Conference Agenda

In this special presentation, Jamie will re-introduce the CPGMatters editorial mission and share his unique perspective on industry mega-trends, from the brands's perspective:
* Sorting out promotions - from trade marketing to retail media
* How changing consumer attitudes about wellness are influencing product formulations and assortments
* Why store implementation challenges still persist in the digital era
* The inexorable penetration of AI in everything we do

Five forces are reshaping the shelf and your brand's relationship with the shopper:
• The health and wellness supercycle that is structurally — not trendishly — reorganizing what people eat and drink.
• A wave of label regulations that are already law in key states and coming federally.
• The Make America Healthy Again movement, which has moved from political slogan to actual policy - and conflicting views.
• The GLP-1 revolution that is changing the way Americans eat and live.
• And the food dye reckoning, which turned from a niche activist issue into a front-page crisis for some of the biggest brands in the world.

As retail shelves become increasingly digitized, CPG leaders face a critical challenge: separating meaningful innovation from noise. In this session, Georges F. Mirza introduces ARS², an evaluation framework built on four principles: Accuracy, Repeatability, Scalability, and Speed. The conversation explores how CPG organizations can use ARS² to objectively assess retail technologies, align internal stakeholders, and make smarter investment decisions. Rather than chasing trends or relying on vendor claims, ARS² provides a structured lens to identify solutions that deliver measurable, sustainable impact. The session offers practical guidance for teams looking to move beyond pilots, reduce risk, and scale technologies that truly improve execution at the shelf.