Executives from Suntory, Brown-Forman and Mast-Jägermeister are to feature at Just Drinks’ annual Spirits Strategies and Innovation conference later this month.

The two-day event, in partnership with our sister events business Arena International, is taking place this year at The Minster Building in London on 22 and 23 October.

Non-alc spirits businesses Botivo and CleanCo will also be on stage to discuss the rise in alternatives to conventional spirits.

The programme includes roundtables to dive deeper into key topics, supporting your opportunities to network.

During a panel on the first morning, executives from Botivo, CleanCo and Scottish spirits business Highland Boundary will explore the rise of moderation and how that is shaping consumer demand.

The morning on day one will also hear from UK distributor Mangrove, which will set out how spirits brands can build a distinctive identity in a crowded market.

After lunch, Racheal Vaughan Jones, the CMO at Scotch whisky business Compass Box, will consider another key trend central to many a distiller’s corporate strategy: premiumisation.

The afternoon on the first day has a panel featuring Pernod Ricard whisky arm Chivas Brothers, Mast-Jägermeister, RTD brand Moth, UK rum business Duppy Share and gin firm Renais discussing marketing tie-ups, including with luxury brands and celebrities.

Brown-Forman will round out day one with a fireside chat on cocktail culture in the on-trade.

Suntory Global Spirits kicks off day two with a keynote presentation from Paul Thomas, the Jim Beam maker’s insight director, looking ahead to trading conditions in the next 12 months and beyond.

The morning on the second day will also hear from Christian Visalli, spirits MD at brandy and whisky maker Familia Torres, setting out how legacy brands can thrive.

After lunch, Raj Batra, the founder and CEO of UK “on-demand” spirits maker Diistil, will explore some of the more emerging product categories in Europe.

Later, Highland Boundary director and founder Marian Bruce will discuss how women are breaking barriers in the spirits sector.

You can find more information and booking details on the event website. We hope to see you there!

Contact: If you have questions about tickets, group discounts, sponsorship or marketing, contact Ben Gemmell: ben.gemmell@arena-international.com

Arena International is home to a series of conferences covering the issues and trends shaping the food and drinks sector, including Eco Drinks, Dairy Innovation Strategies, International Beer Strategies and Eco Food.