Global Water Drinks Congress 2025
Event Programme
Designed for industry leaders, suppliers, customers and advisers, this 22nd annual Congress will provide a complete overview of the latest market trends, innovations and issues alongside networking opportunities with key industry figures. Insights will be shared by leading international and regional businesses on the latest market and strategic developments, as well as by innovators and entrepreneurs bringing new ideas and taking up new challenges.
Discover this years speakers
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Tuesday
1:00 pm
MATTONI 1873 BOTTLING PLANT TOUR
MATTONI 1873 BOTTLING PLANT TOUR
Tour departs for visit to Mattoni 1873 bottling plant in Szentkirályi, returning at 18.30
7:00 pm
WELCOME RECEPTION
Welcome drinks reception with canapés
Wednesday
8:30 am
Registration and networking
9:00 am
GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK
Welcome address: Innovating for the European consumer
Alessandro Pasquale, Owner and Executive President of Mattoni 1873, Czech Republic
9:15 am
GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK
2025 market developments and 2026 prospects
Ananda Roy, Senior Vice President – Thought Leadership Europe for Circana, United Kingdom
9:30 am
GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK
Global consumer shopping dynamics and water drinks outlook
Dirk Vissers, International Consumer Insight Director for Europanel, Portugal
9:45 am
GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK
Panel discussion joined by
Constanza Flores, Global Marketing Vice President – Hydration Category for The Coca-Cola Company, Ireland
Miguel Flores, Vice President of International for Niagara Bottling / Australia, Mexico, UK & Global Expansion
10:30 am
NETWORKING BREAK
Hydration and networking break
11:10 am
SPONSOR SESSION
Sponsor presentation: From everyday to elevated
Joelle El-Khatib, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of One Water Global, Canada
11:25 am
LEADING BRAND DEVELOPMENT
Investing $120 million in future growth
Afnan Ahsan, Group Chief Executive Officer of IDS Borjomi International, UAE
11:40 am
LEADING BRAND DEVELOPMENT
The hydration value creation opportunity
Eduardo Lacerda, Senior Director Global Waters Marketing and Sustainability for Groupe Danone, France
11:55 am
LEADING BRAND DEVELOPMENT
New ways to reach new consumers
Terri Cooper, Commercial Director – Roxane UK, and Hollie Veal, Marketing Manager – Roxane UK for Sources Alma, France
0:10 pm
LEADING BRAND DEVELOPMENT
Vitaminwater from New York
Sue Lynne Cha, Vice President Marketing Water & Tea – North America for The Coca-Cola Company, United States
0:25 pm
LEADING BRAND DEVELOPMENT
Questions and discussion
0:45 pm
NETWORKING BREAK
Buffet lunch and networking
2:00 pm
REGIONAL POWERHOUSES
Achieving ubiquity in the Balkans
Stefanos Valvis, Strategic Development Lead of AQUA Carpatica, Romania
2:15 pm
REGIONAL POWERHOUSES
Connecting with Indian consumers
Rahul Narang – Founder, Chairman & Managing Director: The Narang Group – Ocean Beverages, India
2:30 pm
REGIONAL POWERHOUSES
Sustaining superbrand status
Shiao Chew Chan, Head of Marketing of Spritzer, Malaysia
2:45 pm
REGIONAL POWERHOUSES
Questions and discussion
3:00 pm
NETWORKING BREAK
Rehydration and networking break
3:30 pm
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION
Quick Commerce revolution in India
Sulabh Vij, Vice President at Blinkit, India
3:45 pm
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION
Creating a new model for sustainability
Mike Hecker, Chief Executive Officer of BE WTR, Switzerland
4:00 pm
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION
Questions and discussion
4:15 pm
SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA: DISTRIBUTION AS STRATEGY
Operational discipline across all channels
Sandeep Bakshi, Managing Director of Indo Nissin Foods, India
4:30 pm
SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA: DISTRIBUTION AS STRATEGY
Panel discussion joined by
Rahul Narang – Founder, Chairman & Managing Director: The Narang Group – Ocean Beverages, India
Sulabh Vij, Vice President of Blinkit, India
Gaute Hoegh, Founder of Co/Plus, Denmark
5:00 pm
Close
7:00 pm
GLOBAL WATER DRINKS AWARDS
Networking drinks reception
7:30 pm
NETWORKING BREAK
Gala Industry Dinner
9:30 pm
GLOBAL WATER DRINKS AWARDS
Presentation of 2025 Global Water Drinks Awards
10:00 pm
Close
Thursday
10:00 am
WATER ACCESS, PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Panel discussion joined by
Brad Loiselle, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pure Water, Iceland
8:30 am
Registration and networking
9:00 am
WATER ACCESS, PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Water scarcity and international trade: challenging the misconceptions
Gareth Jones, Head of International for Icelandic Glacial, Iceland
9:15 am
WATER ACCESS, PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Roadmap for sustainability and health
Patricia Fosselard, Secretary General of Natural Mineral Waters Europe, Belgium
9:30 am
WATER ACCESS, PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Fibre bottles designed to disappear
Alvin Lim, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The NBCo, United States
9:45 am
WATER ACCESS, PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Tackling our greatest environmental challenges
Ryan Emmons, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waiākea, Hawaii
10:30 am
NETWORKING BREAK
Hydration and networking break
11:00 am
ENHANCING HYDRATION
Developing a new world of hydration
Neil Kimberley, Chief Commercial Officer of Electrolit USA, United States
11:15 am
ENHANCING HYDRATION
W+S: alkaline water plus supplements
Simon El Alj, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Water Plus Supplements, United States
11:30 am
ENHANCING HYDRATION
Questions and discussion
11:50 am
SPOTLIGHT ON EAST EUROPE: DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS
Panel discussion with
Saša Mićić, Chief Executive Officer of Mioni, Serbia
0:45 pm
NETWORKING BREAK
Buffet lunch and networking
2:00 pm
Close