Welcome & Opening – Ralph de Greef, Managing Director Benelux, NielsenIQ

Keynote Prof. Dr. Els Breugelmans – The future of retail? Without physical stores and with direct-to-consumer channels?

Physical retail today is under a lot of pressure. The rise of online shopping has sparked predictions of the demise of brick-and-mortar stores. On top of that, manufacturers are increasingly bypassing traditional retailers by launching direct-to-consumer channels, often online, allowing them to connect directly with end-consumers. Should retailers view these direct-to-consumer channels as enemies or as friends? How should they respond? Is there still a future for physical retail stores? And if so, how should they look like? Drawing on cutting-edge scientific research, this lecture will explore the future of retail. It will delve into the latest academic literature, enriched with real-world examples and mini-cases, to provide actionable insights that illustrate how challenges can be transformed into opportunities for retail managers, ensuring they remain competitive and innovative in a dynamic environment.

Prof. Dr. Els Breugelmans, Full Professor, KU Leuven

Full-View-Talk: Developments in the Belgian Consumer Market

Get The Full View™ of the consumer market in Belgium. How is the overall market evolving, and what are the similarities and differences between FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) and T&D (Tech & Durables). 

Wim Boesmans, Commercial Director Belgium, GfK – An NIQ Company
Stephanie Baaklini, Manufacturers Commercial Leader Belgium, NielsenIQ

The Shopping Cart of Tomorrow: bol’s Path Toward More Inclusive and Circular E-commerce 

Bram and Yasmine take the audience on a journey towards more conscious shopping at bol during their keynote. Although bol is an e-commerce platform, the importance of the transition to circular shopping is evident, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) themes are playing an increasingly important role, especially with the growing consumer demand for a more sustainable product range. Bol wants to take responsibility by collaborating with partners and suppliers to make the e-commerce chain more sustainable and inclusive. But how does that work in practice as a leading e-commerce platform, and where do you start? Bram and Yasmine not only share the insights they have gained but also the obstacles they encounter. Additionally, they discuss opportunities and concrete projects to respond to the changing customer needs in the future.

Bram Vromans, Country Lead Belgium, bol
Yasmin Van Moortel, Project Manager Belgium, bol

How HP is Unlocking a New Era of AI Experiences 

Developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence offer many advantages. Although the visible impact on the daily workplace is still limited, it is already causing some unrest. HP firmly believes in the saying, “You will not lose your job because of AI, but to someone using AI.” In this session, Steven will explain how HP is pushing the boundaries of traditional PCs and unlocking new possibilities for the modern professional. He will discuss how consumer insights, technological innovations, and a long-term strategy are shaping HP’s product range and branding for the coming decade.

Steven Van Pee, Retail Sales Manager BeNeLux, HP

How L’Oréal Benelux is Elevating its E-commerce Strategy with Data-Driven Insights

This session will showcase how L’Oréal Benelux is utilizing NielsenIQ Ecommerce Solutions to deepen its understanding of the Dutch and Belgian online markets. It will highlight how these insights help identify blind spots in the Benelux beauty industry and provide a clearer view of consumer segments and their online purchasing behavior.

Prisca Metz, CMI Director, L’Oréal
Jasper Koole, CMI Market Manager BNL, L’Oréal

The power of paper in the modern media mix

The rise of digital media and digital advertising challenges the role of traditional paper leaflets. While marketers dare to question the relevance of paper leaflets, BD Media—market leader in unaddressed leaflet distribution—is more convinced than ever of their value in today’s media landscape. GfK – an NIQ company puts these differing attitudes to the test, revealing that the leaflet still excels in reaching, inspiring, and activating consumers. Join this session to discover why and how the leaflet continues to thrive in the modern media landscape. 

Leen Dehantschutter, Managing Director, BD Media
Karolien Smets, Country Lead Consumer & Marketing Insights, GfK – An NIQ Company

Unlock volume growth in mature markets: The PepsiCo Way! 

Join Philippe and Julien for an insightful presentation on how PepsiCo has successfully driven volume growth in mature markets. Discover the innovative strategies and effective tactics that have enabled one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies to not only sustain but also expand its market share in highly competitive and saturated environments. 

Philippe Chapuis, Business Analytics Lead North Europe, PepsiCo
Julien Loire, WE Sales Director, Revenue Growth Management, NielsenIQ

The Power of Promotions: Unlocking Market Insights for Success in Tech & Durables.

Dive deep into the promotional landscape of Tech & Durables. Explore key insights from hard sales data and the consumers perspective to understand promotional behaviors and how they can drive success. 

Jasper Vermeulen, Senior Market Intelligence Analyst, GfK – An NIQ Company
Caroline Cauwenberghs, Senior Market Intelligence Consultant, GfK – An NIQ Company

The evolution of AI and its future in unlocking consumer demand 

AI has long been identified as a route to enable better innovations that increase consumer delight. In this session, Chris and Tessa will highlight the evolution of AI, with practical examples, along with showcasing some of the R&D that NIQ BASES has conducted that shows the future of AI applications in delivering better innovations.

Chris Sinclair, Global Innovation Leader, NielsenIQ
Tessa Buckens, Commercial Lead BASES & AAC, NielsenIQ

Bridging Generations: Uncovering Shared Values for Inclusive Marketing

From trend-driven, digital natives Gen Z to brand-loyal, traditional Baby Boomers, it’s clear that different generations have distinct behaviors. But do these assumptions truly aid in crafting effective marketing strategies? This session will challenge such perceptions by highlighting the shared values and behaviors across generations. We’ll focus on common ground to help brands create inclusive campaigns that resonate with a broad audience without alienating any age group. 

Jozefien Piersoul, Expert Consumer & Marketing Insights, GfK – An NIQ Company

Fireside Chat: A conversation on Sustainability and a Circular World

Join us for an engaging fireside chat on the key aspects of sustainable entrepreneurship, together with Recupel. We will reflect on the balance between Reuse and Recycling in today’s circular economy and explore the innovative model of PaaS (Product-as-a-Service). Backed by valuable insights from GfK data, this conversation will shed light on the evolving landscape of sustainability, offering actionable ideas for businesses and individuals alike.  Whether you’re looking to reduce waste, rethink resource management, or explore new business models, this session promises to inspire and inform your sustainable journey.

Eric Dewaet, CEO, Recupel
Hans Schurmans, Logistics Operations Director, Proximus Group
Michele Laghezza, Marketing Director, Miele
Jürgen De Mesmaecker ,Key Account Director, GfK – An NIQ Company

Full-View-Talk: Unveiling the key drivers and trends that are shaping e-commerce in Belgium

The retail landscape is transforming at lightning speed, blurring the lines between online and offline. Join us for an eye-opening keynote where we’ll uncover the key drivers behind consumer online preferences and their ripple effects on the digital shopping experiences. 

We will look at key trends that are happening in West Europe and how they are translated in the Belgian market, such as the importance of digital brands, loyalty and global competitors like AliExpress, TEMU, TikTok Shop, and Shein. Linking these trends to consumer behaviour will bring you the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve and craft a winning strategy in the ever-evolving world of e-commerce. 

Roberto van Taunay, Commercial Leader E-Commerce Western Europe
Yentl Van Glabbeek, Retail Insights Lead T&D, GfK – An NIQ Company