote Day One

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  • Taking lessons learned from past disruptions to be proactive about our ability to respond to sudden changes in the business environment
  • Creating a diversified supply chain network to reduce dependence on single sources and bottlenecks
  • Discussing the importance of regularly assessing and reassessing supplier capabilities, resilience, and contingency plans
  • Investing in predictive analytics to anticipate and proactively address potential disruptions
  • Implementing modular production systems that allow for easy reconfiguration and scalability
5:30 pm - 5:35 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

5:35 pm

Drinks Reception

October 8th

7:30 am - 8:20 am

Registration & Breakfast

7:45 am - 8:20 am breakfast workshops
Stream Two

Blue Yonder Network is a key component of digital transformation at PepsiCo

Breakfast Workshop

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Learn how PepsiCo:

  • Used the Blue Yonder Network in Latin America to achieve visibility and control across its entire supply chain
  • Eliminated disparate systems, reducing manual reconciliation and streamlining operations
  • Implemented real-time collaboration with suppliers, customers and farmers in key markets, enhancing supply chain connectivity and efficiency
  • Transformed into a fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain
8:25 am - 8:35 am

Chair’s Opening Remarks

8:35 am - 9:10 am KEYNOTE

Rethinking the Value-Chain for a Consumer First World

Francisco Camacho Beltrán

CEO

Grupo Lala

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  • As we rethink our supply chains and add regional autonomy into our business strategies, let’s remember good ideas found anywhere can work everywhere. How do we make sure our best practices are applied throughout our organizations?
  • Creating and implementing a scientifically rigorous model to control both short- and long-term planning and execution of work
  • Highlighting the role of people as the catalysts and drivers of change within an organization
  • Standardizing business practices across global operations and encouraging a culture of Continuous Improvement
  • Illustrating process optimization in action and discussing what the next steps will look like
9:10 am - 9:45 am KEYNOTE

Optimizing Food Manufacturing Through Digital Innovation

Venkatesan Santhirahasan

Senior Vice President of Engineering

PepsiCo

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  • Discover strategies to streamline operations, adapt to market shifts, and optimize supply chains in real time
  • Learn how to harness predictive analytics and digital twins to improve quality control and operational performance
  • Uncover innovative solutions that minimize resource consumption, reduce emissions, and enhance profitability
9:50 am - 10:25 am Case Studies
Stream One - Value Chain Strategy

Building Strong Partnerships:  How to Develop and Optimize a Network of Co-Manufacturers for Scalable and Custom Production

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  • Creating Strategic Partnerships: Explore how to identify and collaborate with co-manufacturers to leverage their expertise, resources, and scalability to bring innovative products to market faster
  • Streamlining Production Processes: Discuss methods to optimize the co-manufacturing workflow, ensuring quality control, cost-efficiency, and flexible scaling as new products evolve
  • Enhancing Agility and Innovation: Learn how a co-manufacturing ecosystem fosters flexibility, enabling faster iteration, adaptation to market changes, and the ability to incorporate new technologies in the product development process
Stream Two - Shop Floor Enhancements

Embracing HOP Principles- How to Elevate Organizational Capacity and Accelerate Risk Reduction

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  • Move from a compliance driven approach to one of learning to improve
  • Exploring the critical role of front-line leaders to elevate safety culture to discuss, identify and control critical risks
10:25 am - 11:15 am Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
  • 10:55am – 11:15am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking
11:20 am - 11:55 am Workshops
Stream One

How to Leverage Economic Development for Your Next Capital Project

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Manufacturers planning a new facility or an expansion face complex decisions about costs, sites, and long-term competitiveness. This session will show you how to leverage state, regional, and local economic development resources to reduce risk, unlock incentives, and secure federal funding for your next capital project.

Drawing on real-world examples from Virginia, we’ll explore how sustainability, workforce, and infrastructure programs can accelerate both greenfield investments and in-state expansions. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for engaging EDAs early and maximizing the strategic value of every dollar of capex.

Stream Two

ReliaSim: A Transformational Journey from Quick Wins to a 20-Year Competitive Advantage

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  • Reveal why traditional “subtractive thinking” systematically misdirects improvement investments and how advanced analytics transform existing historian data into validated predictive intelligence
  • Demonstrate the “120-minute paradox” and real-world scenarios showing how ReliaSim enables rapid scenario building (minutes vs. weeks) for confident strategic decisions
  • Address critical strategic questions manufacturing leaders face: throughput optimization strategies, investment trade-offs (dedicated vs. central equipment), and rate/reliability balance decisions that require system-wide modeling
  • Show how ReliaSim predicts ideal and actual production, attaining within 1% accuracy while being “eyes wide open” to the effect of uncertainty.
  • Explore the evolution from quick operational wins to 20-year competitive advantage through manufacturing intelligence that becomes organizational DNA
12:00 pm - 12:35 pm KEYNOTE

Improving Supply Chain Performance Driving Operational Excellence Model & Digitalization Initiatives

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  • Implementing New Operational Models: Lessons from introducing more agile and cost-effective approaches that improved efficiency across the supply chain, even in complex manufacturing environments.

  • Utilizing Digitization Initiatives: Firsthand insights on rolling out digital tools to enable real-time data visibility and support faster, more confident decision-making.

  • Enhancing Sustainability Actions: Practical examples of reducing environmental impact and staying ahead of regulatory expectations, while maintaining operational and financial performance.

12:35 pm - 1:35 pm Interactive Think Tanks
TOPIC ONE

Balancing Global and Local Sourcing Strategies for Maximum Resilience

TOPIC TWO

AI Ethics in Food Manufacturing: What Responsible Implementation Looks Like

TOPIC THREE

Building Consumer Trust Through Transparency and Traceability

TOPIC FOUR

Beyond Transactions: Creating True Partnership Across the Value Chain

TOPIC FIVE

Shaping Workplace Culture to Attract and Retain the Next Generation

TOPIC SIX

Designing Manufacturing Facilities for the Next 30 Years of Change

1:35 pm - 2:10 pm KEYNOTE

Unlocking Transparency: Master Strategies for Building High-Performing Supplier Relationships

2nd to Last Keynote

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  • Develop robust performance monitoring systems to ensure consistent quality, delivery, and compliance from your key suppliers.
  • Leverage strategic alliances with suppliers and industry to create food safe products while reducing product risk.
  • Fostering a non-competitive knowledge sharing platform to build global talent and capabilities.
  • Quality Culture :  What is it and why does it matter?
2:10 pm - 2:45 pm KEYNOTE

Putting Talent at the Centre of Smart Factories

Peter Hagmann

Head of Manufacturing, Engineering & Safety

Nestlé

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  • Empower frontline workers with digital tools and real-time data to enhance decision-making and productivity.

  • Upskill and reskill talent through continuous learning programs aligned with emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and automation.

  • Embed cross-functional collaboration into factory workflows to break silos and accelerate innovation.

  • Prioritize human-centric design in smart factory systems to boost engagement, safety, and job satisfaction.

2:45 pm - 2:50 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

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