The Future of International Convenience Retailing

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Thursday 18th September - Sponsored by Imperial Tobacco
Our main conference day will be chaired by Scott Hartman, President at Rutter's Farm Stores USA.

Conference Programme

09.00 am Chairman’s Introduction
Scott Hartman, President at Rutter's Farm Stores USA.

1) Global Changes in Shopper Behaviour

09.15-09.40am : Dr Neill Sherrell, Managing Director, srcg Ltd
"How We Can Utilise Changing Shopper Behaviours to Build a Sustainable Future for Convenience Retailing."

Over the past twelve months increasing food and fuel prices have changed the dynamics of shopper behaviour across the world. Neill will examine how we respond locally to these changes within the context of the global consumer mega-trends to ensure we maintain a sustainable, relevant and vibrant convenience channel. Neill will debate whether the associated accelerated growth of the discounters poses a threat to the convenience channel or if we can fuse the two shopping models to create a mutual opportunity. Neill will also explore the increasing importance of the top-up shopper and debate if this will result in a split-personality for convenience which could be harmful. (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

09.45 - 10.10am : Dr. Gordon R. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, SPAR International
"INNOVATION – Investing in our Future"

This is a decade of turbulence, when uncertainty is increasing and when our customer's needs are changing ever more rapidly. SPAR International has responded with many exciting innovations in store concepts and designs, in new innovative product categories, and in the introduction of new technology. We also continue our drive into new markets with a strong focus on the large developing markets of China, India and Russia. Innovation will be the key to the future success of SPAR.

Dr. Gordon R. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, SPAR International, is responsible for the world-wide development and co-ordination of the SPAR organisation. SPAR is the world's largest organisation of independent retailers with over 13,600 SPAR stores in 33 countries. In 2007 SPAR had global annual retail sales of €27 billion. Gordon Campbell has focused on the development of SPAR as a global retail brand. He has been responsible for the expansion of SPAR into Eastern European and Asian markets. He has put in place "Towards 2010", a strategy which sets out a vision for the future development of SPAR. The key focus is on the development of SPAR in the emerging markets of China, India and Russia. (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

10.15-10.40am : Willie Hamilton, Commercial Director, Tesco Express and Local
"What Really Matters to Customers"

Tesco Express has opened over 100 stores in the last 12 months and now trades in more than 850 locations. Willie Hamilton has recently added responsibility for 'Local' to his role as Commercial Director for Express. His presentation will focus on how Express is delivering what really matters to customers as their needs and aspirations change. How are Tesco meeting Local needs in stores, suppliers and products? Tesco's brand new “environmental” Express has just opened. How are Tesco providing for the increasingly 'green' aspirations of shoppers? And which retailers are best placed, and most conveniently located, to provide value for shoppers as disposable incomes shrink and customers become increasingly aware of their spending? (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

10.45-11.15am Tea/Coffee Break

2) International Best Practice in Forecourts

11.15-11.40am : Ed Burcher, Senior Director for Foodservice, Petro-Canada
"How and Why Petro-Canada Developed 'Neighbours' for Changing Consumer Needs in Canada"

Petro-Canada has a portfolio of over 400 forecourt C-stores in Canada with total sales exceeding $750 million. As Senior Director for Foodservice, Ed Burcher continues the development of a brand new 3,500 sq ft Petro-Canada Convenience store format called 'Neighbours'. In developing the format, a key business challenge was to change the 'fuel first' paradigm and develop a destination C-store brand famous for coffee and foodservice. Ed Burcher's presentation will explain how Petro-Canada have achieved this and detail success so far. He will also explain how touch screen ordering works at Neighbours and key learnings in Petro-Canada's increasing development of their 'Drive Through' offer. By the end of the year it will be illegal in Canada to display any cigarette merchandising and Ed will also touch on what implications this has for the industry. (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

11.45-12.10pm : Karen Hubbard, UK Convenience Retail Director for BP

Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience.

12.15-12.40pm : Cathrine Stange, Director of Product & Marketing, Reitan Servicehandel AS
"Success Factors for 7-Eleven in Scandinavia"

Reitan Servicehandel has 1500 c-stores in Scandinavia with total sales of 1.9 billion USD. The company's portfolio of stores include the retail brands Narvesen, Pressbyrån, YX and 7-Eleven. Reitan Servicehandel has recently entered into a co-location agreement with Shell, and will be converting existing forecourt stores to the 7-Eleven format. Cathrine Stange is the Director of Product & Marketing for Reitan Servicehandel, and her presentation will focus on some of the key success factors for 7-Eleven in Scandinavia. She will also provide a sneak preview of some of the first Shell / 7-Eleven stores. What are the opportunities and challenges of taking the 7-Eleven format to the drivescape? And what are the early indications of how customers are responding to the new format?

12.40-1.55pm Lunch

3) Best Practice in UK Store and Forecourt Format Segmentation

1.55-2.20pm : Alan Ritchie, Retail MD & Ian Callaghan, Director of Construction and Renewal at Somerfield
"Segmenting within a Forecourt Format"

2.25-2.50pm : Richard Bennett, Retail Director, SPAR UK
"Stores of the Future"

With over 2,500 stores throughout the UK, serving a diverse customer base, SPAR has embarked on refining and developing the brand offer and the retail proposition. Since joining SPAR in 2005, Richard Bennett has been a driving force in the Flagship Store Development programme to accommodate the changing needs and wants of SPAR’s customers. Richard will be exploring how SPAR are developing their “Stores of the Future” in the UK, reviewing range layout and design to build on their individuality to ensure that they truly reflect customer requirements for a more tailor-made shopping experience. (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

2.55-3.20pm Tea/Coffee Break

4) International Trends in Fresh, Environmental and Tobacco Legislation

3.20-3.45pm : Alistair Brown, Head of UK Marketing, Imperial Tobacco.
"Tobacco, a Changing Market with Massive Opportunities"

Tobacco is the one of the most highly regulated FMCG products in the world and has been for many years. The UK market is now 'darker' than the majority of countries across the globe; however Imperial Tobacco has an impressive track record in being able to record and sustain growth in challenging market environments throughout the globe and Imperial Tobacco's experience in dealing with such extensive regulation means we are well placed to recognize, and quickly react to, significant market opportunities as they arise.

3.45-4.10pm : Jasper Wight, Managing Director, Chop'd
"How to Make a Success of Salads to Go"

Chop'd is the most successful salad bar operation in the UK. Launched in 2004, the business now has 5 sites and is opening 2-3 new stores a year in office district and retail/travel locations like London St. Pancras. This railway station site features in the Insight study tour and reports sales of £15,000 per week out of 1100 sq ft. The highest grossing Chop'd store takes £23,000 per week from 500 sq ft. The Chop'd brand promise is "real good food fast" and the business side of the operation is crucial to success. Labour costs and wastage levels have to be minimised and speed is vital - 50% of Chop'd fresh salad sold is made to order and 50% is ready prepared. As Jasper Wight will explain in his presentation on the development of the Chop'd business model, "Ready to Go salads are our profit, made to order salads are our brand!." (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

4.15-4.40pm : John Franey, Strategy Director, Food Retail, DHL
"Supply Chain Collaboration: how can Retailers seek to save costs, cut food miles and reduce their carbon footprint through collaboration?"

Supply Chain Collaboration - including shared transport. How can Retailers seek to save costs, cut food miles and reduce their carbon footprint through collaboration? This will focus on practical examples across a number of customers. Demonstration on how 2 recognised brands, NISA and BP, combined logistics to deliver a reduced carbon footprint, reduced costs and improved service within their supply chains. Trust is a key element in this model. The presentation will detail how the CSR agenda is delivered through a global organisation's efforts to bring 'Global' and 'Local' together. (Followed by 5 minutes questions from audience).

4.40pm Conference close

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Price to attend - 18th September: £495 / euro 625 / $975 per delegate