Alex Thomson, Presenter and Chief Correspondent for ITN's/Channel 4 News, UK, moderated all plenaries.
Plenary 1
OUR CHANGING WORLD
Wednesday 3 June (14.30-16.15)
Economic upheaval, environmental fears, unparalleled pressure on businesses, markets
and industries… 2009 sees Europe’s consumer goods sector, like many others, facing
some of the starkest challenges of this or any other generation.
ECR Europe Co-chairman
Dick Boer, Ahold, outlined the essential issues and priorities for ECR Europe in the coming years.
The world economy at a glance:
Will Hutton, Executive Vice Chair of The Work Foundation
and a respected author, columnist on politics
and economics and former editor-in-chief of The Observer newspaper in the UK, considered the
current financial turmoil and its impact on the global economy – and
what we can expect ahead.
Peering through the window:
Rodney Fitch, Chairman and CEO, Fitch Worldwide, presented an overview of current developments in the world of retail, focusing on
several key issues and setting the scene for a more detailed analysis in a breakout
session later in the Forum.
Succeeding in a volatile market:
Doug Baillie, President of Western Europe, Unilever highlighted the main findings of the highly topical GCI report, Succeeding in
a volatile market, and the lessons to be learnt from it.
Plenary 2
SHOPPERS: THEIR DEMANDS, OUR SOLUTIONS
Thursday 4 June (09.00-10.45)
Consumers first:
Philip Clarke, International and IT Director and Member of the
Board, Tesco, examined why and how shoppers are becoming more demanding and
how changes in their lifestyles are affecting us.
Model approach:
Jorge Pont, Assistant to the Chairman and Director of International
Arrairs, El Corte Inglés, revealed how a business model based
on consumer trust, enthusiasm and quality of customer service, and built on mutual
trust and long-term relationships with suppliers, has delivered excellence.
Joint growth:
How a three-year Jointly Agreed Growth business plan is serving shoppers
better in difficult times.
Elzbieta Golebiowska, Offer Management Director, Makro Cash &
Carry Poland, and
Wieslaw Piatek, Head of Key Accounts Department, Nestlé Poland provided
a testimonial on new ways of working together.
Plenary 3
MAKING SUSTAINABILITY WORK
Friday 5 June (11.15-13.00)
The environment, sustainability and us:
Drawing on the views of 150 retailers across the world, a Coca-Cola Retailing Research
Council study considered the real meaning of sustainability and the environment for
retail strategy and operations.
Scott McClelland, President, H-E-B Houston and
Albert Voogd, Executive Vice President Marketing and Merchandising,
Albert Heijn, discussed the impact of zero waste, carbon reduction and sustainable agriculture
on modern retail practice.
Working together:
Albert Voogd and
Nigel Thorgrimsson,
Group Technical & Quality Director, Ardo, showed how a retailer and a frozen foods supplier
have been collaborating
to reduce their CO2 footprint and energy consumption, and
how they
are helping consumers to drive sustainability.
Lesson in sustainability:
With global demand for energy, water, food and other resources forecast to double
by 2050,
Hans van der Loo, Head European Union Liaison, Royal Dutch
Shell, outlined the challenge facing the world and explain how policy, economics,
talent and technology can offer a sustainable way forward.
Closing words:
ECR Europe Manufacturer Co-Chair,
Gianni Ciserani shared his
thoughts on the highlights of the 2009 Forum.