FMCG Business Magazine Column: Countdown to NZFGC Conference ’24

FMCG Business October-November 2024 by The Intermedia Group – Issuu

The countdown has begun for the NZFGC’s Conference 2024, taking place from 11 to 13 November at Tākina, the capital city’s impressive new convention centre. This year’s event promises to be a pivotal gathering for the food, beverage, and grocery industry, bringing together our supplier community and wider industry voices.

This Conference comes following a year which has seen significant rethinking of our regulatory environment, spanning many areas of our operating environment from grappling with Grocery Supply Agreements and the code review to significant changes proposed to the Health Star Rating system, nutrition information and recycling labelling. Under the banner theme of Shared Horizons, this annual event aims to foster collaboration and constructive discussion on key issues impacting the industry. It’s fair to say that there’s a lot to cover at this year’s conference!

Season two launch of Shared Horizons docuseries

We will kick off this year’s conference by unveiling the second season of Shared Horizons, a docuseries produced in collaboration with ASN Media. This docuseries highlights the innovative stories and successes from our diverse and dynamic sector, showcasing the exceptional contributions made by our suppliers. This year’s themes cover the future of manufacturing, sustainability, reformulation and innovation, with many of our well-known FMCG brands. We’re also looking forward to an inspiring evening event at the Beehive, the heart of New Zealand’s democracy, where we will celebrate the launch of both the conference and the docuseries. We’re close to confirming our guest speaker for this event and will announce soon!

Unlocking Insights

This is our biggest member event of the year, and the programme is shaping up well, featuring thought leaders from renowned organisations such as Nielsen IQ, Circana, Food Waste Champions, NextGen, and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts. The conference will focus on crucial topics members are navigating on a day-to-day basis, including sustainability across the supply chain, promoting healthier consumer outcomes, and developing top-tier talent within the industry.

We’ve confirmed Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden to deliver a keynote address, providing invaluable insights into the current state of the grocery sector following the first annual Grocery Report, and the challenges that lie ahead – especially as the Commerce Commission will be further through their review of the Grocery Code and their analysis of the issues ahead of any changes. We’ve also invited several key retailers and have already announced Spencer Sonn and Pieter der Wit from Woolworths NZ.  As we’re in Wellington we have invited key Ministers and officials so stay tuned for further announcements.

We will also be hearing from our premier sponsor Argon & Co. With their commitment to innovation they play a vital role in supporting the food and grocery industry. Their expertise in supply chain optimisation and technology solutions aligns with our conference themes to drive discussions around best practices and future developments in the grocery sector – which is all about the utilisation of AI.

Make sure you’re there

Mark your calendars for 11 to 13 November 2024 and join us in Wellington for an event that promises to inspire and inform. You can find more information on our website and get in quick with early bird ticket pricing – head to www.fgc.org.nz. We invite you to embrace the conference theme and continue the journey with us towards the Shared Horizon.