Just Drinks presents: The 24th Annual International Beer Strategies Conference 2022

The recent brewer #MeToo movement has brought to light harmful workplace practices. This societal issue deserves industry attention. This session will illustrate how to implement inclusion and diversity policies and lay the groundwork for a strong employee culture and inclusive workplace environment.

• Responding more quickly to changing consumer behaviours and navigating current trends affecting beer consumption
• Understanding consumer demands across generations and nations
• Utilizing consumer attitudes to open new growth opportunities and increase revenue
• Navigating consumer reactions to price increases and inflation

• What more can brewers and supply chains do to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a greener planet?
• Embedding sustainability into innovation and leveraging environmentally friendly initiatives
• Exploring the most feasible solutions for carbon zero brewing, from lowering the water to implementing solar panels
• Adopting a climate-friendly strategy to meet government targets and customer expectations
• Is it possible to make craft brewing entirely sustainable and how do we ensure that we are not greenwashing?  

• Looking at the continued boom in non-alcoholic beer options and experiences including the growth in draft
• Offering expert insight on brewing great-tasting organic non-alcoholic beer and navigating keg hygiene and regulation requirements when brewing
• Examining the future predictions for 0.0% beer, as well as the split between non-alcoholic only brands and the top players expanding their market
• What’s next for product innovation and technology implementation within the low and no alcohol segment?

• Crash course on the 2022 cannabis market and emphasising new form factors and consumer preferences
• Status checks on global legalization including the US, Europe, and improvements to the Canadian model
• Deep Dive on Cannabis Beverages; how has the category matured and what challenges still exist in product development and manufacturing.
• Discussing the future of on-premises cannabis consumption

Chaired by Simon Puckey, Director of Consulting GlobalData

• Exploring innovation in the Trappist from the advanced wheat portfolio, no and low and water purifications
• Highlighting the importance of history and experience in brewing; what can we learn from Trappist brewing?
• Looking to future innovation opportunities for the Trappist brewery

• Presenting a case study of the world’s first functional protein non-alcoholic beer brand
• Leveraging patented technology to make functional nutrition delicious, natural non-alcoholic beer
• Aligning joyful beer characteristics with health-consciousness to cater beer to new target groups and consumption occasions
• Generating added value along the supply chain by adapting beer products based on consumer needs

• Highlighting the important balance between on-trade and off-trade
• Navigating generational drinking and looking to a diverse on-trade product range
• Investigating the impact of brand and consumer attitudes in the on-trade versus the off-trade
• Looking back; how did we survive in the pandemic when one sales channel completely closed?
• Presenting predictions for 2023 and beyond

In this interactive quiz, you’ll get the chance to come together with your peers and exchange all things beer in a fun and engaging format. It’s a chance for attendees to participate, reflect on the day’s sessions, and think about the implications of emerging industry trends through a quiz.

• Overcoming logistical and regulatory hurdles when getting beer around the globe
• Understanding production design for multiple markets and navigating key points for global expansion
• Highlighting the importance of discussing regulatory implications and forming partnerships early in the product design process
• Making accurate claims that engage customers while protecting your brand
• Bringing the technical and legal communities together across the entire portfolio

What can brewers do to ensure a smooth, cost-effective, and long-term supply chain in the face of inflation and rising prices?

This session focuses on relationship retention and building in the aftermath of inflation and the significance of this when it comes to international driving growth in markets.

Chaired by Kevin Baker, Global Beer & Cider Research Manager, GlobalData

• Examining the regions where Hard Seltzers are gaining traction and looking at the potential for expansion
• Where and why are Hard Seltzers not selling well, and how do regulatory ingredient requirements affect this?
• Understanding the significance of telling the story and increasing awareness of Hard Seltzers
• Does the European market grasp the concept yet?
• Is It the next generation of Seltzers that will take off in Europe?

• How can German beer brands distinguish themselves on the global stage? Is it possible to stand out in a crowded marketplace?
• Presenting a case study of a partnership with a vegetable farmer and a brewery to create innovative next level experience craft beer
• How can brewers keep their profits in check while also expanding internationally in the face of rising costs?
• Navigating the distribution and building a sustainable brand experience in foreign markets

• Responding to the increased costs of fundamental ingredients and components
• Examining methods for lowering increased pricing and considering alternative options
• Developing effective techniques to address the ripple effect of the pandemic and recent world events
• Dissecting the future of inflation and communicating this with key customers

• With so many options available to consumers, what can craft brewers do to survive?
• Has the industry evolved into brand designers rather than brewers?
• Is investing in and focusing on equipment the way to go when it comes to scaling up?
• Is focusing on an experience the best way to stand out?
• What role will craft play in mergers and acquisitions in the future?

Join us for a morning of interactive discussion and debate. This is your opportunity to select your area of interest and engage with fellow experts in the area.

Topics for discussion:

• Topic 1 – What is the future of low and no?
• Topic 2 – How can brewers remain resilient in challenging times?
• Topic 3 – How can the industry digitally transform?
• Topic 4 – What other options are there to decrease costs on ingredients?

Topic 5 – How can brewers ensure they are meeting consumer needs?

Chaired by Kevin Baker, Global Beer & Cider Research Manager, GlobalData

• Showcasing best practises for determining your brewery’s image and target customers
• Maintaining a consistent brand across all methods of marketing and focusing on creative and engaging interactions
• Making use of social media accounts to increase consumer engagement and reach a broader customer demographic
• Emphasizing the significance of packaging in the marketing strategy

• Using the shift to digital and direct to consumer in the pandemic to amplify market growth
• Presenting growth strategies from new product launches, partnerships and collaborations to augment consumer bases and enhance market reach
• Looking to brewery software to monitor all aspects of your brewery from beer production to the taproom
• Developing strategies to ensure differentiation and future readability

• Ensuring brand integrity during the narrative process to meet consumer desire for honest communication
• Incorporating a green element into your brewery’s storytelling
• Using marketing strategies to raise customer awareness of beer and help them understand what they’re drinking and where it originates from

• Providing a case study of what it’s like to work in the industry as a woman and the opportunities available
• How can we attract more female employees to our organisations?
• Why do we need to show people what options there are in beer, and what they look like?

Chaired by Simon Puckey, Director of Consulting GlobalData

• Presenting a case study of the Italian business environment
• Exploring Peroni’s new legacy strategy transition from profit to purpose
• Navigating sustainability strategies and highlighting innovative blockchain technology to track this

This case study will present techniques for successfully bringing product innovation to market. Investigating a novel concept generation model and advanced innovation calendar that will allow new products to reach the market in record speed.

Investigating the significance of following industry leaders and displaying a combination business model.

• Reflecting on previous talks and discussions to make predictions on upcoming trends, innovation, and customer behaviours
• Putting in place transformation initiatives to appeal to customers and the current economic climate
• What can the industry do now to prepare for the coming years of uncertainty?