IAA Learning & Development Festival 2023

Your chance to roam our interactive trade exhibition where you can see the latest products and innovations from leading suppliers, while networking with fellow retailers over coffee.

The brand-new IAA Learning & Development Festival will kick off with an inspirational session to give you new ways to differentiate, streamline and promote your business.

Gain new ideas from stores around the world that could help you to set your store apart without heavy investment, find out the lessons learned and the business strategy that has helped a retailer to overcome difficulties and propel their business, and the best ways to get your store noticed on social media.

Achieving Your Business Potential

Dr Paul Sewell OBE will explore the importance of passion, innovation and strategy in achieving success. Hear how he went from failing school to becoming chair of Sewell Group with an OBE, learn how he overcame difficult times in the pursuit of excellence, and discover the building blocks you need be focusing on to build your strategy for success.

Your chance to continue networking, to make new contacts at our interactive trade exhibition where you can see the latest products and innovations from leading suppliers, while enjoying lunch.

The IAA Learning & Development Festival is centred around education and business growth, so we’ve designed a number of Masterclasses to help you to find ways to seize opportunities, tackle strategic challenges and develop your business.

Led by our headline partners, they will consist of a short presentation, followed by an interactive Q&A section where you can share experiences, challenges and questions to identify actionable solutions. Places are restricted and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure sessions are valuable and actionable.

Masterclass set one – delegates must choose in advance one of the following three masterclasses to attend

1. Successfully Engaging Your Community
   in association with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
   Being actively involved in your community creates lasting relationships, drives loyalty and can increase sales. Find out the actionable steps needed to strengthen your local network, methods to connect with and involve charities and how to maximise the many benefits of community engagement.
2. Future-Proofing Nicotine Alternatives
   in association with JTI UK
   There has been rapid growth in the number of different alternative nicotine products available over the past couple of years. Get an in-depth understanding of the opportunities and risks in this category, top tips on spotting illegal vapes and the best ways to protect this fast-evolving category.
3. Increasing Staff Retention
   in association with Mondelez International
   Building and maintaining a great team is key to success. Learn how to create a successful team and help to build their careers by using strategies such as goal setting, empowerment and role definition, and find out the key strategies to encourage your staff to stay in your business for the long run.

Masterclass set two – delegates must choose in advance one of the following three masterclasses to attend

1. Improving Your Work-Life Balance
   in association with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I
   Many retailers don’t take enough time off to rest and recharge, which could negatively impact their mental health. Understand the key barriers to being away from the business and how to overcome them, as well as how you can equip and empower your team so you can take the time off you deserve.
2. Maximising Sales in Alternative Nicotine
   in association with BAT UK
   Nicotine alternative products have increased in popularity but can be challenging to understand. Get to know the different category drivers and adult nicotine consumer behaviours to successfully range and display, and confidently match the relevant product to your customers’ needs to drive sales.
3. The Future of Confectionery Merchandising
   in association with Mars Wrigley
   New technology, the cost-of-living crisis and HFSS legislation are really impacting how shoppers interact with impulse categories and footfall drivers. Walk through the perfect store to discover how to optimise your range, plus the best locations and merchandising techniques to drive additional sales.

Your final chance to talk to leading suppliers at our interactive trade exhibition where you can see the latest products and innovations, while networking over a drink and a snack.

The IAA Learning & Development Festival has knowledge sharing and networking at its heart, so we’ve developed a number of Focus Groups to help you connect with fellow retailers and leading suppliers while addressing some of the key challenges that independent retailers are facing.

Each Focus Group will start with a case study from the session leader, before it’s opened out for all to share experiences and challenges to identify actionable solutions.

Attendees will get to pick one Focus Group to join. Numbers are restircted to ensure it’s and engaging and useful session, and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participate in an interactive discussion about the ideas generated in the masterclasses so you can take away the top tips from all six that took place. Led by a panel of industry leaders to help you gain a deeper understanding of the best ways to seize opportunities and overcome challenges.

Look at life through a different lens as our keynote speaker walks you through their journey to success. This will leave you inspired to generate new ideas, plans and actions for the coming year.

Toast new ideas, connections and the start of something special: finding out who has been recognised as one of the leading stores across the country.

Join us to as the IAA Category Stars are announced, plus the IAA Rising Star and Overall Best Shop for 2022-23, while networking and finding out what you can replicate in your store over some tasty street food.

Join the celebrations, enjoy the music and continue networking with your peers.

For those staying over at our on-site hotel, the hotel bar remains open after 23:00 for the networking to continue.