Speakers

 

Adele Balmforth, Proposition Director, Co-op

Adele Balmforth

Proposition Director, Co-op

Adele, Proposition Director for Co-op Food, leads own-brand product development, the Technical department, Ethical, Sustainability and Policy team, pricing, store format, space, and range. Known for her calm, collaborative approach, she drives Co-op’s market-leading convenience proposition. Previously Co-op’s Buying Director for Ambient and BWS, she has extensive retail experience, having started her career in commercial buying across multiple categories before joining Co-op.

 

Sinead Bell, Commercial Director, Co-op

Sinead Bell

Commercial Director, Co-op

Sinead, Commercial Director of Co-op Food, leads teams shaping the commercial strategy for Co-op and Nisa. With a background in Data Science, Market Strategy, Sales, and Trading Director roles at Tesco, she joined Co-op in 2019. Passionate about Inclusion and Diversity, she fosters a supportive, empowering culture. A collaborative leader and curious optimist, she drives bold strategies, meaningful engagement, and sustainable value while transforming business practices.

 

Stephanie Blane, Head of Commercial, Co-op

Stephanie Blane

Head of Commercial, Co-op

Stephanie began her career at Albert Fisher Seafood and Raines Dairy Foods before joining Waitrose, where she held diverse roles in technical and commercial leadership. She led fresh convenience, non-foods, and grocery trading through the pandemic, later heading Fresh Produce, Horticulture, and Food to Go while chairing the Waitrose Foundation in Africa. She joined Co-op a year ago to lead Dairy, Protein, and Bakery, also driving sustainability and planet impact initiatives.

 

Tom Bradley, Head of Commercial, Co-op

Tom Bradley

Head of Commercial, Co-op

Tom, Head of Commercial at Co-op since 2020, leads strategic categories including Food to Go, Food for Tonight, and Produce & Horticulture. He also oversees new channel development across Retail on Demand. His team drives a multi-channel strategy across Co-op, FRTS, Wholesale, and Online. Before joining Co-op, Tom spent nine years at ALDI in Operational, Trading, and Business Transformation roles.

 

Chris Conway, Head of Commercial, Co-op

Chris Conway

Head of Commercial, Co-op

Chris is a strategic multichannel leader focused on customer-driven innovation in online retail. He founded Co-op’s Quick Commerce business in 2019, now exceeding £500m in revenue and leading the market with a 24% share. He also oversees Home Delivery, Parcel Services, and Peckish, while supporting B2B Quick Commerce. Previously, he led online growth at Morrisons and spent 14 years at Asda, where he was Senior Director for Grocery Online. He also advises AI and industry events.

 

Matt Hood, Managing Director of Co-op Food, Co-op

Matt Hood

Managing Director of Co-op Food, Co-op

Matt, Co-op Food MD since 2022, created the Pure Convenience strategy, ensuring convenience retail delivers quality, value, and service while supporting local communities. Passionate about running the best small shops, he puts colleagues and members at the heart of the business. A values-driven leader, he champions work-life balance, mental health, and women in leadership. A lifelong retailer, Matt joined Co-op in 2013, previously serving as Commercial Director and Chief Commercial Officer.

 

Nick Meagher, Head of Advanced Analytics and Insight, Co-op

Nick Meagher

Head of Advanced Analytics and Insight, Co-op

Nick leads Advanced Analytics and Insight at the Co-op Group, connecting data across diverse sectors to enhance customer understanding. A seasoned insight specialist, he translates complex data into actionable decisions. With experience at Nielsen, Kellogg’s, and over a decade at Cadbury/Mondelez, he later joined Unilever as Global Insight Director before leading Customer Insights at Tesco, where his team won two MRS awards. He excels at merging analytics with human behaviour insights.

 

Kenyatte Nelson, Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op

Kenyatte Nelson

Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op

As Co-op's Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Kenyatte drives growth through compelling member and customer propositions. He oversees Marketing & Communications, Membership & CRM, and Co-op Live. Previously, he held executive roles at NBrown, Missguided, and The Very Group. Before moving to the UK, he spent 16 years at Procter & Gamble in general management across the Americas and EMEA.

 

Rebecca Oliver Mooney, Co-op

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney

Head of Commercial, Co-op

Rebecca Oliver-Mooney (ROM) is Head of Commercial for Drinks, Frozen, Community Buying & Apiary, focusing on range strategy. She leads key missions like meal for tonight, top-up, and supersaver deals, with a focus on customer value and diversity. ROM launched the Apiary in 2022, promoting equity and inclusion. With over 20 years of experience in category, innovation, and strategy roles, ROM is passionate about customer-centric strategies, creativity, and driving change. She encourages collaboration and innovation.

 

Jerome Saint-Marc, Managing Director B2B and Growth, Co-op

Jerome Saint-Marc

Managing Director B2B and Growth, Co-op

Jerome joined the Co-op in November 2023 as Director of Growth and became MD B2B and Growth in March 2024, overseeing Nisa, Franchise, Corporate, and Business Development teams. Before the Co-op, Jerome was CEO of Wilko and held senior roles at BCG and Morrisons. He is also an advisory board member for the Pennies Charity.

 

Walton, Chief Economist, IGD

James Walton

Chief Economist, IGD

James, Chief Economist at IGD since 2004, helps businesses navigate strategic events like economic pressures, geopolitical change, and social developments. He has worked with clients across the grocery industry and beyond, including government, financial businesses, and NGOs. James joined IGD in 1999 and has held various roles. Before IGD, he worked at Hillsdown Holdings, Northern Foods, and Rank-Xerox.