The Food & Beverage Supply Chain in 2026: Connected, Conscious, Competitive.

Craig Powell's extensive career in IT and supply chain management led him to co-found Balloon One in 2003 with a vision to help businesses grow by automating and innovating their supply chain.. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as an IBM SAP Consultant, followed by his role as SAP Practice Manager at Hewlett-Packard from 1994 to 2000. His experience in these roles sparked his desire to create Balloon One Solutions, as Managing Director of Balloon One, Craig remains hands-on, advising clients on optimising their supply chains and driving business success through innovative solutions.

With a remarkable career spanning almost 45 years in the food industry, Richard commenced his journey as an NPD food technologist with St Ivel, before moving into commercial roles across the international food ingredient and food manufacturing sectors. He spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, including the import, processing, and distribution of Non-GMO soy lecithin from Brazil, a feat that involved the design, establishment and commissioning of a dedicated Non-GMO soy lecithin processing plant in the UK to serve all the major food brands and manufacturers. Richard's commitment to excellence was further demonstrated through his establishment of Cert ID Europe followed by Cert ID Asia, renowned Non-GMO and food safety UKAS accredited certification bodies. His brainchild, FoodChain Europe, became a focal point for impactful training and consulting services. Today, Richard serves as BSI's Global Director for Consumer, Retail & Food driving and accelerating BSI's global assurance portfolio worldwide. His influence extends particularly over regions like the UK, Ireland, the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Furthermore, he is a recognized authority in gene editing and modification for food and agricultural applications cementing his legacy as an industry expert. However, Richard's achievements go beyond his role, as he holds a patent in ice cream and has earned the prestigious titles of Fellow at the Institute of Food Scientist and Technology and the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology and is currently studying for his MSc in Marketing & Leadership at the worldclass business school, Cranfield University

Ashley is a Managing Consultant with extensive experience in retail logistics strategy, warehouse design and supply chain transformation. Before joining SCCG, he spent eight years at Sainsbury’s where he managed projects ranging from the design of their next-generation clothing fulfilment centre, to the strategy and selection of their Warehouse Management System. Since joining SCCG he has worked with over 50 companies (including clients such as Moonpig, Clarins and Seasalt) to improve their logistics operations.

Ashley brings both strategic vision and hands-on expertise. His passion lies in helping businesses prepare for the next era of supply chain - balancing efficiency, resilience, and innovation.

Ashley will be sharing his perspective on where supply chains are headed by 2026, from the rise of AI-driven planning to the shift towards sustainable logistics and smarter warehouse automation.

Craig Stobie has worked for Domino for over 27 years in technical, operations, service and commercial roles. A graduate chemist and physicist, Craig has a broad view of the global legislative, sustainability, financial, and traceability pressures now faced by many companies.

Craig leads a global team of commercial and technical specialists working in Domino’s sector business. These subject matter experts work with international companies, OEMs, technology providers and legislators on the implementation of sustainability. serialisation, aggregation, Track & Trace, product identification and brand protection projects.

The Domino team were principal advisors to a number of global legislative initiatives including the pan European traceability schemes for prescribed medicines.

Prior to joining Domino, Craig worked in refining and manufacturing environments in the speciality chemicals sector.

Dave is a supply chain strategist with over 25 years’ expereince in strategic planning. He advises organisations on integrating advanced analytics, technology, and leadership into supply chain transformation. Dave is a recognised thought leader in S&OP, focusing on aligning tactical execution with long-term business objectives. As a lecturer and consultant, he bridges academic insight with real-world planning excellence.

With 25+ years of experience in supply chain and production planning, Phil Linton has dedicated his career to empowering businesses through technology. Committed to helping companies unlock operational efficiency gains, Phil works with leading manufacturers to reduce waste, enhance customer experience, and accelerate value creation.

Before joining Slimstock, Phil worked extensively with food manufacturers, supporting the BRC Accreditation process, improving quality standards, and introducing digitised end-to-end traceability. This hands-on background gives him a deep understanding of the real-world challenges manufacturers face, and how to define and deliver sustainable improvements.