Rob is a Category Manager specialising in drinks strategy, category development and consumer insight. With experience across hospitality, FMCG and market research, he helps shape category growth and guest experiences for one of the UK’s largest pub and restaurant groups, with expertise spanning soft drinks, wine, innovation and commercial strategy.
Gemma has over 20 years of on-trade experience, built on delivering commercial growth for brands and operators. Having worked with one of the UK’s leading route to market businesses and across a wide range of brands, she brings a deep, hands-on understanding of what makes consumers, brands and operators tick to her role as Account Director at KAM Insight.
Sohail Alimohamed, one of the founders of Chaiiwala, has played a pivotal role in growing the business from its launch in 2015 into the UK’s fastest growing and leading Indian street food brand. His entrepreneurial roots run deep having gained early business experience working alongside his father in the family’s global retail and wholesale furniture business, before
establishing a successful healthcare recruitment agency.
Sohail brings a rare blend of commercial acumen and creative vision. A respected entrepreneur, charismatic speaker, and recognised leader in brand marketing and communications, he drives all creative aspects of the Chaiiwala brand.
Alongside his work in the business, Sohail also advises several start-ups and is deeply committed to charitable initiatives. He continues to play an instrumental role in identifying and supporting strong new operators for the brand
Alice Hutfield is Director of Development at KFC UK & Ireland, where she plays a key role in delivering the brand’s landmark £1.5 billion investment plan announced last year, overseeing the largest restaurant expansion plan in KFC UK and Ireland’s history. Through this investment, KFC is targeting 500 new restaurants and 7,000 new jobs over the next decade.
Since joining KFC in 2014, Alice has helped the business expand from around 800 restaurants to more than 1,000 today, which includes working closely with franchise partners to bring new restaurants to more communities in a booming fried chicken market.
Alongside expanding KFC’s footprint across the UK and Ireland, Alice oversaw the launch of KFC’s new global visual identity with rollout planned across the estate, modernising restaurants with updated branding and enhanced customer experiences designed to connect with the next generation of customers.