Press Releases

WHEN:

March 24-25, 2009 (All times listed are PDT)

WHERE:

IRI Summit 2009
Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-770-7000
http://www.cpgsummit.com

WHAT:

Building on its reputation for raising and tackling the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail and healthcare industries’ most pressing business issues, Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is hosting IRI Summit 2009: Reinventing CPG and Retail at the Wynn Las Vegas. This world-class conference features an impressive roster of keynote speakers, each of who are distinguished leaders within their industries.

WHY:

In this difficult economy, it is not business as usual. Now, more than ever, shopper and market insights are critical for growth. To give retailers and manufacturers the tools, insights and confidence to grow their business, IRI is taking IRI Summit 2009 to a new level with its "Insight to Impact" program. The conference will focus on leveraging insights on consumers’ motivations, wants and needs and using them to innovate for growth during challenging economic times.

WHO:

IRI Summit 2009 will help retailers and manufacturers move from “Insight to Impact” via best practices in shopper understanding, pricing and promotion, loyalty programs, advanced analytics and merchandising technologies. To deliver these compelling perspectives, IRI has assembled an impressive list of distinguished leaders to deliver the following keynote presentations:

Tuesday, March 24

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Dr. Romesh Wadhwani
Founder and Managing Partner, Symphony Technology Group and Chairman, IRI

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Jaya Kumar
Chief Marketing Officer, Frito-Lay
“Speed: The New Differentiator”

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Joe DePinto
President and CEO, 7-Eleven, Inc.
“Responding to Customer Needs 24/7”

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
John Freeland
President and CEO, IRI
“Insight to Impact”

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Kim Feil
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Walgreen Co.
“Trends for Growth in Health and Wellness”

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ram Charan
Author and Consultant
“Leading in the Era of Economic Uncertainty”

Wednesday, March 25

8:05 - 8:35 a.m.
Tim Hammonds
President Emeritus, Food Marketing Institute
“Retail Awakening—Garden Party or Boston Tea Party”

8:35 - 9:10 a.m.
“Collaboration Panel”
Moderator: Thom Blischok, President, Consulting and Innovation, IRI
Panelists: Rob Chumley, Senior Director, Category Strategy, Kellogg Company
Linda Lieberman, Senior Manager, Shopper Insights, Kraft
Jeff Martin, Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Supply Chain, Stop & Shop/Giant Landover
Burt Palmer, Director of Sales, Unilever
Steve Goodroe, Executive-in-Residence, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia

9:15 - 9:45 a.m.
Mike Salzberg
President, Campbell Sales Company
“Recipe for Success in a Challenging Economy: Maintaining Relevance in Good Times and Bad”

10:10 - 10:40 a.m.
“Mom Blogger Panel: Shopper Insights from Today’s Influential Moms”
Moderator: Thom Blischok, President, Consulting and Innovation, IRI
Panelists: Alma Klein, www.marketingmommy.net and www.chicagomomsblog.com
Christine Young: www.fromdatestodiapers.com
Lynnae McCoy, www.beingfrugal.net
Liz Gumbinner, www.mom-101.blogspot.com

10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Michael Haaf
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Sales, Marketing and Business Strategy, Food Lion LLC
“Connecting with the Consumer: Insights to Actions”

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Steve Forbes
Editor-in-Chief, FORBES Magazine
“The Political Aftermath of Economic Crisis and What It Means for CPG”