The RBI Sustainability Summit is fast approaching live online December 8-9, 2021. You will not want to miss our exciting lineup of speakers, live speed networking, and lively panels.

To encourage the entire private brand community to attend the groundbreaking event, ALL of the tickets are FREE courtesy of Marketing by Design.

The LIVE virtual summit will feature:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8

The Call to Action – Be Bold!

• Christopher Durham, President, VELOCITY INSTITUTE

Sustainability, Private Brand and the Human Impact – BJS Wholesale Club

• Scott Williams, Vice President of Own Brands and Quality at BJ’s Wholesale Club

Retail Brand Owners, Design and Sustainability – WAKEFERN, CARREFOUR

• Glenn Pfeifer, Design & Packaging Manager, WAKEFERN
• Tatiana Ryfer, Head of Branding & Visual Identity, CARREFOUR
• Moderated by: Christopher Durham, President, VELOCITY INSTITUTE

Steps to Developing an Eco-friendly Brand

Join this session to hear how retailers can adopt and validate ethical and sustainable supply chain practices to best position environmentally friendly products.

• Paul Woodard, Senior Director, ORACLE RETAIL

VIP Speed Networking

Turn on your camera as this is the perfect way to connect with people outside your circle quickly and in real-time. All you need to do is click the “ready” button, and our algorithm will automatically match you with a new person. You’ll have three minutes to chat and decide if you want to exchange information.

Sponsor Stage

Research, insights, and new product presentations from our Sponsors

Building Brands of Value with Values

Retail Brands are national brands, and consumer expectations of our brands are higher than ever. The challenge for retailers is meeting expanded customer expectations: providing the highest quality product, which does no harm or drives actual impact at the best price. Hear why retailers are leading the way in creating brands with purpose and how you can too.

• Abby Ayers, Head of Retail & Factory Partnerships, FAIR TRADE USA

Eliminating Waste with Private Brands Built to Last

Clemence Schmid EVP of Loop discusses retail, private brand and their partnerships to eliminate the idea of waste with products that are built to last

• Clemence Schmid, Commercial Executive Vice President, LOOP

How2Recycle – are you in the know?

Have you ever picked up a package and wondered, can I recycle this? Or how do I recycle this? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. Enter How2Recycle – an easy standardized labeling system. Join Maria Dubuc from MBD, who will help you empower shoppers and provide transparency for Retail Brands.

• Maria Dubuc, President, MBD

Inside Maine’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging

On July 12, 2021, Maine became the first U.S state to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging law requiring big corporations and manufacturers to help pay for the cost of recycling their wasteful packaging, much of it plastic. Sarah K. Nichols, NRCM Sustainable Maine Director will give attendees a look inside the program, its origins and its benefits.

• Sarah Nichols, Director of Sustainable Maine, NRCM

Accelerating Sustainability at Wakefern Own Brands 

Robert Zuehlke, Wakefern Food Corp. Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, will present the sustainability vision at Wakefern Own Brand

• Robert Zuehlke, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, WAKEFERN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9

A Look Ahead – 2022

• Christopher Durham, President, VELOCITY INSTITUTE

Advancing our Sustainability Commitments – WALMART

The pair will discuss Walmart’s commitments and how the industry can be a part of the solution

• Cheryl Lam, Sustainability Packaging Leader, Private Brands – WALMART
• Sarah Paskell, Senior Director, Private Brands, Packaging Design and Sustainability

Sustainability: Decoding Consumer Demand in Private Brands.

Join Tahir as he explores consumers’ top sustainability priorities through the key pillars of environment, society, and economy and what this means for Private Brands. In this session, they will share how Private Brands can improve their sustainability initiatives and messaging —answering beyond consumers’ needs and considering these key pillars.

• Tahir Taj, President International, DAYMON

Consumer Relevance, Differentiation & the Promise of Sustainability – TESCO, WALMART CANADA

An interactive panel of diverse industry experts share unique perspectives to leverage sustainability and consumer relevance for Retail Brands.

• Solange Ackrill, VP Marketing & Corporate Strategy, CLUB COFFEE
• Paul Earnshaw, Sr Packaging Manager, TESCO
• Cher Mereweather, President & CEO, PROVISION COALITION INC.
• Ivo Petroff, Senior Category Manager, WALMART CANADA
• Moderated by: Brenda Seto, Canada Ambassador, North America Team, PRODUCTS OF CHANGE

VIP Speed Networking

Turn on your camera as this is the perfect way to connect with people outside your circle quickly and in real-time. All you need to do is click the “ready” button, and our algorithm will automatically match you with a new person. You’ll have three minutes to chat and decide if you want to exchange information.

Sponsor Stages

Research, insights and new product presentations from our Sponsors

Achieving Retail Brands CSR sustainability goals through strong partnerships – CVS HEALTH

How CVS Health partnered with Marks to successfully implement the How2Recycle program across store brand items in less than a year.

• Matt Thorsen, Director, Store Brands Packaging, CVS HEALTH
• Neema Pourian, Director of Engineering, MARKS

Be Circular Now. Why Now is the Critical Time for Retail to Pursue the Circular Economy

Converting to a Circular Economy operating system provides retailers with the opportunity to deliver meaningful results in the pursuit of a more sustainable business. In a COVID response world, demand for more sustainably sourced products and business models has only increased. And the resources and capabilities to deliver on these results have never been more plentiful. Retailers and their partners who provide clear, compelling commitments and results in supporting a more sustainable world will build loyalty and drive sales. Retailers are increasingly looking to private brands to attract customers and develop deep bonds with them. Getting past generic “greenwashing” sustainability commitments is essential in building this trust. Retailers will need private label partners positioned to accelerate them on this sustainable journey, and the Circular Economy is quickly becoming the most impactful way to achieve this goal.

• Julie Lassow, Owner & Principal, JHL SOLUTIONS

Retailers Can Change the World

Lessons learned from retailers around Europe. How retail brands can be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

• Sabine Louet Feisser, Managing partner, YELLOW DRESS RETAIL

Authenticity in Sustainable Brand Management – GIANT EAGLE

Join us as we navigate sustainability through the lens of private brands and discuss the importance of being authentic to your brand during the journey.

• Shannon Colamarino, Director of Own Brand Design & Brand Management, GIANT EAGLE

To encourage the entire private brand community to attend the groundbreaking event, ALL of the tickets are FREE courtesy of Marketing by Design.