BevNET Live Winter 2023 - AGENDA

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2023
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM	Breakfast, Presented by Saint James Iced Tea; Registration Open -- Location: Promenade Ballroom - Lobby Level Breakfast, coffee and beverages are served from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM PT and are included with registration. Registration and badge pick up opens for the day at 7:30 AM PT.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM	New Beverage Showdown Semifinal Round -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level The New Beverage Showdown, presented by Coca-Cola North America New Revenue Streams, serves as a platform for beverage entrepreneurs to gain exposure, receive feedback, and secure partnerships or investments. Watch the semi-finalists pitch and vote for your favorite to help them make it into the finals! Judges include: with Jenny Dowdy, President - Red Tree Beverages, The Coca-Cola Company; April Asico, Group Manager, Beverage Innovation, Starbucks; Dan Gasper, CEO, The Ardent Company; Mike Schneider, CMO, BevNET / NOSH / Brewbound
8:15 AM - 9:30 AM	Sponsored Workshop: Harnessing the Power of the Human Microbiome: Revolutionizing Functional Beverages with Biotics and Biotechnology -- Location: Palisades - Lower Level In this presentation, we explore the innovative and promising role of next generation biotics when added to functional beverages, with a particular emphasis on how biotechnology and advanced science are driving new formats and differentiated health benefits in the beverage industry. with Todd Beckman, Chief Executive Officer, Verb Biotics; Noah Zimmerman, Chief Technology Officer, Verb Biotics; Lilian Mayor, Director of Product Development, Blue Pacific Flavors; Diane Alexander, Director of Sales, Verb Biotics
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Networking Break & Taste Radio Studio --
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM	One-to-One Meetings with Albertsons Companies -- Location: Outdoor Sinder Lounge - Lobby Level Prior registration is required and meeting times are sent individually. Please check in at the One-to-One Help Desk before to heading to your meeting room. Meetings will be 10 minutes each and the complete schedule is posted at the Help Desk.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Welcome + State of the Market Discussion -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Taking the stage on the cusp of a new year, we break down what just happened and forecast what's to come. Capital availability, consumer decision making, the battle for line time at copackers and the battle in the sales trenches are all on the table as our subject-matter specialists give a comprehensive view of the beverage marketplace. with Sheryl Salazar, SVP Marketing & Merchandising, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions; Mike Burgmaier, Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital; Shannon Deary-Bell, President, Manna Beverages & Ventures, CA, Nor-Cal Beverage Company; Jessica Pratt, CSO, Pop & Bottle
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	The Power of Focus in Brand and Business -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Having a brand foundation means you don't have to pivot and squirm to find your audience. In this presentation, Zevia CEO Amy Taylor will share ways for founders to find that foundation, giving them their unique, ownable position and avoiding overextension. Attendees will learn tactics for simplifying, focusing, and feeding brands through operations and quality sales teams to create repeat purchases, and open the door to growth. with Amy Taylor, CEO, Zevia
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Sponsored Workshop: Formulating for Beverage Success; Delivering Taste and Texture -- Location: Palisades - Lower Level Join Ingredion for a hands-on workshop showcasing solutions to beverage formulation challenges. During the workshop, we'll highlight methods to reduce sugar and boost flavor while delivering a desirable drinking experience that contributes to repeat purchases. with Adams Berzins, Senior Manager Sugar Reduction Lead, Ingredion; Robert Wansor, Principal Technologist, Beverage Applications, Ingredion; Jason Wang, Manager Beverages Applications, Ingredion
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM	Distributors and Brands: Refining the Relationship -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Top KeHE executives will share the ways distributors and brands can work to grow and succeed together. The two executives bring wide-ranging distribution experience, including expertise in the beverage category, to the stage, as well as an understanding that the distributor/supplier relationship is at a fluid point. with Katie Paul, SVP, Merchandising, KeHE Distributors, LLC; Tim Dornfeld, Director of Category Management, KeHE Distributors, LLC
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM	Humble Growth and the Founder/Investor Partnership -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Two of the co-founders of newly launched fund Humble Growth will sit down with us to discuss their new investment vehicle, and share the wisdom that comes from years of involvement in the emerging food and beverage business. Both men have been successful operators, investors, and board members – as well as highly respected members of the CPG community. with Dr. Andrew Abraham, Managing Partner, Humble Growth; Nick Giannuzzi, Managing Partner, Humble Growth
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM	Best of Awards + New Beverage Showdown Finalists Announced --
12:15 PM - 1:45 PM	Lunch Presented by CELSIUS, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio -- Lunch is served in the Bayview Ballroom on the rooftop level and in the outdoor Sinder Lounge. Lunch is included with registration. Sampling continues in the Promenade Ballroom and Taste Radio Studio livestream interviews take place in the Peninsula room on the lower level.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM	Sponsored Workshop: Double Your Beverage Business in 2024 -- Location: Palisades - Lower Level Join SPINS for an exciting workshop where they will first discuss how the Beverage category is doing overall, what functional ingredients, sweeteners and health focuses are driving purchase decisions, and more. Following this presentation, workshop participants will participate in three break-out sessions with SPINS, focused on how to double their sales in 2024. with Joanie Merriman, Client Insights Manager, SPINS; Kaitlin Morgan, Client Insights Manager, SPINS
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM	Innovation Tactics: Building Revenue through Portfolio Expansion -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Harmless Harvest CEO Ben Mand will give attendees an outline of the decision making process around portfolio expansion, as well as guidelines and tactics that can lead to successful innovation around core products. An innovator and cultural leader, Mand will explain the ways that beverage companies can best time iteration for success when they broaden their product horizons. with Ben Mand, CEO, Harmless Harvest
2:15 PM - 2:40 PM	Retailer Profile: Inside Albertson’s -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level We meet with key decision-makers at Albertson's, the 2nd-largest supermarket chain in the country, to find out how entrepreneurial brands can succeed in their stores, and to understand their outlook for the business going forward. with Kevin Curry, President, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions; Buster Houston, VP National Merchandising, Albertsons Companies; Sean Heryet, National Category Director, Albertsons Companies
2:40 PM - 3:05 PM	Panel: Cannabis Unleashed - Delta 9 Hemp Shifts the Market -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level The move by cannabis beverage brands to embrace hemp-derived Delta-9 THC has upended the retailing and growth practices for this emerging category, taking it out of the dispensary and into a growing number of stores. Our panel digs into the implications of this massive shift in the cannabev retail environment. with Cassia Furman, Partner, Vicente LLP; Michael Ramirez, President of Distribution, ILLA Canna; Diana Eberlein, Chair, Cannabis Beverage Association; Jake Bullock, Co-Founder & CEO, CANN
3:05 PM - 3:30 PM	Pronghorn's Progress: Thoughts on Growing the Next Generation -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level Observations, Insights, and thoughts on a year of investment in and operation of early stage spirits and NA brands from Pronghorn's CEO and Managing Director, longtime beverage entrepreneur Jomaree Pinkard. with Jomaree Pinkard, CEO & Managing Director, Pronghorn
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM	BevNET Live Happy Hour -- Location: Marriott Lobby The BevNET Live Happy Hour will take place on-site in the Marina del Rey Marriott lobby on Monday night, December 4th, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM PT. BevNET Live registration and a valid ID is required.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM	BevNET Live Official Party, Presented by ForceBrands -- Location: Bayview Ballroom - Rooftop Head to the rooftop ballroom of the Marriott for additional networking! Enjoy the views, try out the 360 degree photo booth, listen to live music and enjoy the great atmosphere. Cycling Frog, DIO Cocktails, High Rise Beverage will also be sampling their latest products.

Please note that event agendas are subject to change.