Monday 26 November

11:00 - 11:30 KEYNOTE: International Travel Catering Association (ITCA)
Speaker:
> Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways 

11:30 - 12:30 The Future of Flight Catering
The travel catering sector is in a constant state of change and development. This session will analyse how new products and services are developed, and the factors that influence this process, using examples from the flight catering sector. 

Speaker:
> Professor Peter Jones 

PRIVATE LABEL FORUM

12:30 – 13:30 KEYNOTE PANEL SESSION: Private Label – Risks & Rewards
The continued growth of private label is a major trend in retail worldwide, but where private label sales are reaching highs of over 35% in Europe and 20% in the US, the market share in the GCC is just 3%. This opening session will address the opportunities, challenges and successes in today’s economic climate.

Speakers:
> Koen de Jong, Director, International Private Label Consult (IPLC)
> Maurice van Vliet, CEO, Privatelabeltrader.com
Exploring the relationship between online retailing and private label
Private Label in the GCC: Opportunities and Challenges
> Victoria Hassani, Managing Director, Global Market Access

13:30 – 14:30 WORKSHOP: Private Label - Improving Collaboration between retailer and manufacturer to drive private label growth
From a Private Label perspective Europe is the most sophisticated region in the world with an average market share of Private Label at 33%. European retailers like Carrefour and Auchan have entered the Gulf region and will use their experience to roll-out a Private Label strategy in the UAE. This will change the ball game for the local retailers in the Gulf region. They will have to respond and create  Private Label strategy themselves.
What can retailers learn from Europe? What are best practices in Private Label management like: defining the quality of products, supplier selection, creating attractive packaging, negotiating contracts, quality management, pricing strategy and building a Private Label architecture, to name a few.

IPLC is the leading consultancy in this field and has been working with many retailers throughout Europe on Private Label strategies and the execution. 

Workshop leader:
> Koen de Jong, Director, International Private Label Consult (IPLC)

14:30 – 16:00 Global & Regional Food Innovation Trends
XTC world innovation is one of the leading companies in the world in Intelligence, survey and consultancy in the food innovation area. XTC has been the Innovation Partner of SIAL Group events for many years and Xavier Terlet will present the main trends from all over the world and highlight the best new products among those presented by exhibitors.

As last year’s winner of the SIAL Middle East Innovations Award, Al Ain Dairy will speak about how they developed and launched their winning product and the importance of innovation in their business.

Speakers:
> Xavier Terlet, President, XTC world innovation

16:00 - 16:30 What are the Opportunities for Middle East Food Companies in China? Gourmet Food and Dried Fruits in China's Retail Market
China has more than 12,000 star rated hotels and 30% are in the 5 star segment. Gourment cuisine and high class food are more important than ever for the future of China's HoReCa and retail industry. This session will give you an overview of gourmet and specialized cuisine in China and the upcoming trends.

Speaker:
> Bjoern Kempe, Director, SIAL China

Tuesday 27 November
FOOD & BEVERAGE BUSINESS FORUM

11:00 – 11:30 Food Safety for Hotels, Restaurants & Cafes
Understand the latest food safety standards and how to comply with them.

Speaker:
> Nina Da Costa, Consulting Manager, Diversey

11:30 – 12:30 KEYNOTE PANEL SESSION: Five Key Ingredients to Restaurant Success
Make sure you’re equipped with the industry’s top tips for success with expert views on where the greatest opportunities lie, and how to keep diners coming back for more.

Moderator:
> Dave Reeder, Editor, Pro Chef Middle East

Panellists:
> Henk Bruggeman, Director Operations Middle East and China, Hakkasan
> Mark Patten, Vice President, Culinary, Atlantis, The Palm
> Markus Thesleff, Co-founder, OKKU
> Scott Price, Executive Chef, Hilton Dubai creek and Chef Proprietor, table 9
> Uwe Micheel, Director of Kitchens, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek and President, Emirates Culinary Guild

12:30– 13:30 Eating Out & Dining Trends for 2013: From Global to Local
Our panel will give their top predictions for the year ahead as they review the region’s dining scene and discuss what global trends will impact the Middle East.

Moderator:
> Stefan Breg, Chief Worrier, TRIBE Restaurant Creators
Panellists:
> Aboudi Saadi, Managing Director, GLEE Hospitality Solutions
> Daniel During, Principal & Managing Director, Thomas Klein International
> Lloyd Carter, Executive Development Chef, Jumeirah Restaurants
> Naveed Dowlatshahi, Executive Director, Kash Global Consultancy
> Ryan Hattingh, International Operations Director, Gaucho
> Paul De Visser, Executive Chef at Ruth's Chris Steak House15:30 –

13:30 - 14:30 Social Media Strategies for Restaurants and F&B Businesses
Social media will soon be the 2nd most used engagement tool (after face-to-face). Work through the jargon, pitfalls and plan your own strategy with practical tips and real examples.

Moderator:
> Ian Ohan, GCC area developer and owner, N_K_D Pizza

Speakers:
> Tiina-Maija Bergman, Managing Partner, Table4ME
> Ankit Garg, E-commerce Manager, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
 

Wednesday 28 November
FOOD RETAIL FORUM

11:00 – 11:30 KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Global Trends in Food Retail & How They are Impacting & Translating in the Region
This keynote session will examine market evolution models, global trends, rising stars and the impact on the Middle East.

Speaker:
> Andy Williams, Regional Director, Middle East North Africa, Kantar Retail

11:30 – 12:00 Insights from a Leading Retailer on the Region’s Industry

Speaker:
> Naresh Manshani, Head of Retail Operations T. Choithram & Sons

12:00 – 12:30 Consumer Trends for Supermarkets & Hypermarkets
A leading analyst will identify the UAE consumers’ buying habits, behaviour and attitudes and recognise where the greatest opportunities lie for 2013.

Speaker:
> Sana Toukan, Research Manager Middle East, Euromonitor International

12:30 – 13:00 KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How to Create Loyalty beyond Reason amongst Shoppers searching for Value 
This session will unveil the practical steps that a brand must instigate if it wants to create loyalty beyong reason and beyond price-focussed value - the kind of loyalty that will define a 'lovemarks' brand.

Speaker:
> James Tracy-Inglis, Managing Director, Saatchi and Saatchi X in the Middle East

13:00 - 14:00 WORKSHOP: Building a Strategic Retail Platform
Understand the current retail situation and get to grips with the topics such as retail leadership, differentiating between strategy and tactics, a retail strategy framework as well as design trends.

Speaker:
> Colin Beaton, Managing Director, Limelight Creative

Plus...

14:00 – 14:30 Food Markets in Northeast Asia and FOODPOLIS
This session will look at Korea's food industry and the busines opportunities for Middle East companies.

Speaker:
> Kim Kung-mee, Director of Korea National Food Cluster, Korea Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

14:30 - 15:00 Emerging Opportunities in Korea's Food Market
Find out about the latest data and global trends that will help your business when looking to enter the Northeast Asian food market.

Speaker:
> Professor Moon, Jung-hoon, Seoul National University