OPENING SEMINARS
HYATT REGENCY O’HARE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 – 2:00 PM

Presentation I - Market Intelligence: Accelerating Innovation for Private Label Brands
The impact of private label brands has been a longstanding and important topic in the retail community, and it continues to generate even more ‘buzz’ today. This presentation will highlight how private brands are growing as they increasingly meet the needs of a bifurcated shopper who seeks both value and quality. Join this conversation to consider new levers to sustain this positive momentum, including US retail growth drivers, shopper mindsets and requirements, and the importance of leveraging data and AI in new product plans. Best-in-class global innovations will be showcased to help fuel ideation for private brands’ innovation plans enabling them to capture a permanent place in the future of commerce.

Rachel Dalton
Head of Retail Insights North America
Kantar

Rachel Dalton Dalton is the Head of Retailer Insights at Kantar, focusing on omnichannel acceleration and growing commerce platforms across all channels. Rachel leads a team of subject-matter experts that delivers industry-leading retail thought leadership. Rachel is a retail expert and has published extensively for Kantar Retail IQ, a syndicated subscription-based content platform. 
Rachel holds a B.A. from Connecticut College and an MBA from Cornell University. She has been featured and quoted in a range of media outlets, such as NPR Marketplace, Fox News, CNN Business, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Marketing Dive, and Modern Retail.

Presentation II - Innovation and Trends in Private Label
This presentation will explore the trends and dynamics of private label in the US and globally. It will look at why private label innovation is critical for retailers, the consumer trends that retailers can innovate around, and the best practice for private label innovation and development. The presentation includes data, consumer research, and case studies to bring key points to life.

Neil Saunders
President
Retail GlobalData

Neil Saunders Neil Saunders is Managing Director of GlobalData’s US retail and consumer division. In his role he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. He also works with major retail clients worldwide to help them understand the retail, shopper, and market landscapes – advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies.

KEYNOTE BREAKFAST
HYATT REGENCY O’HARE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17 – 8:00 AM

Insights into the Retailer Mindset: How the Private Label Industry Can Come Together
Rampoldt will share insights into the retailer mindset and how the private label industry can come together to make the most of this historic moment

Joel Rampoldt
CEO
Lidl US

Joel Rampoldt, CEO of Lidl US, is a 20-year business leader with a significant track record in large-scale retail transformations. Joel's expertise includes e-commerce, financial modeling, and organizational design as well as an analytical approach to problem-solving and the ability to lead teams through complex challenges. He joined Lidl US in 2023, following a career at blue chip management firms AlixPartners, KPMG and Oliver Wyman. Lidl, which operates in 31 countries and employs 360,000, is part of the Schwarz Group, the world’s fourth-largest retailer. Lidl US, established in 2015, operates some 175 stores on the East Coast. About 80% of its award-winning products are private label. 

RETAIL TRENDS BREAKFAST
HYATT REGENCY O’HARE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 – 8:00 AM

Why They Buy: Cracking the PL Psychology to Drive Real Growth
Private label success isn’t just about saving money anymore. This talk, built on proprietary behavioral science and AI-amplified shopper data, uncovers the unexpected psychological forces reshaping the retail world—from early adopters treating PL like discovery platforms to value-driven caretakers seeking emotional reassurance in every purchase. We’ll challenge legacy assumptions and give marketers a concrete playbook for the new brand & retail reality.

Hunter Thurman
Founder
Alpha-Diver

Hunter Thurman is the founder of Alpha-Diver, the behavioral science market research firm Fortune 500s turn to when they need to know not just what consumers do, but why. Blending psychology, neuroscience, and AI-powered data, Hunter decodes the hidden forces driving shopper behavior – translating human instinct into bold strategy and bottom-line growth. He’s a sought-after advisor, author, and speaker known for making complex behavior actionable, and for helping brands see what others miss.