Shigeru Taniguchi is General Manager of Product Development Dept. in Dairy Business Unit of Meiji Co. Ltd, the leader in dairy products, especially milk and yogurt on Japanese FMCG market. He joint the company in 1982 after graduating from Agriculture Faculty of Kobe University and his career path in Meiji included many positions, remaining however devoted to the mainstream of R&D activities and technological expertise. Loyal to the Japanese tradition of lifelong employment system, he has been working in Pharmaceutical Department, New Materials Development Dept. of R&D Division (as a manager). Recently he has been one of the key-persons in launching such successful yogurt products for Meiji as "Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt 0 Fat" series, "LG 21" (long seller on Japanese market for probiotic yogurt to regulate the functions of the intestines) and "R-1" with proven immune stimulating effects against influenza.

Matthew Wilkinson is Senior Policy Advisor, Corporate Relations, at WWF International. As a pharmacology graduate, Matthew has over 20 years experience working on public health and environmental issues.  He joined WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected environmental NGOs, 10 years ago. Matthew is a policy advisor in a team that strategically engages companies working with them to demonstrate that making a positive contribution to the environment makes business sense. He has a particular role in developing and coordinating WWF’s engagement with retailers around the world.

Eng. Kiril Kalev is a General Representative of AHT Cooling systems/Austria, Katex Dr. Kalev Technologies Ltd. Dr Kiril Kalev graduated in engineering from the Technical University in Magdeburg, Germany. He worked at Bulgarian Academy of Science and after 1990 he started entrepreneurial and consulting work. As founder and CEO of the family business Katex Dr. Kalev Technologies, he represents and builds business in Bulgaria of companies from Germany and Austria, including LINDE, AHT Cooling Systems and others. He is one of the founders and CEO of the first private electronic media in Bulgaria – Radio FM Plus. He was ambassador in Austria from 1997 till 2001. In recent years, he manages and consults investments projects in marketing and corporate communications.

Tobias Schediwy is the General Manager of Consumer Tracking CEE at GfK, one of the leading market research groups worldwide. Based at the regional headquarters in Vienna, he is in charge of the consumer panels in 14 CEE countries and member of the international GfK Consumer Tracking Board. GfK´s consumer panel services provide FMCG brand manufacturers and retailers with comprehensive shopper and consumer insights through internationally harmonized services and global knowledge. Tobias has a Master of Economics and Social Sciences at the Vienna University of Economics.

David’s main field of expertise is related to retail and FMCG industries, where he covers topics like strategy, supply chain management, HR policy, efficiency improvement and cost optimisation and loyalty programmеs. Before joining PwC, David worked at second biggest Slovenian retailer Engrotus d.d., where he held a position of retail director, responsible for the whole retail network. Prior to that he led store operations at Slovenian subsidiary of world's leading discount chain Aldi, where he also facilitated market entry to Slovenia.

Nikolay Berov has over 14 years experience on top management positions in big electronic companies, specialized in ecological and "green" projects. Не has a diploma from Technical University Sofia, as well as a number of professional qualifications and specializations, such as MBA from Chadwick University. From 2007 till now, Nikolay Berov is CEO of Solarpro AD. Between 1997 and 2007 he is Executive Director of EPIQ Group, part of EPIQ n.v. group. Between 2005 and 2007 he is Industrial Manager of EPIQ Group. From 1993 to 1996 Nikolay Berov is Managing Director of Sigma Delta Bulgaria Ltd., from 1991 to 1992 is consultant of Coopers & Lybrand, supporting foreign investors for privatization projects in Bulgaria. His career starts in 1977 as Technical Director of Microelectronica, Blagoevgrad, where he works till 1990.

Dr. Cristoph Schulte is a Customer Management Director and a Member of the Board of Directors of "Metro Cash and Carry Bulgaria". Prior to joining Metro in late 2009 he was CEO and co-owner of a small size German marketing agency. He started his career 2001 with McKinsey and Comp. in Duesseldorf and Detroit. He is holding a PhD in Capital market theory and finished his Diploma studies in Business Administration at Handelshochschule Leipzig. His passion is good food, red wine and contemporary art.

Vladimir Chirikov is a Manager of "Market Research and Industry Analysis" department in "ICAP Bulgaria" Jsc, a subsidiary of ICAP Group - one of the leading organizations for providing business information and management consultancy in Southeast Europe. The department's activities are related to the provision of specific market information on development of different industries and presentation of the main players in them. Chirikov started his career in ICAP in early 2008 and managed to develop the company's products, services and customers base in Bulgaria. During his 7-year consultancy practice he gained experience in various sectors of the Bulgarian economy. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Public Sector Management from the University of Sofia "St. Kliment Ohridski".

Yulian Dobrev is Research Manager in "Pragmatica" agency and co-owner of the company. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing research. He is an author of over 120 articles with focus on marketing. Some of the projects, he has participated in for the last three years were for HP. KFC, "Renault", Globul, "Bella Bulgaria", "Compass," "Sugar factories Gorna Oryahovitsa", AstraZeneka, AMGEN, BAI, DSK Bank.

Radina Zhelyazkova has been an attorney at law in cooperation with Schoenherr Sofia since 2007. She specialises in Food law and Real Estate. She advises clients from the retail businesses on specific requirements concerning the materials intended to come into contact with food, on health and nutrition claims and food labelling, and foreign investors on all trade register related matters of their investments. Her additional area of specialisation is the acquisition and development of real estate in Bulgaria. She graduated from the University of Plovdiv and Humboldt University, Berlin (LL.M) and has been a member of the Bar Association since 2008. Radina's working languages are Bulgarian, German and English.

Graduated in Agricultural Science at University of Bologna, he obtained a Master Degree and a PhD in Rural Development at University College Dublin. He has wide international experience, speaking fluently Italian, English, French and Spanish, and he spent two years in Congo in a NGO rural development project. After experiences as Head of Project Department at several Service Centres in the agrofood sector, he became international agribusiness consultant. He currently is General Manager at Centuria, public-private Centre for Innovation that provides consulting services to 60 local industrial groups in agrofood and manufacturing sectors. Among other roles, he has been EC Project Evaluator in the Research Framework Program, and member of the evaluation committee for the Innovation Prize of Macfrut, international fruit and vegetable fair.

Friedrich J. Graf is a Retail Expert for international Purchasing and Sales, Supply Chain Management, Category- and Product-Management. He has more than 25 years experience in retailing. He worked for various retail companies including the world’s largest retailer Wal Mart. He also developed various projects, such as implementation of Private Label and Category Management programs. Since 2008 he has been an independent Consultant and Interim Manager. F.J.G Consulting & Interim Management.