Welcome
We’re delighted to welcome you to the 2018 Waitrose & Partners Supplier Conference on Tuesday 9th October 2018 at The International Centre, Telford.
Find out more about the venue, speakers and the agenda for the event using the menu above.
Agenda
-
10:30 - 11:30
Conference Start - Plenary
Commercial Update - Plenary
Strong, Relevant, Sustainable - Plenary
Guest Speaker - Plenary11:30 - 11:50
Refreshment Break - Gallery
11:50 - 13:15
Marketing update - Plenary
Supply Chain update
Looking Ahead
Question Time
Awards & Close13:15 - 14:00
Lunch - Gallery
14:00 - 16:00
Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1
Category Strategy - Plenary
Category Briefing - Ambient - Ironbridge 3
Innovation - Wenlock SuiteBreakout 2
Category Strategy - Plenary
Category Briefing - Fresh - Ironbridge 3
CSR - Wenlock SuiteBreakout 3
Category Strategy - Plenary
CSR - Ironbridge 3
Innovation - Wenlock Suite16:00 - 16:00
Close
Speakers
Rob Collins
Rob Collins is Managing Director of Waitrose & Partners, the supermarket division of the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership.
Rob joined the Partnership as a graduate trainee in 1993. He started in the John Lewis Oxford Street store and progressed to a number of roles, including Managing Director of Aberdeen and Cribbs Causeway (Bristol) stores. Rob was John Lewis Director of Selling Support from 2005 until 2007 when he moved to Waitrose & Partners as Director, e-Commerce. After three years he was promoted to the Waitrose & Partners Management Board as Personnel Director in 2010. Rob was Retail Director in 2012 and became Managing Director in April 2016.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, where he read Spanish and Business Studies, Rob spent a year working for leading textile firm, Coats Viyella, in Argentina. Rob lives in Surrey with his wife Fleur and their three children. Outside work, Rob enjoys travel with his family, sailing, cycling and golf.
Rupert Thomas
Rupert joined Waitrose & Partners in 2003, having spent over 10 years working at Sainsburys in commercial and marketing roles.
At Waitrose & Partners, Rupert headed up the Grocery and Fruit buying teams, before being promoted to Head of Brand Development in 2007. He was responsible for leading the development of Cooks' Ingredients, Wholesome, essential Waitrose, Seriously from and Menu from ranges. In 2009, he was promoted to Director, Marketing and Brand Development overseeing the Delia and Heston campaign.
In June 2010 Rupert was promoted to the Waitrose & Partners Management Board as Marketing Director, responsible for the creation and delivery of the marketing, customer communication, loyalty, CSR and product strategy.
In 2012 Rupert took on responsibility for the Waitrose & Partners store design and development activity.
Rupert is responsible for retaining and growing our customer base through effective marketing activity, loyalty plans, product & brand development, store development, underpinned by the Waitrose & Partners way.
Martin George
Responsible for retaining and growing our customer base through effective marketing activity, loyalty plans and store development, underpinned by the Waitrose & Partners way. Martin was recently Commercial Director at the Post Office having previously been Managing Director, Group Development at Bupa and Commercial Director at British Airways prior to that. After graduating from Loughborough University where he studied Management Sciences, Martin started his career with Cadbury in Marketing. Martin is also a non-executive director of a couple of other businesses including Hornby and Grays International, as well as being involved in three Gastropubs.
Wim Van Aalst
Waitrose’s Supply Chain Director, Wim van Aalst, joined the business in August 2016 and is responsible for supply planning and distribution of operations. He was previously the Chief Supply Chain Officer for Landmark Group, a retailing group headquartered in Dubai with 2000 stores in 20 countries.
Wim has also had experience working in supply chain roles for Adidas and TNT. He has an extensive knowledge of end–to-end supply chain management and has spent 20 years in the industry working in a variety of senior roles across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the USA.
On The Day
On the day
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 9th October 2018, for our annual Supplier Conference at The Telford International.
Please arrive at 9:30am for registration.
You’ll get the chance to hear about how we are continuing to drive our Waitrose & Partners Strategy in partnership with you and how our business will continue to change to meet the demands of the ever changing retail world.
During this one day event you will see that we are focused on quality food and a strategy that offers something that is meaningfully different based on core strengths of product and service. You’ll hear about our successes and overall performance from our Commercial Director Rupert Thomas.
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Venue information
Address: The Telford International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH
Entrance: E2
Directions via car: Sat nav postcode: TF3 4JH
From M6 Southbound: Leave M6 at junction 12. Take A5 west for 1 mile to Gailey Island. Take first left on to A449. Travel 3 miles to M54 / J2. Travel west on M54 to J4. Take the second exit and follow signs to The International Centre.
From M6 Northbound: Join M54 at M6 / J10A. Travel west to M54 / J4. Take the second exit and follow signs to The International Centre. The venue is situated just over 2 miles from Junction 4.
From M6 ‘Toll’ Northbound: Leave M6 Toll at junction T8. This equates to M6 / J11. Go straight ahead into A460 (Wolverhampton Road) towards Wolverhampton. After 2.4 miles access M54 / J1. Take the third exit off the roundabout onto M54 direction Telford. Travel west on M54 to J4. Take the second exit and follow signs to The International Centre. The venue is situated just over 2 miles from Junction 4.
Parking: There is complimentary parking available on site. Go to Gate A and you will be directed from there by a parking attendant.
Arrival by train: There are regular services from Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. The International Centre is situated just over a mile from Telford Central Station and is only two minutes drive by taxi. Alternatively, there is a regular bus service.
FAQs
Q: What is the deadline date to accept attendance?
A: Tuesday 14th August 2018.
Q: Is there a cancellation fee this year?
A: No, just email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk if you can no longer attend. However if you do not turn up on the day after accepting your invite, there will be a £170 charge.
Q: What is the dress code for the event?
A: Smart/Casual
Q: What are the start and finishing times?
A: Arrival from 09.30am, conference starts at 10.30am. We will aim to finish around 16.00pm
Q: I have never been to the venue, please can you confirm directions?
A: Click here to find out how to get to The International Centre, Telford.
Q: What are the parking facilities on-site?
A: There is complimentary parking available on site. Go to Gate A and you will be directed from there by a parking attendant.
Q: I’ve accepted, but unfortunately I can no longer attend
A: Please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk
Q: I’ve just received the invitation and I’ve accidently declined
A: Please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk
Q: I cannot attend, but my colleague would like to go in my place
A: There is an option to nominate a colleague to attend the conference in your place. To do this, decline the invitation from your email and enter your colleagues details. If you have already accepted, please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk
Q: I have registered but would also like to bring my colleague
A: The Supplier Conference is a very popular event and our Buying Team have carefully selected the invited attendees. This means we are unable to accommodate any guests that have not been formally invited. We will have a waiting list in place so please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk with the name of your colleague and their role in the company
Q: What do I do if I’ve noticed an error on my registration?
A: Please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk
Q: Will I receive a physical ticket?
A: No
Q: Will Wi-Fi be available on the day of the event?
A: There is complimentary Wi-Fi available at the conference.
Q: Will there be disabled access on the day?
A: Yes – please let us know any special requirements
Q: Got more questions or need more information?
A: Please email info@waitrosesupplierconference2018.co.uk