Just Drinks presents: Low & No 2022
DAY 1|27th April 2022
8:50 am Chair’s opening remarks
Olly Wehring
Editor
Just Drinks
9:00 am The free-from and alternative movement: what can the no/low space learn from the leading consumer disruptors?
- Looking beyond the drinks industry at what drives a successful brand and category growth
- Vegan food, dairy alternatives, and electric cars – what can the low/no drinks category learn from other alternative movements in consumer spending?
- The bigger picture – projecting what the future will look like for the non-alcoholic beverage market
- No versus low – delving into the drive for alcohol-free drinks and why the low category is lagging behind
Ben Branson
Founder
Seedlip
9:30 am The importance of great tasting sugar reduction
- What is the research on consumer preferences and sugar?
- A holistic approach to sugar reduction in beverage development
- Innovation Studio – discover ingredients and recipes for low and no alcoholic cocktails using natural sweetener
Michael Halvorsen
Senior Director, Business Development EMEA
Sweegen
10:00 am Reinventing wellness: how can we deliver modern wellness?
- Discover innovation in the no alcohol market and regional trends
- The rise of the sober social – looking at consumer behavior and the appetite for alcohol moderation and sober socialising
- Modern wellness – how can we empower the consumer to incorporate wellness into their social drinking experience?
- Putting pleasure at the heart of innovation – crafting products that both satisfy and deliver health benefits such as sugar reduction
Ioana Tanasa
Head of Marketing & Innovation, Non Alcoholic Beverages (Global)
AB InBev
10:30 am Networking Break
10:40 am FIRESIDE CHAT Beyond substitutes: crafting a new generation of non-alcoholic wine products
- Putting the spotlight on alcohol-free wine as the next big disruptor in the low and no space
- Taking non-alcoholic wine to the next level – looking at how innovation in the sector will take the category beyond being viewed as an alcohol substitute
- Lagging behind – why has it taken so long for the low/no wine market to take off?
- Market trends – making the distinction between de-alcoholised imitation wines and innovative products emerging on the scene
Murray Paterson
Founder
Muri Drinks
Michael Sager
Director of Wine Bars and Wine Entrepreneur
Sager + Wilde Paradise Row and Sager + Wilde Hackney Road
11:10 am Growth Strategy 101: consolidating non-alcoholic beers in different markets
- What are the global trends for the non-alcoholic beer category in 2022?
- Product strategy – why a strategic beverage offering can be more effective than broad portfolio approach
- Sustainable international growth – sharing advice for branching beyond the UK into unfamiliar regions such as Canada, the US, and Australia
- Retailers versus eCommerce – delving into the logic behind where to sell and market non-alcoholic beers
Rob Fink
Founder
Big Drop Brewing
11:40 am Expanding your product overseas: secrets to make it as a global brand
- Cultural drinking – sharing some key insight into the cultural drinking habits and social norms across the world
- Data analytics – using customer data to gain insight into consumer behaviour and product demand to pinpoint which regions to target
- From P&L to retail models: local rules you need to consider before embarking on going international
- Global product formula – does your product stability and shelf-life cut it to survive long-haul distribution?
Mark Livings
Creator and Co-Founder
Lyre's
12:10 pm Sustainable Packaging: thriving as a beverage brand in the circular economy
- Sustainability as a brand necessity – how beverage companies can meet 100% sustainable packaging goals though returnable packaging models and recycling
- Exploring innovative packaging derived from recycled materials as well new technologies to reduce waste
- Case study: sharing key regional initiatives to build a robust packaging supply chain and promote a circular economy
- Corporate partnerships – how teaming up with fellow drinks giants can help beverage brands meet their sustainability goals and reduce waste
Aline Casagrande
Circular Packaging Global Director
AB-Inbev
12:40 pm The Shroom Boom: Why mushrooms are having a moment in consumer products
- Functional fungi: Shining a light on the adaptogenic properties of mushrooms and their role in the low/no space
- From mushroom mocktails to packaging: pioneering the mushroom as a key ingredient in food, beverages, and even biodegradable packaging
- Product innovation: highlighting the rapid growth of mushroom beverages including zero-alcohol mushroom beer
Zoey Henderson
Founder
Fungtn
1:10 pm Lunch & Networking Break
1:30 pm PANEL DISCUSSION Low vs No vs Soft: defining your brand by consumer lifestyle or categorisation?
- Blurred lines – how is categorization of the low-no-alcohol and soft drink segments defined in the eyes of the consumer?
- Discussing the latest trends and innovation in alcohol free, low alcohol, and reduced alcoholic beverages on the market
- A new player on the scene – are spiked soft drinks a welcome extension to low/no or should there remain some segmentation from a branding perspective?
- Alcohol substitute or standalone drink? How the purpose of your drink should shape your brand image
Olly Wehring
Editor
Just Drinks
Katy Lee
CEO & Founder
Sunday's Hard Seltzer
Rob Fink
Founder
Big Drop Brewing
2:00 pm Research & analysis: consumer trends and market drivers fuelling low & non-alcoholic beer demand
- Where is the low & non-alcoholic beverages market compared to the beer and cider category?
- Offering insight from research and analysis into the Low & No category and what the future holds for the market
- Influencing factors– looking at key market drivers behind the rise in demand for low & non-alcoholic drinks options from consumers
Simon Puckey
Director of Consulting - Consumer
GlobalData
2:30 pm CASE STUDY Functional drinking: Mood-enhancing and sensory experiences for every occasion
- Mood-enhancing drinks – how innovative non-alcoholic beverages can fit into every part of the consumer’s lifestyle
- Drinks for all occasions – highlighting how Soulboost Lift and Ease sparkling waters can support mental function and help them to unwind, respectively
- From L-theanine and Panax ginseng – discover the latest ingredients that offer sensory and wellness benefits for consumers
- Function beyond flavour – how dedicated beverages such as Driftwell help aid relaxation and offer consumers more choice in functional drinking
Jenny Danzi
Senior Director
New Platforms, PepsiCo
3:00 pm Networking Break
3:10 pm PANEL DISCUSSION Recreating spice and flavour: Nailing low and non-alcoholic spirits
- Unpacking the low/no category breaking through the market: zero and low-alcohol spirits
- Popular demand –why gins, whiskeys, and rums are some of the most highly requested non-alcoholic beverages right now
- Innovation in dark spirits – which products are brewing up a storm for the category?
- Shedding light on how to hit the key flavour profile and achieve the burn-like sensation for a realistic alcohol substitute that delivers impact
- Sophisticated drinking – what occasions do consumers want zero-alcohol spirits?
Olly Wehring
Editor
Just Drinks
Craig Hutchison
Founder and CEO
Mindful Brands
Morten Sørensen
Founder and CEO
GinISH
Ellie Webb
Founder
Caleño
Erika Ollén
Founder
Gnista Spirits
3:40 pm All bliss, no booze: Braincare takes over the bar + the alc-free celebrities accelerating their ascent
- Case study: putting the spotlight on celebrity-backed non-alcoholic brands making waves in the sector with a focus on self-care and wellness
- Why high-profile personalities and everyday consumers alike are skipping alcohol and fueling the ‘flexi-drinking’ phenomenon
- Braincare at the bar – exploring mental health as a motivator for alcohol moderation and how social norms are changing in revelry
- From nootropics to botanicals: unlocking the power of brain-boosting and mind-mellowing ingredients in beverages
Jen Batchelor
Co-Founder & CEO
Kin Euphorics
4:10 pm Masters of malt: brewing organic, non-alcoholic beer to serve a premium on-trade market
- Offering expert insight into how to brew an unpasteurized, organic non-alcoholic beer product with alternative yeast
- Unlocking possibilities – explaining how it’s possible for a small brewery to release new products very quickly
- Quality/stability – how to achieve stability and quality in the bottle with sterile filtration?
- On trade luxury – why local restaurant and bars expect premium products with the best quality standards
Jacob Bille Carlsen
Head Brewer
Bryghuset Møn
5:10 pm Chair’s summary and close of conference
Sponsor Information
To enquire about sponsorship opportunities for the conference, please contact:
Valentin Gerasimuk
Head of Business Development – Consumer
T: +44 (0)207 936 6794
E: Valentin.Gerasimuk@arena-international.com
Speaker Information
To enquire about speaking opportunities for the conference, please contact:
Amy Malkani
Senior Conference Producer
T: +44 (0) 20 7947 2988
E: Amy.malkani@arena-international.com