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Keynote 1
Gavin Hattersly
Gavin Hattersly
Molson Coors
CEO
Prior to his current position, Mr. Hattersley served as chief executive officer of MillerCoors, the U.S. division of Molson Coors, since September 2015. Prior to joining MillerCoors, Mr. Hattersley served as chief financial officer of Molson Coors from June 2012 to September 2015. From July 2008 to June 2012, Mr. Hattersley served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of MillerCoors. He also served as senior vice president of finance for Miller Brewing Company from October 2002 to July 2008. He came to Miller Brewing Company from SAB Limited of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he held several financial management positions before becoming chief financial officer in 1999. Prior to joining SAB Limited in 1997, Mr. Hattersley spent almost 10 years with Barloworld Limited in various finance positions.
Keynote 2
Will McDonald
Will McDonald
Walmart
VP - DMM Beverages
Will is currently the Vice President DMM that leads the merchandising team over beverages for Walmart US. Will began his career at Walmart in the Finance organization before moving into Merchandising. He has had a variety of experiences in the Food division at Walmart, including the front-end checkout area, seasonal candy and carbonated soft drinks. Prior to joining the Beverage team, Will led the Candy Team and had responsibility for the everyday and seasonal candy businesses. Will lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife, two daughters, and son.
Keynote 4
Chris Gallant
Chris Gallant
Chamberlain Coffee
CEO
Chris Gallant is CEO of Chamberlain Coffee, the brainchild of Youtube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain. Since joining in the Fall of 2021, Chris has led the brand through multiple fundraises, executed countless new product launches and helped Chamberlain Coffee achieve monumental brand growth. With his passion for bringing innovative and customer-driven products to life, Chris has worked hand-in-hand with Emma in developing and executing Chamberlain Coffee’s strategy.

Prior to joining the Chamberlain Coffee team, Chris has 15+ years in strategic and commercial beverage industry operating roles, both large (Heineken, Red Bull) and small/startup (Bronx Brewery, Kona Red, Aqua ViTea). Through these roles, Chris has garnered exceptional experience leading consumer companies through growth and contributing to their greater success. Chris is also a former Bain & Co consultant and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Trevor Drinkwater
Trevor Drinkwater
Trusted Influence
Founder & CEO
Trevor Drinkwater is the Founder and CEO of Trusted Influence Inc. Mr. Drinkwater started his career with Nestle Waters nearly 30 years ago as a sales representative and became the youngest ever General Manager of the company before he turned 30 years of age. After Nestle Waters, Trevor joined Warner Bros Home Entertainment as its SVP of Sales, where he helped the company launch the highly successful DVD format. He then joined Take Two Interactive as its COO before deciding to leave to become an entrepreneur. Mr. Drinkwater has an extensive background in content development and production as well as commercializing entertainment-based products in traditional retail environments. Trusted Influence is a full-service consumer products platform dedicated to helping established and emerging brands excel in today's dynamic marketplace. TI accelerates the process from ideation to commercialization by offering a comprehensive suite of services, including product development, sourcing and manufacturing, supply chain and inventory management, capitalization, strategic sales, merchandising, and marketing.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Naseeb Gill
Naseeb Gill
CAA
Client Strategy
Naseeb Gill is an Agent in the Global Client Strategy group at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), with key offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Nashville, and Beijing. She is based in Los Angeles, where she works on behalf of many of the world’s top musicians, actors, and influencers of pop culture, helping maximize their enterprise value by creating overall and cohesive brand strategies and launching talent-led and scalable consumer businesses.

Most recently, she worked closely with client Tom Hanks to create H*A*N*X For Our Troops, a consumer packaged goods company, on a mission to do good by committing to donating 100% of its net profits to Veterans and their families. Founded by Hanks, H*A*N*X launched in November 2022 with a range of coffee products and will continue to expand its product offerings. She also worked with clients and parenting duo Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade to launch Proudly, the first baby skin and bum care brand formulated by experts of color, taking into consideration the skin needs of babies and children with melanin-rich skin tones.

Gill began her career at CAA in 2010 in the Motion Pictures group, and, in 2011, transitioned to an Executive role as Chief of Staff to Co-Chairman Richard Lovett. In this role, she managed a team to support the day-to-day business operations of the agency and worked with Lovett to direct the agency’s overall business, including innovation and growth to create more opportunities and resources for clients and the company.

Gill received a J.D. from Whittier Law School, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business-Cinema/Television. She is a native of Los Angeles and mother to three children.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Buster Houston
Buster Houston
Albertsons
VP National Merchendising, Ready-to-Eat
Meet Buster Houston, the Vice President of National Merchandising for Ready-to-Eat products at Albertson's Companies. With a 34-year career between Safeway and Albertson's Companies, Buster has a wealth of experience in the industry. In his current role, he oversees a wide range of products, including snacks, spreads, cereal, nutrition, candy, tobacco, books, magazines, and check stands. He leads a team of 6 National Category Directors, 10 Assistant Category Directors, 2 Department Specialists, and 2 Financial Analysts.

Buster's past roles have included Meat & Seafood, Produce, Marketing Systems & Processes, Loyalty, Merchandising Strategy, and Store Roles. He holds a BS degree in business marketing from Western Washington University and is currently a board member for Albertsons Companies’ National WIIN (Women's Inspiration & Inclusion) Network.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Chris Steffanci
Chris Steffanci
Columbia Distributing
CEO
Chris Steffanci is President and CEO of Columbia Distributing in Seattle Washington, one of the nation’s largest beverage distributing companies. Chris has spent the last 20 years in the wine and beer industry where he has held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing and strategy.

Chris began his career with Gallo Wine on the east coast but overtime decided his true passion was in the beer industry. He has since devoted the majority of his energy working for major global and domestic brewers such as Diageo-Guinness USA in various sales/marketing roles, at Heineken USA where he held several senior leadership roles and as COO of Pabst Brewing Company.

Chris’ high energy and passionate leadership style have been the key drivers behind his successful career. In October 2007, at the age of 34, he was awarded New York’s 40 Under 40 award while he was the Senior VP of Sales for the US business at Heineken. Chris is also a member of the Pacific Northwest Young Presidents Organization. He has been featured in several Beverage Journals and participated in numerous speaking engagements within the industry.

Chris is a graduate from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Chuck Casano
Chuck Casano
Hi-Touch Distribution
Founder
Chuck Casano is the Founder & CEO of Hi-Touch Libations, a premier Southern California full service direct store distributor. Hi-Touch services all Whole Foods locations in the retailer’s Southern Pacific Region, Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions, key 7-11s, and all the leading independent natural retailers. He is also the founder of Pitaya Foods, a frozen brand of Superfruits fruits with a mission to promote sustainable farming, create new job opportunities, and positively impact the communities they source from. Pitaya Foods can be found in over 20K locations, everywhere from your local juice bar to Whole Foods to Walmart.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Erin Engels
Erin Engels
Breakthru
SVP Commercial Strategy
Erin is Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy, with Breakthru Beverage Group. In this role, Erin leads the development and implementation of Breakthru’s commercial strategy, creating short- and long-term initiatives that support innovation and growth, build systems and capabilities, and ultimately enable the supplier and customer selling organizations. This includes leveraging data, analytics and business insights along with operationally effective workstreams to create actionable plans that drive performance, build sales capabilities and effectiveness and deliver long-term revenue growth.

Erin is an innovative, results-driven leader with a proven ability to create and execute growth strategies and spearhead major business transformations. Her customer-centric focus and experience leading agile, large-scale teams make her a great fit for this newly bolstered commercial position as she will play a key role in driving Breakthru’s ambitious growth plans and how the company grows capabilities to align with consumer demands, customer needs and supplier aspirations.

Prior to Breakthru, Erin was with Sysco Corporation, where she held senior leadership positions in the areas of strategy, M&A integration, sales and general management. In her role at Sysco as Vice President, Sales Strategy & Execution, Erin improved the sales and operational teams’ effectiveness for the company’s large, U.S. foodservice operations through sales model enhancements, center-led training, and the better leveraging of technology and analytics. Prior to that, she served as President of Sysco Central Texas, one of the company’s largest, most profitable distribution centers, where she successfully grew local market share and tied for No. 1 division based on financial and operational performance. She held several other key leadership roles prior to that, including Vice President, Strategic Planning. Earlier in her career, Erin was a management consultant with BearingPoint after beginning her career as a consultant with Technology Services Group.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Caroline Levy
Caroline Levy
Health-Ade Kombucha Celcius
Caroline Levy is the founder of CLAS, an advisory firm in the consumer space. Ms. Levy serves as a public and private company Director on the boards of Celsius Holdings (CELH) and Health-Ade Kombucha, and is a member of both the Audit and Nominating/Governance committees at both companies.

Ms. Levy had a renowned career as a consumer stock analyst for over thirty years, covering large and small companies across soft drinks, alcohol, cosmetics, household products, food, restaurants, and hotels. She was ranked by both the Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal surveys as one of the top analysts in her sector. Her tenure has included senior analyst roles at Lehman Brothers, UBS, CLSA and Macquarie. At UBS, Caroline was promoted to COO of US research, where she chaired the investment review committee, directed the vetting process for investment banking transactions, and oversaw the over 100-person associate analyst team.

Her strategic reports uncovered key consumer trends well before they became mainstream, such as “value in values” and the squeeze on mid-size companies to the benefit of small innovators and large retailers and brands. Her work with Citic’s on-the-ground team, “China Reality Research,” revealed unrecognized value in the Chinese operations of companies such as Estée Lauder, and uncovered risks in others (P&G in diapers).

Ms. Levy’s network spans CEOs and executives across public and private brand-owners and distributors, allowing her to key into trends and risks across industries. Long-standing relationships with sell-side and buy-side analysts and portfolio managers, give Ms. Levy a clear view into shifting investing and valuation methods.

Caroline joined the board of Celsius Holdings (CELH) in July 2020, a public company selling one of the fastest growing energy drinks in the category. She is a member of the audit and nominating committees. Ms. Levy was appointed to the board of Health-Ade Kombucha, a private-equity owned company.

Ms. Levy is a member of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), a prestigious organization dedicated to educating and furthering the success of women on private and public for-profit boards. She is an advisor to Founded, a Los Angeles-based organization of female founders in the wellness space and will be an advisor to their newly established investment fund.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Robert Ottenstein
Robert Ottenstein
Evercore
Analyst
Robert Ottenstein is a senior managing director and head of the Global Beverages and Household Products Team. Mr. Ottenstein most recently was ranked No. 3 in Institutional Investor’s 2022 and 2021 All-America Research poll for the beverage, household & personal care sector, after claiming a runner-up position in 2019. Before joining Evercore ISI, Mr. Ottenstein headed investor relations for Anheuser-Busch InBev shortly after InBev’s acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. Previously, he was with Morgan Stanley, where he served as a managing director in investment banking as well as an II ranked specialty chemical analyst and the sector leader for the firm’s global basic materials group. Mr. Ottenstein earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College, a B.A./M.A. in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Bonnie Herzog
Bonnie Herzog
Goldman Sachs
Analyst
Bonnie Herzog is a managing director and senior consumer analyst at Goldman Sachs covering the beverage, tobacco and convenience store sectors. During her 20 plus years of experience as a sell-side equity research analyst, Bonnie has been a top-ranked Institutional Investor analyst. For more than ten years, Bonnie has been recognized by Institutional Investor magazine for the All-America Research Team. Prior to Joining Goldman Sachs in December 2019, Bonnie was a managing director at Wells Fargo and Citi Investment Research. Bonnie is best known for her in-depth proprietary research and successful contrarian stocks calls. She has been a guest speaker at numerous tobacco, beverage and convenience store industry conferences. Bonnie earned an MBA degree in finance from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BA degree in finance from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Panel #4: Creating Brand Love
Lance Collins
Lance Collins
Body Armor Casa Azul
Entrepreneur
Lance Collins is an award-winning entrepreneur and beverage industry veteran renowned for creating FUZE® Beverage and NOS® Energy Drink (sold to the Coca-Cola Company in 2007), BODYARMOR® (sold to Coca-Cola) and Core Hydration (sold to Keurig Dr. Pepper in 2018) are innovations in the health and wellness marketplace. Lance’s commitment to the health and wellness space meets the demands of consumers looking for healthier choices on the shelves, and supports one of the beverage mogul’s most impassioned causes.
Panel #5: Retail Foraging vs Harvesting
Tom Brennen
Tom Brennan
Casey's
Chief Merchandising Officer
Tom is the Chief Merchandising Officer of Casey’s and he has been in the role since the end of October 2019. As Chief Merchant he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the company’s overall merchandising, prepared foods, and omni-channel marketing strategy. Brennan joined Casey’s from CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, where he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operations and support of over 3,000 restaurants across the United States. Prior to CKE, he spent 11 years at 7-Eleven in a variety of leadership roles in merchandising, category management, store development and operations. Before 7-Eleven, he worked in the financial planning and analysis group at Target Corporation and he also served six years active duty as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Panel #6: The Blurring Lines of Alcohol & Non-Alc
Wayne Wu
Wayne Wu
VMG Partners
General Partner
Wayne Wu is a General Partner at VMG Partners. VMG Partners works intimately with founders and leaders of branded consumer product companies, providing the resources and guidance needed to propel them to their next level of growth and value. Beyond capital, Wayne provides a value-added investment philosophy that pulls from his decades of experience, strategic guidance, and passionate focus to help our brands accelerate growth, increase brand awareness, and achieve their own definition of success. VMG has worked closely and successfully with brands such as Ancient Nutrition, Drunk Elephant, Humm Kombucha, Justin's, KIND, Nature's Bakery, Perfect Snacks, Quest, and Spindrift, to name a few. Wayne is energized by the next generation of innovative, consumer product entrepreneurs, and looks forward to helping them fully realize their vision. Wayne is based in San Francisco, CA.
Panel #6: The Blurring Lines of Alcohol & Non-Alc
Jason Strauss
Jason Strauss
Tao Group
CEO
Jason Strauss is a well-known and highly regarded hospitality industry veteran with well over 30 years of hands-on experience as an operator and developer of premium hospitality venues. A native New Yorker, Strauss and his partners are the masterminds behind some of the most successful and innovative hospitality brands of the past two decades.

Tao Group Hospitality delivers distinctive culinary and premium entertainment experiences through its portfolio of restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, and daylife venues. Tao Group Hospitality acquired Hakkasan Group in April 2021. The combined company operates over 80 branded locations in over 20 markets across four continents and features a collection of widely recognized hospitality brands. These include TAO, Hakkasan, OMNIA, Marquee, LAVO, Beauty & Essex, Wet Republic, Yauatcha, Ling Ling, Cathédrale, Little Sister, The Highlight Room, Sake No Hana, Jewel, and more. Tao Group Hospitality is part of Mohari Hospitality, an investment firm focused on the luxury lifestyle and hospitality sectors. Among Strauss’ many endeavors, he prioritizes charity work by volunteering with Inspiring Children and Tao Group Hospitality Cares. He graduated from Boston University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Hospitality Management and currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Panel #7: How Retail is finding Innovation in Hollywood
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins
7-Eleven
EVP & Chief Merchant Officer
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins is Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Offier for 7-Eleven, Inc. where he leads digital merchandising and merchandise operations including category management, analytics, new product introductions, new category and profit center development and store sets.

Previously, Jesus served as 7-Eleven, Inc’s EVP Innvation, Technology, and Experience. Before joining 7-Eleven and over the years, he has served in the military, government, and private sector, where he advised executives of Fortune 500 companies on strategy and profitability for the PriceWaterhouse Strategy Group. He also served as a Vice President of Operations at Dominick’s Finer Foods focused on an LBO turnaround and worked for the U.S. Treasury Department as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Jesus earned a Bachelor of Merchandising Engineering (aerospace) from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and is fluent in Spanish.
Large Company Spotlight
Rodney Sacks
Rodney Sacks
Monster
Co - CEO
Rodney Sacks was born and grew up in South Africa. He graduated from Wits University in Johannesburg with a law degree and post-graduate higher diploma in tax law. Mr. Sacks was the youngest attorney to make partner at Werksmans, the largest corporate law firm in South Africa. Mr. Sacks was a senior partner when he emigrated to California with his family in August 1989 after spending nearly 20 years with Werksmans.

In 1990 a consortium headed up by Mr. Sacks and his partner, Hilton Schlosberg, acquired control of a publicly traded company which was ultimately merged into and became known as Hansen Natural Corporation. Hansen Natural Corporation acquired the Hansen’s Natural Soda and Apple Juice business in 1992 for a purchase consideration of some $14.5 million. At that time sales were $17.5 million and the business had a grand total of 12 employees. Mr. Sacks has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hansen Natural Corporation, which changed its name to Monster Beverage Corporation in 2012, from 1990 to January 2021. In January 2021 the Company changed the titles of Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg to be, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, respectively.

Under their stewardship Monster Beverage Corporation’s sales have grown to in excess of $7.1 billion and today employs more than 6,000 people globally.
Large Company Spotlight
Hilton H. Shlosberg
Hilton H. Schlosberg
Monster
Co - CEO
Hilton H. Schlosberg has had a successful career in industry, since completing graduate school in South Africa. At a young age, he served as an executive director of the fourth largest listed company in South Africa which comprised a broad spectrum of industry, including consumer products, and then moved to London to continue his career in mergers and acquisitions and the management of their successful integration. He has served as a director of a number of companies in South Africa, the UK and in the United States.

In 1990 with the backing of a number of investors, he and a business partner acquired a NASDAQ quoted company which merged with the Hansen business in 1992. In 1995 he relocated to the United States to assume an executive role with Hansen Natural Corporation, which in January 2012 changed its name to Monster Beverage Corporation. He currently serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Monster Beverage Corporation, a company with a market capitalization of approximately $58 billion.
Andrew Archambault
Andrew Archambault
Keruig Dr Pepper
President - US Beverages
Andrew Archambault joined the privately held Keurig Green Mountain, Inc in December 2017 as Senior Vice President for US Commercial Strategy, and after working on the formal integration team, he was named Chief Customer Officer of the newly combined public company (KDP) in 2018 after the successful merger with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG). In 2023, Andrew was named President – US Beverages for the company, directly managing a $9B+ P&L & 12,000+ employees. Prior to that elevation, Andrew was an ELT member, as President – US Commercial, leading a ~700-person National Retail, RGM, Category Management, E-Commerce, Beverage Concentrate & Commercial team, responsible for managing ~$8B Gross to Net P&L across ~125 brands in all US channels of trade. Prior to joining KDP, Andrew was the Chief Commercial/Customer Officer for The Nature’s Bounty Co., a Carlyle Group & KKR private equity owned company. The Nature’s Bounty Co. was a global CPG Wellness company, headquartered in New York. Andrew joined The Nature’s Bounty Co. in 2014 and was responsible for all U.S. classes of trade across the entire portfolio. Andrew led a ~100 person Commercial & Sales team that managed all aspects of ~$1.8B P&L. Andrew also played a formal role on the Executive deal team that successfully sold the company in September of 2017.

Prior to joining The Nature’s Bounty Co., Andrew was Vice President / Managing Director for Bacardi USA, based in Coral Gables, Florida. Andrew led the East Business Unit, representing approx. 40% of Bacardi’s US revenue. Andrew joined Bacardi in 2012 to lead, develop, and transform the National Retail / Strategic Account business for Bacardi USA. Prior to joining Bacardi, Andrew worked for The Coca-Cola Company for nearly 17 years. His final role at Coca-Cola was Vice President for the US Coca-Cola/Wal-Mart team. He managed nearly $3B in annual retail sales across 3 portfolios – Warehouse Juice, DSD Sparkling, and Still Beverages and led a ~30 person HQ and Field sales team. Andrew held roles in several business disciplines throughout his Coca-Cola tenure including: Market Unit VP/GM (Texas), Sales Operations, Category Management, Operational/Brand Marketing, Business Development / Revenue Growth Management, Human Resources / Talent Development, and National Account Team Leadership.

Andrew’s unique blend of corporate Fortune 100 experience, balanced with a bias for entrepreneurial action, setting clear vision, and delivering performance, has established him as a world class Executive leader and a highly effective business transformation agent. Andrew specializes in rapidly building high performing teams that: establish new brands, reinvigorate legacy brands, implement leading sales management technology and practices, improve trade investment and pricing architectures, and gain market share while enhancing gross margins and delivering annual P&L targets. Andrew holds undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Political Science from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA and an MBA from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. Andrew was also an NCAA swimmer while attending Gettysburg. Andrew is currently an Executive Committee board member of the American Beverage Association (ABA) and on the Board of Tractor Beverage, Inc, a leading non-gmo, organic beverage company. He was also recently on the Board of Rich Context, an emerging digital media and e-commerce company, which was successfully acquired by The Stable. Andrew also maintains an ownership stake in Game Face Products, a minority owned, athletic grooming company.
Gary Hemphill
Gary Hemphill
Beverage Marketing Coorporation
Managing Director of Research
Gary A. Hemphill is Managing Director of Research at Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC). In that role, he directs the company’s extensive information products and services, consisting of beverage databases, market reports, directories and more.

Mr. Hemphill directs the company’s pre-eminent beverage database DrinkTell. It is the only comprehensive total market U.S. beverage database tracking all beverage categories. In addition, he has created and maintained proprietary beverage tracking services for clients in the U.S. and Canada.

He also directs more than 30 industry-standard market reports and directories published by BMC that cover the multiple beverage markets. The company’s wide range of respected U.S. reports cover soft drinks, bottled water, milk, beer, fruit beverages, New Age and functional beverages, wine, spirits, beverage packaging and more. In addition, the company publishes a select group of global reports.

Mr. Hemphill has more than 25 years experience in the beverage industry. Previously, he served as editor of the trade publication Beverage Industry and he also directed new product publicity for the Pepsi-Cola Company where he contributed to a range of assignments. Previous to those positions, Mr. Hemphill held various newspaper writing and editing positions.

Mr. Hemphill is widely quoted in the press and has often been interviewed on both TV and radio on issues of critical importance to the beverage industry. He has spoken at a range of conferences, conventions and industry events including the Beverage Forum, World Juice, the IBWA (Bottled Water) convention, NAMA (vending) trade show, the FMI convention, the International Dairy Show, the Tea Association annual meeting, the ISBT annual meeting, BevOps and many others.

Mr. Hemphill holds a bachelors degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and resides in Woodstock, NY.
Andrew Archambault
Andrew Archambault
Keruig Dr Pepper
President - US Beverages
Andrew Archambault joined the privately held Keurig Green Mountain, Inc in December 2017 as Senior Vice President for US Commercial Strategy, and after working on the formal integration team, he was named Chief Customer Officer of the newly combined public company (KDP) in 2018 after the successful merger with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG). In 2023, Andrew was named President – US Beverages for the company, directly managing a $9B+ P&L & 12,000+ employees. Prior to that elevation, Andrew was an ELT member, as President – US Commercial, leading a ~700-person National Retail, RGM, Category Management, E-Commerce, Beverage Concentrate & Commercial team, responsible for managing ~$8B Gross to Net P&L across ~125 brands in all US channels of trade. Prior to joining KDP, Andrew was the Chief Commercial/Customer Officer for The Nature’s Bounty Co., a Carlyle Group & KKR private equity owned company. The Nature’s Bounty Co. was a global CPG Wellness company, headquartered in New York. Andrew joined The Nature’s Bounty Co. in 2014 and was responsible for all U.S. classes of trade across the entire portfolio. Andrew led a ~100 person Commercial & Sales team that managed all aspects of ~$1.8B P&L. Andrew also played a formal role on the Executive deal team that successfully sold the company in September of 2017.

Prior to joining The Nature’s Bounty Co., Andrew was Vice President / Managing Director for Bacardi USA, based in Coral Gables, Florida. Andrew led the East Business Unit, representing approx. 40% of Bacardi’s US revenue. Andrew joined Bacardi in 2012 to lead, develop, and transform the National Retail / Strategic Account business for Bacardi USA. Prior to joining Bacardi, Andrew worked for The Coca-Cola Company for nearly 17 years. His final role at Coca-Cola was Vice President for the US Coca-Cola/Wal-Mart team. He managed nearly $3B in annual retail sales across 3 portfolios – Warehouse Juice, DSD Sparkling, and Still Beverages and led a ~30 person HQ and Field sales team. Andrew held roles in several business disciplines throughout his Coca-Cola tenure including: Market Unit VP/GM (Texas), Sales Operations, Category Management, Operational/Brand Marketing, Business Development / Revenue Growth Management, Human Resources / Talent Development, and National Account Team Leadership.

Andrew’s unique blend of corporate Fortune 100 experience, balanced with a bias for entrepreneurial action, setting clear vision, and delivering performance, has established him as a world class Executive leader and a highly effective business transformation agent. Andrew specializes in rapidly building high performing teams that: establish new brands, reinvigorate legacy brands, implement leading sales management technology and practices, improve trade investment and pricing architectures, and gain market share while enhancing gross margins and delivering annual P&L targets. Andrew holds undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Political Science from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA and an MBA from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. Andrew was also an NCAA swimmer while attending Gettysburg. Andrew is currently an Executive Committee board member of the American Beverage Association (ABA) and on the Board of Tractor Beverage, Inc, a leading non-gmo, organic beverage company. He was also recently on the Board of Rich Context, an emerging digital media and e-commerce company, which was successfully acquired by The Stable. Andrew also maintains an ownership stake in Game Face Products, a minority owned, athletic grooming company.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Bonnie Herzog
Bonnie Herzog
Goldman Sachs
Analyst
Bonnie Herzog is a managing director and senior consumer analyst at Goldman Sachs covering the beverage, tobacco and convenience store sectors. During her 20 plus years of experience as a sell-side equity research analyst, Bonnie has been a top-ranked Institutional Investor analyst. For more than ten years, Bonnie has been recognized by Institutional Investor magazine for the All-America Research Team. Prior to Joining Goldman Sachs in December 2019, Bonnie was a managing director at Wells Fargo and Citi Investment Research. Bonnie is best known for her in-depth proprietary research and successful contrarian stocks calls. She has been a guest speaker at numerous tobacco, beverage and convenience store industry conferences. Bonnie earned an MBA degree in finance from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BA degree in finance from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Buster Houston
Buster Houston
Albertsons
VP National Merchendising, Ready-to-Eat
Meet Buster Houston, the Vice President of National Merchandising for Ready-to-Eat products at Albertson's Companies. With a 34-year career between Safeway and Albertson's Companies, Buster has a wealth of experience in the industry. In his current role, he oversees a wide range of products, including snacks, spreads, cereal, nutrition, candy, tobacco, books, magazines, and check stands. He leads a team of 6 National Category Directors, 10 Assistant Category Directors, 2 Department Specialists, and 2 Financial Analysts.

Buster's past roles have included Meat & Seafood, Produce, Marketing Systems & Processes, Loyalty, Merchandising Strategy, and Store Roles. He holds a BS degree in business marketing from Western Washington University and is currently a board member for Albertsons Companies’ National WIIN (Women's Inspiration & Inclusion) Network.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Caroline Levy
Caroline Levy
Health-Ade Kombucha Celcius
Caroline Levy is the founder of CLAS, an advisory firm in the consumer space. Ms. Levy serves as a public and private company Director on the boards of Celsius Holdings (CELH) and Health-Ade Kombucha, and is a member of both the Audit and Nominating/Governance committees at both companies.

Ms. Levy had a renowned career as a consumer stock analyst for over thirty years, covering large and small companies across soft drinks, alcohol, cosmetics, household products, food, restaurants, and hotels. She was ranked by both the Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal surveys as one of the top analysts in her sector. Her tenure has included senior analyst roles at Lehman Brothers, UBS, CLSA and Macquarie. At UBS, Caroline was promoted to COO of US research, where she chaired the investment review committee, directed the vetting process for investment banking transactions, and oversaw the over 100-person associate analyst team.

Her strategic reports uncovered key consumer trends well before they became mainstream, such as “value in values” and the squeeze on mid-size companies to the benefit of small innovators and large retailers and brands. Her work with Citic’s on-the-ground team, “China Reality Research,” revealed unrecognized value in the Chinese operations of companies such as Estée Lauder, and uncovered risks in others (P&G in diapers).

Ms. Levy’s network spans CEOs and executives across public and private brand-owners and distributors, allowing her to key into trends and risks across industries. Long-standing relationships with sell-side and buy-side analysts and portfolio managers, give Ms. Levy a clear view into shifting investing and valuation methods.

Caroline joined the board of Celsius Holdings (CELH) in July 2020, a public company selling one of the fastest growing energy drinks in the category. She is a member of the audit and nominating committees. Ms. Levy was appointed to the board of Health-Ade Kombucha, a private-equity owned company.

Ms. Levy is a member of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), a prestigious organization dedicated to educating and furthering the success of women on private and public for-profit boards. She is an advisor to Founded, a Los Angeles-based organization of female founders in the wellness space and will be an advisor to their newly established investment fund.
Keynote 4
Chris Gallant
Chris Gallant
Chamberlain Coffee
CEO
Chris Gallant is CEO of Chamberlain Coffee, the brainchild of Youtube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain. Since joining in the Fall of 2021, Chris has led the brand through multiple fundraises, executed countless new product launches and helped Chamberlain Coffee achieve monumental brand growth. With his passion for bringing innovative and customer-driven products to life, Chris has worked hand-in-hand with Emma in developing and executing Chamberlain Coffee’s strategy.

Prior to joining the Chamberlain Coffee team, Chris has 15+ years in strategic and commercial beverage industry operating roles, both large (Heineken, Red Bull) and small/startup (Bronx Brewery, Kona Red, Aqua ViTea). Through these roles, Chris has garnered exceptional experience leading consumer companies through growth and contributing to their greater success. Chris is also a former Bain & Co consultant and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Chris Steffanci
Chris Steffanci
Columbia Distributing
CEO
Chris Steffanci is President and CEO of Columbia Distributing in Seattle Washington, one of the nation’s largest beverage distributing companies. Chris has spent the last 20 years in the wine and beer industry where he has held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing and strategy.

Chris began his career with Gallo Wine on the east coast but overtime decided his true passion was in the beer industry. He has since devoted the majority of his energy working for major global and domestic brewers such as Diageo-Guinness USA in various sales/marketing roles, at Heineken USA where he held several senior leadership roles and as COO of Pabst Brewing Company.

Chris’ high energy and passionate leadership style have been the key drivers behind his successful career. In October 2007, at the age of 34, he was awarded New York’s 40 Under 40 award while he was the Senior VP of Sales for the US business at Heineken. Chris is also a member of the Pacific Northwest Young Presidents Organization. He has been featured in several Beverage Journals and participated in numerous speaking engagements within the industry.

Chris is a graduate from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Chuck Casano
Chuck Casano
Hi-Touch Distribution
Founder
Chuck Casano is the Founder & CEO of Hi-Touch Libations, a premier Southern California full service direct store distributor. Hi-Touch services all Whole Foods locations in the retailer’s Southern Pacific Region, Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions, key 7-11s, and all the leading independent natural retailers. He is also the founder of Pitaya Foods, a frozen brand of Superfruits fruits with a mission to promote sustainable farming, create new job opportunities, and positively impact the communities they source from. Pitaya Foods can be found in over 20K locations, everywhere from your local juice bar to Whole Foods to Walmart.
Panel #2: The Shifting Ground Of Beverage Distribution
Erin Engels
Erin Engels
Breakthru
SVP Commercial Strategy
Erin is Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy, with Breakthru Beverage Group. In this role, Erin leads the development and implementation of Breakthru’s commercial strategy, creating short- and long-term initiatives that support innovation and growth, build systems and capabilities, and ultimately enable the supplier and customer selling organizations. This includes leveraging data, analytics and business insights along with operationally effective workstreams to create actionable plans that drive performance, build sales capabilities and effectiveness and deliver long-term revenue growth.

Erin is an innovative, results-driven leader with a proven ability to create and execute growth strategies and spearhead major business transformations. Her customer-centric focus and experience leading agile, large-scale teams make her a great fit for this newly bolstered commercial position as she will play a key role in driving Breakthru’s ambitious growth plans and how the company grows capabilities to align with consumer demands, customer needs and supplier aspirations.

Prior to Breakthru, Erin was with Sysco Corporation, where she held senior leadership positions in the areas of strategy, M&A integration, sales and general management. In her role at Sysco as Vice President, Sales Strategy & Execution, Erin improved the sales and operational teams’ effectiveness for the company’s large, U.S. foodservice operations through sales model enhancements, center-led training, and the better leveraging of technology and analytics. Prior to that, she served as President of Sysco Central Texas, one of the company’s largest, most profitable distribution centers, where she successfully grew local market share and tied for No. 1 division based on financial and operational performance. She held several other key leadership roles prior to that, including Vice President, Strategic Planning. Earlier in her career, Erin was a management consultant with BearingPoint after beginning her career as a consultant with Technology Services Group.
Gary Hemphill
Gary Hemphill
Beverage Marketing Coorporation
Managing Director of Research
Gary A. Hemphill is Managing Director of Research at Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC). In that role, he directs the company’s extensive information products and services, consisting of beverage databases, market reports, directories and more.

Mr. Hemphill directs the company’s pre-eminent beverage database DrinkTell. It is the only comprehensive total market U.S. beverage database tracking all beverage categories. In addition, he has created and maintained proprietary beverage tracking services for clients in the U.S. and Canada.

He also directs more than 30 industry-standard market reports and directories published by BMC that cover the multiple beverage markets. The company’s wide range of respected U.S. reports cover soft drinks, bottled water, milk, beer, fruit beverages, New Age and functional beverages, wine, spirits, beverage packaging and more. In addition, the company publishes a select group of global reports.

Mr. Hemphill has more than 25 years experience in the beverage industry. Previously, he served as editor of the trade publication Beverage Industry and he also directed new product publicity for the Pepsi-Cola Company where he contributed to a range of assignments. Previous to those positions, Mr. Hemphill held various newspaper writing and editing positions.

Mr. Hemphill is widely quoted in the press and has often been interviewed on both TV and radio on issues of critical importance to the beverage industry. He has spoken at a range of conferences, conventions and industry events including the Beverage Forum, World Juice, the IBWA (Bottled Water) convention, NAMA (vending) trade show, the FMI convention, the International Dairy Show, the Tea Association annual meeting, the ISBT annual meeting, BevOps and many others.

Mr. Hemphill holds a bachelors degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and resides in Woodstock, NY.
Keynote 1
Gavin Hattersly
Gavin Hattersly
Molson Coors
CEO
Prior to his current position, Mr. Hattersley served as chief executive officer of MillerCoors, the U.S. division of Molson Coors, since September 2015. Prior to joining MillerCoors, Mr. Hattersley served as chief financial officer of Molson Coors from June 2012 to September 2015. From July 2008 to June 2012, Mr. Hattersley served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of MillerCoors. He also served as senior vice president of finance for Miller Brewing Company from October 2002 to July 2008. He came to Miller Brewing Company from SAB Limited of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he held several financial management positions before becoming chief financial officer in 1999. Prior to joining SAB Limited in 1997, Mr. Hattersley spent almost 10 years with Barloworld Limited in various finance positions.
Large Company Spotlight
Hilton H. Shlosberg
Hilton H. Schlosberg
Monster
Co - CEO
Hilton H. Schlosberg has had a successful career in industry, since completing graduate school in South Africa. At a young age, he served as an executive director of the fourth largest listed company in South Africa which comprised a broad spectrum of industry, including consumer products, and then moved to London to continue his career in mergers and acquisitions and the management of their successful integration. He has served as a director of a number of companies in South Africa, the UK and in the United States.

In 1990 with the backing of a number of investors, he and a business partner acquired a NASDAQ quoted company which merged with the Hansen business in 1992. In 1995 he relocated to the United States to assume an executive role with Hansen Natural Corporation, which in January 2012 changed its name to Monster Beverage Corporation. He currently serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Monster Beverage Corporation, a company with a market capitalization of approximately $58 billion.
Panel #6: The Blurring Lines of Alcohol & Non-Alc
Jason Strauss
Jason Strauss
Tao Group
CEO
Jason Strauss is a well-known and highly regarded hospitality industry veteran with well over 30 years of hands-on experience as an operator and developer of premium hospitality venues. A native New Yorker, Strauss and his partners are the masterminds behind some of the most successful and innovative hospitality brands of the past two decades.

Tao Group Hospitality delivers distinctive culinary and premium entertainment experiences through its portfolio of restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, and daylife venues. Tao Group Hospitality acquired Hakkasan Group in April 2021. The combined company operates over 80 branded locations in over 20 markets across four continents and features a collection of widely recognized hospitality brands. These include TAO, Hakkasan, OMNIA, Marquee, LAVO, Beauty & Essex, Wet Republic, Yauatcha, Ling Ling, Cathédrale, Little Sister, The Highlight Room, Sake No Hana, Jewel, and more. Tao Group Hospitality is part of Mohari Hospitality, an investment firm focused on the luxury lifestyle and hospitality sectors. Among Strauss’ many endeavors, he prioritizes charity work by volunteering with Inspiring Children and Tao Group Hospitality Cares. He graduated from Boston University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Hospitality Management and currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Panel #7: How Retail is finding Innovation in Hollywood
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins
7-Eleven
EVP & Chief Merchant Officer
Jesus Delgado-Jenkins is Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Offier for 7-Eleven, Inc. where he leads digital merchandising and merchandise operations including category management, analytics, new product introductions, new category and profit center development and store sets.

Previously, Jesus served as 7-Eleven, Inc’s EVP Innvation, Technology, and Experience. Before joining 7-Eleven and over the years, he has served in the military, government, and private sector, where he advised executives of Fortune 500 companies on strategy and profitability for the PriceWaterhouse Strategy Group. He also served as a Vice President of Operations at Dominick’s Finer Foods focused on an LBO turnaround and worked for the U.S. Treasury Department as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Jesus earned a Bachelor of Merchandising Engineering (aerospace) from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and is fluent in Spanish.
Panel #4: Creating Brand Love
Lance Collins
Lance Collins
Body Armor Casa Azul
Entrepreneur
Lance Collins is an award-winning entrepreneur and beverage industry veteran renowned for creating FUZE® Beverage and NOS® Energy Drink (sold to the Coca-Cola Company in 2007), BODYARMOR® (sold to Coca-Cola) and Core Hydration (sold to Keurig Dr. Pepper in 2018) are innovations in the health and wellness marketplace. Lance’s commitment to the health and wellness space meets the demands of consumers looking for healthier choices on the shelves, and supports one of the beverage mogul’s most impassioned causes.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Naseeb Gill
Naseeb Gill
CAA
Client Strategy
Naseeb Gill is an Agent in the Global Client Strategy group at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), with key offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Nashville, and Beijing. She is based in Los Angeles, where she works on behalf of many of the world’s top musicians, actors, and influencers of pop culture, helping maximize their enterprise value by creating overall and cohesive brand strategies and launching talent-led and scalable consumer businesses.

Most recently, she worked closely with client Tom Hanks to create H*A*N*X For Our Troops, a consumer packaged goods company, on a mission to do good by committing to donating 100% of its net profits to Veterans and their families. Founded by Hanks, H*A*N*X launched in November 2022 with a range of coffee products and will continue to expand its product offerings. She also worked with clients and parenting duo Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade to launch Proudly, the first baby skin and bum care brand formulated by experts of color, taking into consideration the skin needs of babies and children with melanin-rich skin tones.

Gill began her career at CAA in 2010 in the Motion Pictures group, and, in 2011, transitioned to an Executive role as Chief of Staff to Co-Chairman Richard Lovett. In this role, she managed a team to support the day-to-day business operations of the agency and worked with Lovett to direct the agency’s overall business, including innovation and growth to create more opportunities and resources for clients and the company.

Gill received a J.D. from Whittier Law School, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business-Cinema/Television. She is a native of Los Angeles and mother to three children.
Panel #3: The Beat On The (Wall) Street
Robert Ottenstein
Robert Ottenstein
Evercore
Analyst
Robert Ottenstein is a senior managing director and head of the Global Beverages and Household Products Team. Mr. Ottenstein most recently was ranked No. 3 in Institutional Investor’s 2022 and 2021 All-America Research poll for the beverage, household & personal care sector, after claiming a runner-up position in 2019. Before joining Evercore ISI, Mr. Ottenstein headed investor relations for Anheuser-Busch InBev shortly after InBev’s acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. Previously, he was with Morgan Stanley, where he served as a managing director in investment banking as well as an II ranked specialty chemical analyst and the sector leader for the firm’s global basic materials group. Mr. Ottenstein earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College, a B.A./M.A. in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford.
Large Company Spotlight
Rodney Sacks
Rodney Sacks
Monster
CEO
Rodney Sacks was born and grew up in South Africa. He graduated from Wits University in Johannesburg with a law degree and post-graduate higher diploma in tax law. Mr. Sacks was the youngest attorney to make partner at Werksmans, the largest corporate law firm in South Africa. Mr. Sacks was a senior partner when he emigrated to California with his family in August 1989 after spending nearly 20 years with Werksmans.

In 1990 a consortium headed up by Mr. Sacks and his partner, Hilton Schlosberg, acquired control of a publicly traded company which was ultimately merged into and became known as Hansen Natural Corporation. Hansen Natural Corporation acquired the Hansen’s Natural Soda and Apple Juice business in 1992 for a purchase consideration of some $14.5 million. At that time sales were $17.5 million and the business had a grand total of 12 employees. Mr. Sacks has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hansen Natural Corporation, which changed its name to Monster Beverage Corporation in 2012, from 1990 to January 2021. In January 2021 the Company changed the titles of Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg to be, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, respectively.

Under their stewardship Monster Beverage Corporation’s sales have grown to in excess of $7.1 billion and today employs more than 6,000 people globally.
Panel #5: Retail Foraging vs Harvesting
Tom Brennen
Tom Brennan
Casey's
Chief Merchandising Officer
Tom is the Chief Merchandising Officer of Casey’s and he has been in the role since the end of October 2019. As Chief Merchant he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the company’s overall merchandising, prepared foods, and omni-channel marketing strategy. Brennan joined Casey’s from CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, where he was Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operations and support of over 3,000 restaurants across the United States. Prior to CKE, he spent 11 years at 7-Eleven in a variety of leadership roles in merchandising, category management, store development and operations. Before 7-Eleven, he worked in the financial planning and analysis group at Target Corporation and he also served six years active duty as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Panel #1: The Creator/ Influencer/ Celebrity Paradigm
Trevor Drinkwater
Trevor Drinkwater
Trusted Influence
Founder & CEO
Trevor Drinkwater is the Founder and CEO of Trusted Influence Inc. Mr. Drinkwater started his career with Nestle Waters nearly 30 years ago as a sales representative and became the youngest ever General Manager of the company before he turned 30 years of age. After Nestle Waters, Trevor joined Warner Bros Home Entertainment as its SVP of Sales, where he helped the company launch the highly successful DVD format. He then joined Take Two Interactive as its COO before deciding to leave to become an entrepreneur. Mr. Drinkwater has an extensive background in content development and production as well as commercializing entertainment-based products in traditional retail environments. Trusted Influence is a full-service consumer products platform dedicated to helping established and emerging brands excel in today's dynamic marketplace. TI accelerates the process from ideation to commercialization by offering a comprehensive suite of services, including product development, sourcing and manufacturing, supply chain and inventory management, capitalization, strategic sales, merchandising, and marketing.
Panel #6: The Blurring Lines of Alcohol & Non-Alc
Wayne Wu
Wayne Wu
VMG Partners
General Partner
Wayne Wu is a General Partner at VMG Partners. VMG Partners works intimately with founders and leaders of branded consumer product companies, providing the resources and guidance needed to propel them to their next level of growth and value. Beyond capital, Wayne provides a value-added investment philosophy that pulls from his decades of experience, strategic guidance, and passionate focus to help our brands accelerate growth, increase brand awareness, and achieve their own definition of success. VMG has worked closely and successfully with brands such as Ancient Nutrition, Drunk Elephant, Humm Kombucha, Justin's, KIND, Nature's Bakery, Perfect Snacks, Quest, and Spindrift, to name a few. Wayne is energized by the next generation of innovative, consumer product entrepreneurs, and looks forward to helping them fully realize their vision. Wayne is based in San Francisco, CA.
Keynote 2
Will McDonald
Will McDonald
Walmart
VP - DMM Beverages
Will is currently the Vice President DMM that leads the merchandising team over beverages for Walmart US. Will began his career at Walmart in the Finance organization before moving into Merchandising. He has had a variety of experiences in the Food division at Walmart, including the front-end checkout area, seasonal candy and carbonated soft drinks. Prior to joining the Beverage team, Will led the Candy Team and had responsibility for the everyday and seasonal candy businesses. Will lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife, two daughters, and son.

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