Laura Barry is Vice President of Consumer Insights and Shopper Engagement for Kraft North America (KNA). She is responsible for leading both Consumer and Shopper Insights and driving Kraft from Category Management into Category Leadership. Laura is also responsible for coordinating Business Unit Consumer/Shopper and Category Management efforts and connectivity with the Field Customer teams.

The North America unit generates 65% of the total net revenues for Kraft'â„¢s portfolio of brands, totaling $24 billion. Laura joined Kraft in 1990 and has worked a number of Market Research roles in Corporate and Businesses across Kraft North America. In 2001, Laura was appointed Senior Director, Kraft Canada, responsible for both Consumer and Shopper Insights where she drove KNA alignment improving research methods, integrated Nabisco and increased impact of the function. Successful business results included Delissio and Kool Aid RTD launches and a CRM program.

In 2003, Laura returned to the U.S. Biscuit Unit, where she and her team helped the business identify where they went off course and redirected the drivers to growth. A huge effort was placed behind better understanding and connecting with consumers, optimizing the mix, improving quality and successful launches such as 100 Calorie Packs and Ritz Chips. In 2005, Laura moved to the Tarrytown site to lead the Beverage CIS Team and the restructuring and move of Desserts and Cereals Businesses.

In Beverages, her team drove insights to better meet consumer needs resulting in transformational growth in Crystal Light, improved Maxwell House and Capri Sun. In late 2007, Laura was appointed VP of Consumer Insights and Strategy, for KNA. In May, 2009, in bringing Consumer and Shopper Insights together, Laura was appointed Vice President of Consumer Insights and Shopper Engagement for KNA. Laura received her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.

Dr. Matilda Freund leads the worldwide Food Safety team at Kraft Foods. She is an expert in global food safety including HACCP design and development on an International level. Dr. Freund’s team has responsibility for the development and implementation of global strategies and policies in the areas of food safety, toxicology, thermal processing and microbiology. In addition, they are key partners in the product development process to ensure appropriate design and stability from the product, process and distribution perspective.

Over her 20 year career at Kraft, Dr. Freund has held various positions including Product Development, Sanitation, Quality, and Production Management. She has visited numerous manufacturing sites in a variety of countries and has worked with an extensive array of products. In addition, she had the opportunity to live and work in a number of locations, including Munich, Germany. Today she is based in Glenview, IL.

Dr. Freund holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida and a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science.

Every spring from the age of eight, Arnold Coombs has worked in the sugarhouse. Today, as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Bascom Family Farms retail division, Arnold still tends the family maple farm, but he spends most of his time with retailers, helping them rethink how to approach their maple category. While most maple guys see a price-driven commodity category, Arnold focuses on category growth. He sees beyond simple tactics designed to steal market share from competitive maple brands. Instead, he works to understand the consumer segments and how to get them to consume more maple.

As General Manager for Precima, Brian Ross is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the company, a full-service provider of customer management and analytical services for retailers and manufacturers.

Brian has over 12 years of experience in loyalty marketing, customer relationship management and advanced customer analytics, with a focus on retail. He has worked with North America’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to build and execute world-class customer management strategies across marketing, merchandising and operations.

Brian has held numerous roles within LoyaltyOne’s business lines, including client management and analytics for eight AIR MILES Reward Program Sponsors. The types of clients included grocery, pharmacy, department store, specialty retail, CPG and financial services. In addition, Brian led the development of several new businesses and services for LoyaltyOne, all focused on fully leveraging customer data to drive enhanced customer insights and strategies for retail and CPG partners.

Brian joined the management of the AIR MILES Reward Program in 1996. He received an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration, with Distinction, from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events.