During Beverage Digest’s recent Future Smarts conference in New York, Editor & Publisher Duane Stanford conducted on-stage interviews with two of the largest independent PepsiCo and Coca-Cola bottlers in the US, Matthew Dent and Dave Katz. Below are key takeaways from those discussions.

Matthew Dent
President & CEO
Buffalo Rock

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We’re excited to brief you on what to expect at Beverage Digest’s 2023 Future Smarts conference. The main event will take place on Dec. 11 in New York City, with a reception the evening of Dec. 10. The program features accomplished and knowledgeable experts in the world's most profitable beverage market.

Through a series of fast-paced interviews, panels, and presentations in a single productive day, Future Smarts illuminates coming opportunities and challenges for our dynamic industry. Our speakers identify urgent trends and market forces that will drive business performance during the next three to five years – and in some cases longer. 

Here’s a look at what to expect:

The day will begin with Jennifer Mann, who took the helm as president of Coca-Cola North America this past January. I’ll ask her how she will accelerate total beverage growth at Coke’s largest global operating unit at a time when rapidly fragmenting product categories, competitive sets, and market conditions demand both precision and agility.

Then we’ll shift to Karen Jordan. As Chief Supply Chain Officer for PepsiCo Beverage North America, she’ll discuss the evolving set of lessons learned from one of the worst global supply chain disruptions of the past century.

Rounding out the big three US beverage firms, Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Strategy Officer Justin Whitmore will shed light on how recent partnerships with brands including Electrolit, Nutrabolt, and Athletic Brewing will help maximize growth and value.  

Next, I’ll dive deep with our always popular Wall Street analyst panel featuring Goldman Sachs Managing Director Bonnie Herzog, Barclays Managing Director, CHPC & Beverages Analyst, Lauren Lieberman, and RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Nik Modi. I’ll look forward to their views on how consumer sentiment in these volatile times will affect beverage company pricing and volume strategies.

Adams Berzins, senior manager for global stevia application and technical service at PureCircle by Ingredion, will join me for a discussion of the future of sugar reduction at a time when clean labels are an important driver for consumers. (FS23 Headline Sponsor)

Melody Richard, senior vice president for U.S. Pantry at Walmart, will illuminate both sides of the supplier-customer partnership in a discussion covering key consumer, retail, and beverage category trends. Her expertise includes two decades at Coca-Cola.

Then I’ll ask Coca-Cola Consolidated President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Katz about the critical role innovation plays for a major beverage bottler when it comes to products, customer relationships, and manufacturing efficiency.

Next, I’ll lead a discussion with Mobi by MFMsoft founder Nick Karapetian about the importance of using AI-driven technology to capture real-time product sales data in channels that traditionally haven’t had the kind of visibility and interactivity brands need. (FS23 Platinum Sponsor)

Then we’ll ask Buffalo Rock President & Chief Executive Officer Matthew Dent about the independent Pepsi bottler’s diversification strategy on its path to growth. We’ll also talk about the importance of efficiency in a modern manufacturing and distribution environment.

Paul Pisano, the senior vice president of industry affairs and general counsel for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, help make sense of the emerging crossover between two massive beverage sectors – alcohol and non-alcohol. We’ll explore questions of risk and opportunity through his independent beer distributor lens.

That’s not all. Look for more speaker announcements to come.

The day also will include an announcement of winners in our 2023 Beverage Digest Awards. This is a fast way to catch up on the breadth of innovation in our industry.

Future Smarts will be a great way for you to close 2023 with a strong finish and to begin 2024 with a head start.

If you haven’t registered, secure your seat now.

We can’t wait to see you.

Duane Stanford
Editor & Publisher