Mintel
Benjamin Punchard – Global Packaging Insights Director
Benjamin Punchard is the Global Packaging Insights Director at Mintel, a leading market intelligence agency. With over 13 years of experience in the packaging industry, he has worked with a diverse range of clients globally. Since joining Mintel in 2012, Benjamin has leveraged his expertise to provide in-depth insights into the packaging sector.
Before Mintel, Benjamin worked at Euromonitor International, where he advanced to Head of Global Packaging Research. Holding a Ph.D. in Polymer Physics, Benjamin is a sought-after speaker at international events, known for sharing his extensive knowledge of packaging trends and innovations.
Mintel, with over 50 years of experience, offers research and market intelligence solutions to consumer-focused businesses. Its tools and custom insights help businesses understand consumers, trends, markets, and competitors, empowering them to identify opportunities and make informed strategic decisions.
Colruyt Group (Belgium)
Ilka Lannau
Ilka Lannau is head of division Private Label at Colruyt Group, Belgium's largest retailer. With 33 years of experience, Ilka has built expertise in various fields, from Human Resources to direct purchasing with a focus on national brands. In recent years she has focused on Private Brands, with an emphasis on product sustainability, commercial development, packaging and design, and product management. Her team's commitment to sustainability, health and innovation have led to significant improvements in product development framework the Colruyt Group.
Colruyt Group (Belgium)
Greet De Feyter
Greet De Feyter is Head of Product Sustainability within the Private Label division at ColruytGroup, Belgium's largest retailer. Building on a varied background in purchasing/procurement, category management and sustainability, Greet aims for a genuine contribution, based on a people-planet-profit approach.
Colruyt Group, a leading retail company in Belgium, places customer trust at the heart of its operations, striving to meet diverse needs and simplify everyday life. With a focus on sustainability, health, affordability, and convenience, Colruyt Group delivers innovative, relevant solutions tailored to evolving consumer expectations. As a strong local player, the group empowers customers to make conscious choices through sustainable entrepreneurship, connecting them with society, each other, and the company. By offering value-driven products and services, Colruyt Group remains committed to providing a seamless and meaningful shopping experience while promoting responsible consumption.
Tetra Pak: France & Benelux
Kevin Loos: Retail and Channel Manager
Kevin Loos serves as the Retail & Channel Manager for Tetra Pak, overseeing operations in France and the Benelux region.
With over 15 years of experience in key account management, Kevin has worked with renowned companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Mattel, and STABILO, building a strong foundation in managing diverse markets and driving strategic growth. He is passionate about identifying new business opportunities, fostering omnichannel expansion, and cultivating strong partnerships that deliver mutual value.
Tetra Pak is dedicated to making food safe, accessible, and sustainable for all. Through pioneering aseptic technology, they have ensured food can be stored, transported, and consumed safely without refrigeration or preservatives. Tetra Pak’s mission is to provide nutritious food to the remotest regions while protecting people and the planet for future generations.
HEMA
Karlijn van den Berg: Manager E-commerce (HEMA.nl/com and HEMA app)
Karlijn van den Berg is a seasoned expert in loyalty, CRM, and e-commerce, with over 20 years of experience translating customer needs into creative, strategic, and innovative concepts for leading global brands. Currently, as Manager E-commerce at HEMA, she focuses on delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving online growth.
Her nearly 12 years at IceMobile included roles as Director of Strategy, where she advised global food retailers on digital transformation, UX, and loyalty strategies, and helped develop cutting-edge loyalty platforms. A strong strategic and creative partner, Karlijn brings deep expertise in retail, UX, digital, mobile, and loyalty. She is passionate about crafting impactful, customer-centric solutions that connect brands with their audiences in meaningful, innovative ways.
HEMA, founded in 1926, is a beloved Dutch department store offering uniquely designed products, from household items to clothing and food. With over 700 stores, HEMA is a retail leader known for its innovative approach to packaging and product design, bringing functionality and style to everyday essentials.
EuroCommerce
Leena Whittaker: Director of Competitiveness
Leena Whittaker joined EuroCommerce as Director of Competitiveness in April 2022 and is coordinating EuroCommerce's advocacy on retail and wholesale ecosystem competitiveness. She has a practical knowledge of EU policy-making through her past role as a legal and policy officer in the European Commission (DG GROW) and is a qualified UK lawyer, having started her career as a commercial real estate lawyer in London. Her main focus is on B2B trading practices, competition policy, territorial supply constraints, agri-food chain market developments, jobs and skills, wholesale and SMEs.
EuroCommerce unites national and sector associations and companies, representing the diversity of Europe’s retail and wholesale industry. It informs members about EU policies, advocates for sector-aligned outcomes, and highlights its contributions to society and the economy. EuroCommerce facilitates knowledge-sharing and best practices among members while promoting the industry’s role in Europe’s growth. Recognized as the European social partner, it strengthens the sector’s voice and fosters collaboration to address shared challenges and opportunities.
PreZero (Part of the Schwarz Group)
Alexander Reitz – Team Lead Customer Development & Consulting
Alexander Reitz is a leading expert in sustainable packaging and Head of Consulting at PreZero Sustainable Packaging, where he has helped establish a centralized competence center for packaging sustainability within the Schwarz Group. Since 2021, he has advised on sustainability, economics, legal requirements, and marketing aspects of packaging,
Alexander brings over 10 years of experience in the sustainable, economic, legal and marketing aspects of packaging. At GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung, he consulted for organizations such as the German Federal Environmental Agency, WWF, and ZSVR.
Prezero emphasizes that sustainable packaging must balance environmental criteria with economic viability, developing future-ready solutions that align ecological goals with business needs. Prezero’s mission is to turn waste into raw materials for new products and reach a circular economy.
Axfood/Dagab
Nadja Dahlgren: Packaging Developer
With over 14 years in the packaging industry at different positions; project and product manager with focus on packaging for injection molding, the current position at Axfood/Dagab as packaging developer handles all materials and formats.
With strong passion and forward thinking, Nadja leads big projects and new innovations to the market with sustainability as primary focus. She sees the retailers potential to change the market and thus impact the consumers to shop more sustainably. Already 2018, the Swedish retailers got together and agreed to strive for recyclable plastic packaging 2025 and increase the use of biobased feedstock and recycled materials 2030, something that goes well in line with the upcoming PPWR. Axfood/Dagab took this one step further and included all materials to the goals for private label packaging.
Axfood’s support company Dagab plays a key role in packaging through its management of assortment, purchasing, and logistics. It ensures efficient product flow from supplier to customer while developing sustainable and innovative packaging solutions to align with customer preferences. Dagab’s efforts in packaging focus on balancing cost-effectiveness with environmental responsibility, particularly in private label products, supporting Axfood’s commitment to value and sustainability.
Rabobank
Regina Mestre – Analyst Food & Agribusiness Packaging
Regina Mestre is an Analyst in Packaging at RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness, based in the Netherlands. She specializes in analyzing packaging trends and developments in metals, glass, and plastics, with a focus on sustainability in the food and agribusiness sectors. Regina joined Rabobank in 2020 as a Business Analyst, bringing a wealth of experience in business analysis and project management.
Before her current role, Regina worked as a Product Owner and Business Analyst at Deutsche Bank in Barcelona, where she led the development of investment proposal tools in compliance with the MiFID II framework. She also gained valuable experience as a Management Consulting Analyst at Accenture in Mexico City, focusing on process optimization and automation for global financial institutions. Her diverse background in financial services and consulting complements her expertise in packaging, helping drive data-driven insights for sustainable solutions in the packaging industry.
Rabobank is a cooperative bank focused on creating a sustainable future by addressing societal challenges. With 125 years of experience, it serves retail and corporate customers in the Netherlands and specializes globally in Food & Agriculture. Its strategy emphasizes customer focus, sustainability, profitability, and a future-ready workforce to drive positive societal impact.
Mondi Group
Marco Macoratti – Head of Sustainable Packaging Solutions & Circularity
Marco is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years in the Paper & Packaging Industry, specializing in sustainable packaging solutions. He is the Head of Sustainable Packaging Solutions & Circularity at Mondi Group and has worked extensively with major industrial companies, retailers, and private labels, advising them on how to achieve their sustainability goals through flexible packaging solutions.
As the first point of contact for partnerships with retailers and brands, Marco is committed to driving sustainability in packaging by offering tailored solutions that align with both environmental and business objectives. Marco holds a Civil Engineering degree and an Executive MBA in Growth Strategies from the University of Cambridge, where he specialized in Business Sustainability and Circular Economy. Raised in Venice, Italy, he has witnessed the impact of climate change firsthand, fueling his passion for sustainability in business.
Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, dedicated to creating innovative, sustainable solutions. With 22,000 employees across 100 production sites in over 30 countries, including key operations in Europe, North America, and Africa, Mondi is united by a shared purpose, long-term strategy, and strong values, all focused on sustainability by design.
Tjarks & Tjarks
Steen Tjarks, President & Co-founder
Dr. Steen Tjarks is an industry leader in design and branding, Steen Tjarks brings extensive expertise in leveraging consumer insights to create impactful private brand packaging, as CEO of T&T. With a deep understanding of European markets, Steen has guided numerous brands in crafting design strategies that resonate with both established and emerging consumers.
His work consistently demonstrates the power of visual identity in driving consumer choice and brand loyalty.
Before founding T&T, Steen worked with top strategy consulting firms, where he developed high-impact strategies for business growth and consumer engagement. At T&T, he has leveraged these insights to turn private label programmes into powerful brand assets for clients across industries. His expertise has earned him recognition, including mentions in ‘Forbes’, as a thought leader in the retail and branding space.
T&T specializes in creating impactful brand experiences and packaging that stands out in today’s fast-paced retail world. T&T focuses on making packaging a key tool for brand engagement, ensuring it conveys the brand’s message, provides instant recognition, and serves as a place of connection with consumers.
Wow-or-Never
Loe Limpens
Loe Limpens is a seasoned expert in packaging design and retail branding, with a career spanning over two decades. After studying Fashion Design at the Academy of Applied Arts in Maastricht and Design Management in Rotterdam, he began his professional journey at Albert Heijn (Ahold/Delhaize), where he served as Design Manager and later on as Senior Marketing Manager for Visual Identity.
In 2009, Loe founded Yellow Dress Retail, an agency specializing in private label design strategy, packaging design, and retail communication, with a global client base spanning Europe and Asia. As a passionate advocate for sustainable and innovative design, Loe joined HEMA in 2021 as Creative & Sustainability Director.
In 2024, Loe launched Wow-or-Never, a concept creation agency in beauty and food. A passionate speaker on Trends, Design and Retail Brands and frequent jury member for packaging awards, Loe is also the co-author of several books on private label strategy “Private Label Uncovered”- 2011, “Managing Private Labels” – 2015 – “The Private Label Revolution” – 2019 and “The Power of Private Label” – 2024.
Appetite Creative
Jenny Stanley, Managing Director and Author of "Connected Packaging"
Jenny Stanley has over 20 years of experience in international sales management across media, advertising, and creative technology. As the founder of Appetite Creative, a global leader in connected packaging, she has pioneered the integration of digital experiences into physical packaging, driving consumer engagement and delivering valuable data insights for brands.
Under her leadership, Appetite Creative has launched innovative campaigns for major brands like Tetra Pak, AB InBev, and Nestlé, reaching millions globally. Jenny’s book, *Connected Packaging: The Game-Changing Marketing Tool* (Sept 2024), is an exceptional, comprehensive guide on the subject.
Prior to founding Appetite Creative, Jenny held senior roles at Microsoft, UTarget, Oddcast, EyeWonder/Mediamind, and Adform, building a strong foundation in business development and sales.
Founded in 2015, Appetite Creative is a global digital agency specializing in B2C marketing, connected packaging, and customer engagement at scale. Combining experience from agencies, corporates, startups, and freelance work, Appetite Creative delivers creative solutions that exceed expectations.
Elzerman Consulting International
Edgar Elzerman
Edgar Elzerman started his career at Royal Ahold in the Netherlands. In the 12 years that he has worked for the company, he entered in a Fast-Track-Development Plan as a Management Trainee, continued as a Senior Category Manager where he was responsible for the Portfolio of Categories. Thereafter he worked as the Director of Business Development and subsequently as the Senior Director European Sourcing at Ahold Europe. For the next five years, Edgar worked at Ahold USA as the Senior Director Business Development, developing and implementing strategic initiatives and thereafter as the Vice President of Private Brands, managing the Ahold USA Private Brand Program.
Since January 2014, Edgar is the owner of Elzerman Retail Consulting, based in The Netherlands. On a global scope, he provides consultant services focusing on both retail and private brand manufacturing. He is also the presenter of the PLMALive.eu monthly Interview Series with experts of the Private Label industry.