CRS 2023 | Consumer Rules Summit

What Does Future Hold for FMCG, Retail, Agri, and Distributions in Emerging Europe?

Belgrade based the Conference Republic and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are partnering in organizing an important and high-level event on September 30-October 1, 2019 in Belgrade, Serbia focusing on new developments and incorporation of global trends in the agribusiness, FMCG, retail and distribution within the South-East Europe but also wider Central and Eastern European markets. It builds on the previously held events under the FRA Arena brand that EBRD supported.

The Consumer Rules Summit platform is envisioned as a high-level discussion platform that enables sharing tangible ideas based on experiences and good practices and allows prime networking opportunities. It will bring together more than 30 top speakers, and 150+participants, including C-level managers from the leading companies in agribusiness, retail and distribution but also in the larger FMCG industry, from EU, South-East Europe, CIS, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Consumer Rules Summit’s mission is to connect key players from these countries with international investors, retailers, food producers, regulatory authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

This important platform will focus on consumer spending, which drives nearly 60% of world GDP, is an engine for economic activity. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is transforming entire systems of production, distribution, and consumption providing both opportunities for value-creation through game-changing technologies, as well as challenges on ensuring inclusivity. Who will win the race? Are the keys for success – innovation, willingness and ability to disrupt yourself and your business model and spirit of collaboration or we need to find the fifth element?

Hilton Garden Inn, Zagreb, Croatia

24-25 April 2023

Program

24-25 April 2023, Hilton Garden Inn, Zagreb, Croatia

Agility Rules or What Does Future Hold for FMCG, Retail, Agri, and Distributions in Emerging Europe?

Monday, 24 Apr 2023

16:30 – 17:10

Registration in Hilton Garden Inn with Agility drink

17:10 – 17:15

Welcome to Zagreb by Victoria Zinchuk, Director, Regional Head, Central Europe, EBRD

17:15 – 18:05

Agile Markets in Focus: Greece, Bulgaria and Romania

No investments from the SEE into the two markets – why, what are the obstacles?
What are the peculiarities of the markets, how to approach them

Introductory remarks: Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South-eastern Europe, EBRD

Panelists:
Aleš Mozetič, Managing Director, DonDon
Stefan Tzvetkov, Founding Partner, Integral Venture Partners
Dimitar Mitev, CEO, Bella Impala Group

Moderator: Miljan Ždrale, Regional Head for Agribusiness in Central and South-eastern Europe, EBRD

18:05 – 18:35

Networking break

18:35 – 20:15

Hard Talk: Is Agility the Answer Or One Needs James Bond’s Skills for Thriving and Succeeding in the Current Global and Industry Context

Pandemic, war, inflation, … crisis after crisis – agility is more important than ever as a modus operandi for anyone on the market
Supply chain vulnerability – how to pass the level in this hard game and get on top of the value chain
Global context changed for the worse while consumers are becoming even more demanding and less understanding despite the global context – Casino Royal kind of game or how many OO7 needed for success?
What does the future hold for current successful models in FMCG, retail, distribution, and agriculture?

Intro by global context maestro: Stuart Trow, strategist

Panelists:
Aleksandar Kostić, Vice President, MK Group
Martina Dalić, President of the Management Board, Podravka
Nebojša Šaponjić, Co-Founder and Shareholder, Nelt Group
Ljiljana Kunosić, CEO, Bingo Group
Emil Tedeschi, CEO, Atlantic Grupa
Melanie Seier Larsen, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Introduction: Jean-Marc Peterschmitt, Chief Operating Officer for the Client Services Group and Managing Director for Industry, Commerce and Agribusiness, EBRD
Moderator: Marko Biočina, Editor, NOVA TV

20:15 – 23:00

EBRD 007 Party – No Time to Die or Shaken, not Stirred

Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023

8:30 – 9:00

Agility boost or wake up coffee – time for registration

9:00 – 9:30

Grand and Agile Opening – Talk Hard

M or Master of Ceremony / Welcome: Miljan Ždrale, Regional Head for Agribusiness in Central and South-eastern Europe, EBRD
EBRD in the Balkans: Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South-eastern Europe, EBRD
EBRD’s priorities in Agribusiness: Natalya Zhukova, Head of Agribusiness, EBRD

9:30 – 9:50

Macroeconomics – Hero or Villain?

What are the trends?
Is Bonanza coming or storm approaching?

Global context: Peter Sanfey, Deputy Director, Country Economics, Strategy and Policy, EBRD (virtual)
Regional context: Andrej Knez, Chief Markets Analyst, Bloomberg Adria

9:50 – 10:00

Brief Networking break

10:00 – 10:45

CLIMATE PANEL: Green Deal Makes EBITDA Grow – True or False?

What does the future hold for agriculture in the context of climate change, higher awareness of environmental and social risks, and digital transformation?
Can regenerative agriculture feed the future (demand)? Will it have to?
In Green we trust is a mantra that is a key to consumers – true or false?
How going green can make consumers love you more and EBITDA go up?

Panelists:
Jan Mally, Co-owner, Eso Tron Group
Zvonimir Sedlić, Founder/CEO, Nutris
Dušan Radičević, CEO, Al Dahra
Dorian Macovei, CFO, Verdino Green Foods
Matthias Predojević, Vice President Corporate Development, Elixir Group
Stefan Bucataru, Corporate Director, Agricover Holding

Moderator: Gianpiero Nacci, Director for Sustainable Business and Infrastructure, Climate Strategy and Delivery, EBRD

10:45 – 11:00

Networking break

11:00 – 12:00

INSPIRATIONAL AGILITY OR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS?

Keynote speaker (virtual): Aparna Bharadwaj, Managing Partner and Director in BCG Singapore office and Global Head for BCG’s Center for Customer Insights

12:00 – 12:15

Networking break

12:15- 13:00

SUPPLY SECURITY PANEL: Too Many Villains – Supply Chain Issue, Inflation, Energy Crisis, Labour Shortages – So How Many 007 One Needs?

Supply rules or consumers rule is that Chicken-Egg kind of dilemma?
How to ensure security in a supply chain with so many dangers looming (war, pandemic, energy crisis, labour issues)?
Can reglobalization fix the supply chain issues? Or the answer is in deglobalization?
How are companies navigating a climate of persistent unpredictability?
What could be done to bolster the resilience of global supply chains?

Intro remarks: Nadia Petkova, Director for SME finance, EBRD

Panelists:
Mihailo Janković, CEO, MK Group
Andrei Bica, CFO, Profi
Miloš Jelić, CEO, Nelt Group
Milan Zorić, General Manager, CHS Serbia

Moderator: Tamara Tošić, Senior Investment Professional, Agribusiness, EBRD

13:00 – 14:00

Networking lunch

14:00 – 14:45

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN (FAMILY) BUSINESS: Gap or Leap?

How to balance it out – family and business – in the most effective way for a business to continue its growth?
Is effective corporate governance a resilient measure in challenging times?
Succession, entitlement, emotions are the basis for a good Netflix drama – how to turn it into a rom-com with a happy end?

Intro Remarks: David Risser, Managing Director, Nestor Advisors, a Morrow Sodali Company

Panelists:
Neven Vranković, Vice President, Atlantic Grupa
Bojan Radun, Owner, Nectar / CEO, Imlek
Michal Kedzia, Partner, Enterprise Investors
Alexandra Papalexopoulou-Benopoulou, Deputy Chair of the Group Executive Committee, Titan Cement International (virtual)
Alessandro Pasquale, CEO, Mattoni KMV

Moderator: Pavle Đurić, Principal Counsel – Corporate Governance, EBRD

14:45 – 15:00

Networking break

15:00- 15:30

AgVenture StartUps Award Ceremony

Nemanja Grgic, Principal Manager, Agribusiness Advisory, EBRD
Jelena Erker, Associate Director, Agribusiness, EBRD

15:30 – 16:15

DIGITAL PANEL: X Factor or Q’s Secret Weapon?

Big data, artificial intelligence, robots – is the future now?
How to manage digitalization to lead you to heaven and not to the shortcut to hell?
How to balance investments needed to ensure the right amount of ROI?
How many Qs does one need in an organization to celebrate the returns sipping the shaken, not stirred Martini after watching 00 agents conquer the market?
E-commerce big tipping point – brick and mortar (like Apple is pursuing) or just e-commerce? Are fully automated nano stores the answer?

Introduction: Miloš Drača, Industry Executive Retail, CEE, Microsoft (Zabka case study)

Panelists:
Vesna Bengin, Co-Founder, BioSense Institute
Marko Carević, CEO, Ananas E-Commerce
Eddie Short, Head of Digital Transformation, MidEuropa
Branislav Zobenica, Group Technology and Transformation Director, Sport Vision Group
Bojan Radlović, Director of Digital, Fortenova Group

Moderator: Jelena Erker, Associate Director, Agribusiness, EBRD

16:15 – 16:30

Networking break

16:30 – 17:15

NO TIME TO DIE – What’s the Sequel?
Conclusion remarks by all moderators

Miljan Ždrale, Regional Head for Agribusiness in Central and South-eastern Europe, EBRD and Jelena Radulović, Program Manager, Consumer Rules Summit