Oliver Wight to present at first ever Food & Drink Business Live

BRIGHTON, Australia - July 3, 2014 - PRLog -- Following the popularity of Oliver Wight’s recent white paper, ‘Managing the Private Label Supply Chain,’ Stuart Harman, Partner at the business improvement specialists, has been invited to present on the topic at the inaugural Food & Drink Business Live Forum in Sydney on 11 August 2014.

The half-day event at Randwick racecourse, for food and beverage production professionals, is the first event of its kind. Entitled ‘Industry of the Future Forum’, it will dissect the latest challenges facing the industry and look at the real world solutions being used to embrace, and even thrive, in the rapidly evolving market.

The private label phenomenon is one such challenge, as Harman explains:“Private label has witnessed an unprecedented growth in the past decade, and now manufacturers are presented with an exciting opportunity to produce products for major retailers, taking advantage of their promotional and marketing activities, global expansions and steady customer demand. Entering into the private label supply chain however, is no mean feat and with the risk of leaving profit, power, and supply chain control at the mercy of powerful retailers, there is a lot at stake.”

In his presentation Harman will consider the five key pitfalls organisations experience when embarking on a private label contract, and how they can be avoided. These are:

Not accounting for raw material price fluctuation
Delays in the product management process resulting in unbudgeted costs to meet launch deadlines
Obsolete stock following product deletions
Confusing the value proposition and thus business priorities
Lack of visibility over demand variations

With over 20 years experience helping organisations improve their supply chain processes, and having previously worked with some of the leading international private label suppliers, including Australian Pet Brands (formerly Bush’s Pet Foods), Harman will also reflect on his own personal experience in his presentation.

For more information, or to register for your place at the event, visit: http://www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au/live