Because we're getting so many mixed messages about our economy at the moment, and yet we've still got to develop and execute our product development strategies we are running our next seminar around the subject of NPD in an uncertain economy.

We'll be asking some industry thought-leaders some tough questions, and hopefully getting some good answers, for example:

• Which consumer groups will become vulnerable and which won't, and will those with tighter purses trade down trade across or stay put and cut costs elsewhere?
• How do we spot our vulnerable products and recession-proof them?
• How to manage NPD in the face of soaring prices, ingredient shortages and wobbly exchange rates?
• Premium products or economy versions ... which is the best choice?
• What solutions does value-engineering offer?

To keep things lively we've asked Mitzie Wilson who has launched and edited more top food magazines than she cares to remember, to chair the day and make sure we leave both prepared and inspired.

RECESSION PROOFING YOUR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Steve Rice, Managing Director, RTS Resource.
• The UK Food & Drink Market in-home and out-of-home: capitalise on the upcoming trends.
• Market pressures, where do they come from and what can we expect?
• What determines consumer vulnerability in a slowing economy?
• What influences product vulnerability in a slowing economy?
• The vulnerability map ... how to rate your portfolio.
• Recession proofing your NPD.

GETTING AND KEEPING LISTINGS IN AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMY
Jonathan Banks, Business Insight Director, The Nielsen Company.
• Slowing or Growing?  Update on Nielsen's exclusive Consumer Confidence tracking study.
• How will retailers view NPD if there's a slow down?
• How will private label fare when the purse strings tighten?
• Five must-haves in order to get and keep listings.
• The latest findings on range management and architecture.
• Making the most of promotion and support.

FOOD AT A CROSSROADS
Chris Grantham, Consulting Partner, Your Future.
• Debrief from latest ‘frontline panel’ expert research conducted in the UK and US.
• The future-back category-visioning-tool.
• The emergence of critical new value-models.
• Green, Tasty, Healthy and Convenient ... which will reign supreme in the next decade.
• Some ways forward for businesses at an NPD crossroads.

HOME ECONOMICS
Mitzie Wilson, Editorial Consultant and writer for the Mail on Saturday and many other publications.
• Will tomorrows consumers cut costs or choose quality rather than quantity?
• Natural health and wellbeing ... you've taken everything out, but now what can you put in?
• Growing their own future ... will consumers dig their own dinner?
• Can responsible consumers save the planet and change lives?
• A return to scratch cooking... how to help consumers cook confidently?
• Internet shopping or a trip to the shops. Can you offer some food theatre?

WHEN EAT-OUT BECOMES EAT-IN
Jenni Muir, Editor of Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide and the AA Guide. 
• Economic recession - making silver linings out of grey clouds.
• Restaurants become retailers - are you ready?
• Resurgence of Deli's and emergence of Traiteurs.
• Luxury, provenance and artisan reads-over from restaurants to home eating.
• From high-end to cheap-as-chips ... restaurant trends in cities and elsewhere.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE - EVERYDAY LIVES
Lesley Thompson, Founder, Changes Research.  Insights based on specially commissioned quality research.
• How are people adapting to these uncertain times.
• What are people really eating and drinking at home and away.
• What happens when the pay-days don't come around quickly enough?
• Rising product prices ... what might consumers do without?
• Implications for product development.

LESSENING THE RISKS
Susan Manning, Senior Planner, Tangible.
• What happened in the last slow-down, some useful lessons.
• What's different now and how to make the most of things.
• Some alternate scenarios. 
• Sustaining growth in an uncertain world.
• A check list for recession proofing Brands and Products.

PLUS

• Three table-team brainstormings so you can work with peers on how to take forward your new ideas
• An end of the day Q & A ... a chance to pose your questions to the panel of experts.

AS WELL AS

• Full written documentation and website downloads.

AND DON'T FORGET : There will be a chance to win a Magnum of Bolly!

NOTE : We may have to make adjustments to the agenda based on the availability of speakers.

Date & Time:
Tea, coffee, bacon butties and fruit kebabs: from 8:00 am to help you arrive early and beat the traffic.
Seminar begins: 9:00 am.
Coffee/Buffet Lunch/Tea: TBC
Conference finishes: 4:30 pm latest to get you away before the traffic..


Price:
£375 + VAT. (At about £100 below the market rate don't let the low price fool you, we're the UK's food & drink industry innovation best practice club and run the best attended seminars in the industry)

Venue:
Hilton Metropole - NEC Birmingham. Click here to see a map.

REGISTER YOUR PLACE AT THIS IMPORTANT SEMINAR