Episode Details

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2026 in Vienna, Chris Walton is joined by Béatrice de Noray, Chief Growth Officer at Bel Group, to discuss how organizations can turn ideas into impact by combining innovation, technology, and collaboration to drive meaningful growth.

Béatrice shares how Bel Group has organized its business around an end-to-end growth model that connects research, innovation, marketing, and sales, and explains why AI is helping break down silos rather than creating new ones. She also discusses the future of food, the role of human creativity in an AI-driven world, how Bel is thinking about health and wellness trends like GLP-1s, and why industry-wide collaboration remains essential to tackling challenges around sustainability and packaging innovation.

Key Topics Covered:

• How Bel Group connects research, innovation, marketing, and sales under one growth organization

• Why end-to-end thinking helps move products from "slides to shelf"

• How AI is helping eliminate organizational silos

• The concept of "tech for good" and its role in transforming the food system

• Balancing curiosity, experimentation, and focus in the age of AI

• Why human creativity remains a competitive advantage

• The risks of "content obesity" in an AI-powered world

• Building critical thinking and AI skills across organizations

• Why food innovation must remain locally relevant despite global trends

• Bel Group's perspective on GLP-1s and the future of healthy snacking

• The importance of nutrient-dense foods, portion control, and balanced nutrition

• How brands can create products that serve long-term consumer needs

• Bel's work with the Consumer Goods Forum's Plastic Waste Coalition of Action

• The role of collaboration in advancing sustainable packaging solutions

• Why ecosystem thinking is critical to solving industry-wide challenges

• How AI, sustainability, health, and supply chain innovation are interconnected

Special thanks to the CGF Leadership Studio sponsored by Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's coverage in Vienna.