In today’s competitive retail landscape, securing a supermarket listing is often celebrated as a major milestone. But according to Riad Beladi, that milestone is only the beginning.
As preparations build for the International Supermarket News Conference in Paris, Emma Carter sat down with Beladi to discuss why this event is focused not merely on entering retail — but surviving and thriving within it.
“Too many suppliers believe the challenge ends when the product reaches the shelf,” Beladi begins. “In reality, that’s when the real work starts.”
The Paris conference, he explains, was created to address the operational and strategic gaps that often lead to supplier failure. From logistics breakdowns to compliance issues, poor category positioning to strained buyer relationships, the reasons products disappear from shelves are numerous — and often avoidable.
When asked who the event is designed for, Beladi describes a carefully targeted audience. “We are bringing together serious industry players,” he says. “Food and beverage producers, agricultural cooperatives, FMCG brands, and non-food suppliers — from household goods to personal care and general merchandise. We also expect private label manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, packaging companies, logistics providers, and retail technology firms.”
The common thread, he explains, is ambition. “These are companies that want to scale. They want to understand how large supermarket systems function internally. And they want to compete at a higher level.”
But the true distinction of the conference lies in its speaker lineup. Rather than relying on consultants or academics, the event features professionals embedded within the retail ecosystem.
“We have current supermarket buyers speaking,” Beladi says. “We have former buyers who now source independently at significant volumes. We have category managers, merchandising executives, communication leaders, certification authorities, and logistics executives.”
These are individuals who shape purchasing decisions, define shelf space allocation, enforce compliance standards, and manage supply chains at scale.
“They understand what makes a product succeed — and what causes it to fail,” Beladi adds. “Our goal is to give suppliers direct access to that knowledge.”
The conversation turns to what attendees will gain from participating. Beladi outlines a comprehensive learning experience: understanding how buyers evaluate new products; how category management determines shelf visibility; how certification and traceability requirements affect listing decisions; and how warehouse structures and logistics models influence performance metrics.
Equally important, he notes, are the financial mechanics. “Suppliers must understand payment terms, deductions, chargebacks, and cash flow management. Many profitable products fail because companies underestimate the financial structure of supermarket retail.”
However, beyond presentations and panel discussions, the Paris event includes an element Beladi considers essential — the evening soirée.
“Retail is relationship-driven,” he says firmly. “Trust is built face-to-face.”
The private dinner gathering is designed to foster direct dialogue between suppliers, buyers, and retail executives in a more relaxed atmosphere. In an industry where long-term partnerships determine longevity, informal conversations often open doors that formal meetings cannot.
“Some of the most important business discussions happen away from the stage,” Beladi reflects. “The dinner creates the space for honest conversations and future collaboration.”
As the interview concludes, Carter asks what ultimately differentiates this conference from the crowded calendar of retail events.
Beladi does not hesitate. “Many conferences talk about trends. We focus on execution.”
In a retail environment defined by precision, data, compliance, and operational efficiency, execution is everything. The International Supermarket News Conference in Paris aims to provide suppliers with not just inspiration — but the practical tools required to secure listings, sustain performance, and build resilient partnerships within supermarket systems.
For companies determined not only to enter retail but to remain competitive on the shelf, Paris may offer more than networking — it may offer survival strategy.