Carlsberg, Diageo, Coty, M&S, and Just Eat are just some of the major names taking to the stage at Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2017 next month.

The leading industry event, which returns to London’s Olympia on 13 & 14 September, will launch a brand-new format for its Keynote Theatre, with four forums discussing the latest trends, challenges and opportunities across the key packaging markets of beauty, food, drink and luxury.

The Beauty Forum

Kicking off Day One in the Keynote Theatre is Imogen Matthews, Consultant, Journalist and Researcher at IM Associates. She will be exploring ‘the role of packaging in engaging beauty consumers’. Jamie Mills, Analyst at GlobalData, will then consider the beauty packaging landscape and analyse the opportunities and implications for beauty packaging innovation.

Sarah Jones, Partner at DewGibbons + Partners, will also be taking to the stage to present ‘beauty brand design in the 21^st century: smart, personal, sustainable, digital’. Sarah will touch upon which brands are currently winning the design battle, the role of personalisation and the ever-popular subject of smart packaging.

The Food Forum

The UK food industry has a reputation for innovation, with this in mind, The Food Forum will take a closer look at the latest ideas and packaging to match. Hosted by Martin Kersh, Executive Director at FPA, the forum will include talks from the likes of Kevin Vyse, Senior Packaging Technologist and Innovation Lead at Marks and Spencer, who will look at ‘food packaging from an environmental perspective’.

Also in the programme, Ben Carter, UK Marketing Director at Just Eat, will present ‘home delivery packaging innovations’. He will discuss delivery trends before considering the role packaging plays. Plus, he will forecast how the packaging sector can better help deliver perfect food to customers.

The Drinks Forum

The Drinks Forum, hosted by Felicity Murray, Editor-in-Chief at TheDrinksReport.com, will show attendees how to create innovative and attractive packaging that will succeed in a crowded market.

Martin Skelton, Managing Director, and Mark Davis, Marketing Consultant at Gonzalez Byass UK, will discuss the concept and packaging development behind Croft Twist, its elderflower, lemon and mint, ready-mixed long drink. Dr John Walters, Distiller at The Newmarket Gin, and Bernard Gormley, Partner at Nude Brand Creation, will finish of proceedings by providing an insight into the brand concept of The Newmarket Gin.

The Luxury Forum

The Luxury Forum will start with a talk from Vincent Villeger, a Luxury Packaging Creative Consultant and former Director of Packaging Design at Burberry. He will outline how to deliver successful luxury packaging, whilst focusing on partnerships and collaborations.

Daniel O’Kane, International Client Manager at Imprimiere Du Marais, Kevin Self, Managing Director, at Zone Creations, Alexis Burgess, Director at Burgess Studios, and Simon Farrow, Managing Director at Progress Packaging, will take to the stage together to ‘redefine the codes of luxury’. During their session, they will also consider how luxury packaging evolves in order to remain exclusive.

Chris Holden, Founder of AJOTO, Susan Wilson, Group Packaging Director at James Cropper, Paul Randall, Brand Innovation Manager at HP INDIGO, and Oliver Mawer, Director at Simply Luxe, will present ‘packaging as part of the brand story’. Whilst, Donna Lynch, Business Development Director at Macfarlane Packaging, and Caroline James, Head of Logistics at FEELUNIQUE, will explore ‘luxury packaging from retail to digital.’ During the presentation they will consider how luxury brands successfully create beautiful experiences when packaging is the only touch point.

The Keynote Theatre will run alongside two other dedicated theatres, which includes The Pentawards Conference, and The Packaging News Theatre.