Agenda - Day 2

Enter Networking Lounge, Connect with your Industry Colleagues

• Start your day off right and make connections with industry leadership
• Join “drop-in” roundtables discussing current industry issues
• Schedule private 1-2-1 video meetings with peers
• Gather essential content and get exclusive offers at virtual exhibit booths

Plan your day to maximize your learnings and takeaways. This will ensure that you don’t miss any of the key highlights of the event.

• Reduce the risk of non-compliance
• Evaluate the impacts of a dynamic regulatory landscape on your organization
• Gain awareness and prepare for challenges that lie ahead

Food safety now has an even larger impact on international trade agreements due to COVID-19. The new US administration is also influencing change. Identify the key disruptors that are relevant to global trade in the food and beverage industry. Exchange ideas on:

• The potential consequences of a Biden administration on the food trade
• Changing packaging/labelling requirements for imports
• How future pandemic planning will affect free trade

Chart a path toward greater revenue for your organization with a 360-degree view of the current state of trade.

The efficiency of data storage and the IoT are both increasing while costs are dropping. Re-evaluate your supply chain to create a world in which access to data equals brand integrity, transparency, safety and better food for all by:

• Capitalizing on data-driven decision making to improve quality and safety
• Controlling and monitoring product quality throughout the chain
• Leveraging new technology and your employee base to deliver better results

Encourage the sharing of data to invigorate your organization.

Strengthen your ability to monitor product quality and safety without needing to increase employee headcount or labour hours. Digital monitoring provides more accurate data in cooling and/or heating stations as well as in trucks and other transport vehicles. Know sooner rather than later if you have a problem that will negatively impact safety or quality standards. Gain insights into:

• Increasing efficiency while minimizing human error
• How your manufacturing process can use less water and generate cost savings at the same time with the help of technology
• Why and how a crucial link in the food & beverage safety chain has helped decrease the risk of pathogens

Save money, energy and time by upgrading your monitoring systems.

Understand the differences between Canadian and US regulations. Leverage opportunities available in your current facilities. Familiarize yourself and your team with what you NEED to know before production by:

• Addressing regulations around the production and preparation of edibles and other cannabis-infused products
• Clarifying labelling and packaging requirements
• Determine the limitations on other ingredients added to cannabis edibles, such as caffeine

Don’t let your brand’s reputation be tarnished by food fraud — stay compliant with cannabis regulations!

Expand your network and engage in specialized learning with your peers. Take advantage of our cutting-edge platform to deepen your knowledge and connect with industry leaders:

• Visit sponsor booths and view live demos
• Join “drop-in” roundtable chats in the networking lounge

New technologies, like IoT sensors, make it possible to optimize the effectiveness of your  equipment but they also help with food safety. Discuss the different types of condition-based monitoring, such as a paper checklist, mobile, IoT sensors and more. Reap the benefits of maintenance and quality control working closely together. Bring back learnings to:

• Discover how to improve food quality and safety by implementing condition-based maintenance
• Realize and take advantage of the fact that the maintenance function can be part of a holistic approach to food safety
• Keep up with companies who are already using condition-based approaches to gain a competitive advantage

Open your mind to the possibilities and new advantages of old processes.

Your consumers are talking about your brand. Make sure you’re on top of what they’re saying, especially regarding product quality. Catch potential foodborne illnesses early by tracking comments on your suppliers’ products. Confirm that your brand is delivering what your consumers want. Map out an action plan to:

• Stay ahead of potential problems and respond accordingly
• Increase understanding of the correlation between consumer trends and food/beverage safety
• Educate team members on the importance of tracking consumer sentiment as well as the impact of both negative and positive social media comments

Harness the power of social media to exceed your customers’ expectations. 

Foodborne illnesses can cost a company millions of dollars in recalled products, cause serious damage to brand reputation and have lasting impacts on consumer trust. Take proactive measures to prevent the erosion of trust in your brand. Apply new methods that will help:

• Conduct a detailed risk assessment
• Reassess the preparedness of your company’s crisis communication processes
• Train and scope out the role of senior management in guiding the organization during potential recalls
• Determine what to do, or not do, when the dust settles

Supply chain attacks are on the rise. Protect the safety of your manufacturing operation by being proactive. Secure your raw materials and keep track of potential security threats. Expand your knowledge in these areas by:

• Getting a firm grasp on the level and type of security threats you might face
• Ensuring your current security systems are up to par
• Regularly reviewing your risk profile with an expert

Identify gaps in your supply chain to protect it from malware, ransomware and viruses.

SMBs are at the heart of our economy, and the food industry has no shortage of them. Delve into the top issues and challenges that innovative companies encounter. Uncover how they manage to thrive despite the lack of in-house safety and regulatory staff — and, in some cases, when the development and manufacturing is outsourced.  Leverage SMB’s secrets to profitability by:

• Capitalizing on funds and services using government resources
• Establishing supply chain partners – and trusting them
• Scoping out cost-effective opportunities for export

Take note of the innovative and creative entrepreneurial endeavours of SMBs — they could be your future partners!

Review the top solutions and takeaways from today’s sessions. Source a summary of action points that you can immediately implement at work.

• Get to know fellow delegates in “drop-in” virtual roundtable chats
• Engage in 1:1 video conversation with peers or vendors
• Connect with other delegates based on similar interests and business objectives using our “recommend matches” tool