Label Summit Africa hailed a success

The inaugural Label Summit Africa attracted 303 delegates including converters, brand owners and label designers to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) between March 19-20.

Organized by the Labelexpo Global Series, the event’s keynote speaker was Jay Gouliard of Avery Dennison label and packaging materials. He looked at the opportunities and benefits offered by eco-friendly labels and innovative packaging, while outlining that increasing sustainability can maximize profitability. Other speakers included Dr Adrian Steele of Mercian Labels Group, who gave a case study on how online marketing transformed a short run label printing business model. HP Indigo’s Christian Menegon, with Grant Watson from Rotolabel, outlined the benefits of digital printing with case studies on Coca Cola, Sprite and Wing Man.

The conference program included detailed and well attended panel discussions. A panel of converters addressed challenges and opportunities and examined the requirements of export markets. A retailer panel discussion, which included representatives from Woolworths, Clicks and Shoprite, discussed private labels versus premium brands and considered the importance of personalization with the growing demand for short run promotions. A beverage panel discussion – comprised of wine producers including Boland Cellar, Boer & Brit and Haskell Vineyards and label designer Fanakalo – looked at brand enhancement and engaging consumers through product promotion.

Supporting the conference, the Summit featured a table-top exhibition and networking program. Over 200 delegates attended a dinner and beach party at Grand Café & Beach in Granger Bay on the opening evening, while over 150 enjoyed wine tasting and a blending, bottling and labeling session at the Zevenwacht wine estate, part of the Stellenbosch Wine Route.

Roger Pellow, Labelexpo managing director, said: ‘Label Summit Africa 2012 has been an enormous success – far exceeding our original expectations. Delegate and exhibitor feedback has been hugely positive particularly about the Summit’s content and choice of venue. The event brought the whole supply chain and label industry together with around 15 percent delegates being brand designers or owners like SAB Miller, KWV and Appletiser.

‘It is very clear that the program of speakers gave the audience an inspiring and fresh insight into ways of doing business and opening up new opportunities. We’re confident that the mix of technology presentations, discussion panels and customer case studies ensured delegates gained new ideas and techniques on how they can successfully further their business across the African continent. We will be returning in 2014.’

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