Volume growth in focus at IGD category event

IGD has confirmed the full agenda for its Future of Category Leadership 2026 event, where it will bring together leaders from food and grocery heavyweights – such as Tesco, CCEP, Danone and Unilever - and category disruptors to share innovative approaches to create volume growth.

Taking place in London on Tuesday 23 June, the one‑day event will start by unveiling IGD’s Blueprint for Category Leadership 2030, which it developed alongside industry leaders as a framework for creating long-term category growth. The opening keynote will outline how category teams can move beyond analysis to play a bigger role in business strategy, shopper value and long term growth.

Succeeding together

Collaboration is a major theme of the day. Leaders from The Heineken Company, Lindt & Sprungli, Samworth Brothers, and VCT Europe will take part in a panel on building winning retailer–supplier partnerships. This will be followed by a case study from Tesco and Danone about how aligned priorities and new ways of working delivered shared success.

Founder led disruption will also be under the spotlight, with entrepreneurs from Piccolo Foods, PerfectTed and The Gym Kitchen sharing how they identified unmet shopper needs and forced established category leaders to rethink their approaches.

The role of technology

Unilever will present a case study on using omni-channel tools to “deliver consistent and category-enhancing shopper experiences”. This will be followed by a panel with senior figures from Arla, PepsiCo, and Samworth Brothers exploring how AI, automation and new operating models can improve decision-making and team effectiveness.

Later sessions from CCEP and event partner dunnhumby will focus on using advanced analytics and richer data to unlock growth while cutting through the hype surrounding AI.

Kate Sizer, Commercial Director at IGD, said: “For businesses to succeed over the next decade, they must collaborate better, embrace technology with purpose, and elevate category teams into true strategic partners. This event is about giving businesses the tools and confidence to adapt in this time of low volume growth.”

Tickets for the Future of Category Leadership event sold out fast but live stream places have been made available for those who are keen not to miss the event: https://www.igd.com/events/igd-future-of-category-leadership-2026/72256.  Alternatively, please contact [email protected] to be added to the in-person waiting list.

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3.     IGD brings together stakeholders from across the food system, fostering action across on critical challenges across a broad cross section of forums. Through evidence-based insights, credible research, and thought leadership, IGD guides businesses to make informed decisions that not only benefit their operations but also contribute to the collective good of society.  As a charity with a long-standing commitment to the food and grocery industry, IGD does not advocate for any single commercial interest but works towards fostering alignment on shared goals that can have a positive, lasting impact on both the industry and the communities it serves. Its neutrality and impartiality are key to its role in facilitating collaboration, whether through policy development or addressing emerging risks and opportunities. By staying connected to the changing dynamics of the world, IGD ensures that the food system remains robust and sustainable, creating tangible benefits for businesses, consumers and society.