If 2008 saw The World Turned Upside Down, 2009 will see it turned upside down, shaken around and plunged into more uncertainty than we've seen for many, many years.

These are challenging times for all leaders, not least those in the grocery industry. Management teams must reconcile two powerful but potentially conflicting obligations: delivering value for shareholders and shoppers in the short term, while investing in people, products and systems for the future.

From the boardroom to the shop floor, the technical abilities and personal qualities of all industry professionals are being subjected to rigorous testing, and exposed to close public scrutiny. The challenges are daunting, but not insurmountable and food and grocery is, after all, a resilient business, with a track record of trading through hard times and emerging stronger than before.

IGD's Annual Convention 2009, Leadership in Adversity, will feature some of our industry's most influential and charismatic leaders. This will be the one opportunity of the year to learn what they are doing to lead their businesses - and the wider community - through the economic turmoil and towards an efficient and ethical future.

With an unprecedented line-up and the delegate fee held once again, we expect another sell out. Book your places today.

Read a review of the IGD Convention 2008 here