SGK's Carol Best To Speak At Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit

CHICAGO, July 07, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- SGK, a division of Matthews International and a leading global brand development, activation and deployment provider that drives brand performance, announced today that Carol Best, vice president, client engagement, will present Turning FDA Proposed Label Changes into a Competitive Advantage at the Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit, on July 8, 2015, 9:30 a.m. CT, in Chicago.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, giving manufacturers and brand owners a valuable opportunity to educate consumers and better position their brands for growth.

The revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, expected to be finalized by early 2016, is being driven by consumers' desire for clearer, more informative labeling on packaging. The more transparent labels may include more prominent calorie counts, updated serving sizes, and a disclosure on added sugars. The FDA is currently reviewing comments and will finalize the regulation in the coming months. 

Best will address what the nutrition label changes will mean for brands as well as review six steps food and beverage companies should start considering now, to be better prepared to turn the update into a competitive advantage.

"The FDA update to the Nutrition Facts label is really about our society's growing need for nutrition awareness," said Best. "The FDA's proposed label change is about way more than just a label change because the root cause of the legislation is not political; it is consumer–driven. Simply put, consumers are looking to make more informed decisions for their families."

"By addressing consumer desire for honest and clear nutrition, leading companies will see the opportunity to evolve the consumer/brand relationship as a competitive edge to gain market share."

Added Best: "SGK is advising brands to create a meaningful and relevant evolution of their brand, and streamline their brand's commercial process in preparation for the upcoming label change—and the volume of work required to comply with the pending government regulations."                     

Best concluded: "Beyond the label, SGK encourages brands to use the FDA's proposal as an opportunity to take bold, decisive action. Winners will think beyond the label and plan for changes that meet consumers' needs for better, more transparent labeling. For prepared brands, this discontinuous market event can be turned into a competitive advantage."

"It will take time, effort and budget – but, it does represent a fantastic opportunity for brands to respond to an evolving consumer base, to be part of a bigger story, and a better chance to inspire action and drive brand performance."

Best's ability to articulate a clear, insightful strategy has helped leading marketers strengthen their agency partnerships, brand portfolios, improve brand performance, and empower brand management support through a disciplined program. Prior to joining SGK, Carol worked with Interbrand (New York and Cincinnati), where she helped build a strategy department to service Procter & Gamble and was part of the firm's innovation team.

Her fifteen years of expertise in brand strategy and client management has helped guide the development and stewardship of some of the world's most well-known brands. She holds a B.S. in Economics and Marketing from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

SGK is a leading global brand development, activation and deployment provider that drives brand performance. By creating brands, helping sell brands, producing brand assets and protecting brand equities, we help our clients achieve higher brand performance. SGK is part of Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW). For more information visit: http://www.sgkinc.com

To learn more about the Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit 2015 please visit: http://fbpackaging.packagingdigest.com

If you would like additional information or resources regarding the impending label change, please visit Schawk's Label Central for up-to-date news and insights. http://www.schawk.com/label-central/new-nutrition-label

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SOURCE SGK

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