Abhi Beniwal is the founder and CEO of ReTech Labs, a cutting-edge retail computer vision and AI company. ReTech Labs was acquired by Enterprise AI leader Symphony AI with a vision to build end-to-end “Connected Retail AI” solutions, accelerating growth for retailers and CPGs globally. Abhi leverages his expertise in retail technology, AI, and computer vision to drive automation, productivity, and seamless operations. His leadership and entrepreneurial spirit continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in retail through AI and computer vision. Abhi holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Andrew Cron, serving as Chief Data Officer, directs the Data Science and Data Engineering teams with the objective of developing advanced AI, machine learning, and insights capabilities. These innovations aim to enhance the product offerings of Upshop by delivering superior solutions for store operations.  

Andrew is a seasoned data leader with experience in finance, retail, bioinformatics, and advertising. He excels in developing AI solutions using large datasets and leading diverse teams. Andrew holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of South Carolina (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude), a Ph.D. in Statistical Science from Duke University, and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Dr. Feler directs Numerator’s economic thought-leadership and regularly briefs the CPG and retailer C-suite on the state of the US economy and consumer behavior. He also provides CPG and retail insights to the financial services industry through a quarterly webinar series with RBC’s Nik Modi. Dr. Feler also leads Numerator’s partnership with the academic, policy, and regulatory communities, serves as a member of the forecast panel for the Blue Chip Economic Indicators, and is an affiliated researcher with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, working on developing a nowcast of retail sales and inflation.

Juri Ljaskin is a distinguished leader in the field of retail and supply chain management, currently serving as the Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Store Process Development, and Sustainability for SOK, the Finnish retail cooperative giant. Holding an Executive MBA and with over 16 years of experience in international retail, Juri has been instrumental in transforming supply chain processes, enhancing store operations, and promoting sustainability initiatives across various markets.

Leveraging his strategic-mindedness and comprehensive understanding of the complex retail landscape, Juri oversees a wide range of responsibilities at SOK. These include replenishment, logistics, centralized receiving units, space management, master data, store process development, workforce management, and sustainability for Prisma Peremarket AS. His efforts have been pivotal in streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency, all while ensuring sustainable business practices that positively impact the environment and society. Leading Prisma Peremarket AS in Estonia, Juri manages an annual revenue north of €200 million and a market share of approximately 6%, placing it in the top five in the region.

Juri's insights into sustainable development and his extensive experience in the retail sector, coupled with his passion for integrating people, processes, and technology into effective solutions, make him a valuable asset to any discussion on fresh food and supply chain innovation.

Sonia Punwani is the Chief Marketing Officer of Cargill’s North America Protein business, which is headquartered in Wichita, and services retail, foodservice and food manufacturing customers and feeds 90 million people around the world every day. Sonia and her team are responsible for marketing, innovation, category and customer analytics, consumer insights, and culinary across all proteins and channels.

Previously, Sonia was the Foodservice Marketing Director for Foodservice for Cargill’s North America Protein business. Sonia worked closely with the Cargill Foodservice sales leaders and Protein segment teams to drive profitable growth in the channel. She championed several capabilities across Marketing & Innovation, including the annual marketing planning process, marketing talent calibration and strategic innovation.

Sonia earlier served as the global commercial leader for bakery in Cargill’s Edible Oils business, leading the development of the 2025 global bakery strategy and playing a key role in the business transition to a more customer-driven model. She has also held a number of strategy, marketing, and operations leadership roles with General Mills, Post Consumer Brands and the Corporate Executive Board.

Sonia has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Psychology) from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) from the University of Virginia-Darden School of Business. Sonia was born and raised in Mumbai, India and now resides in Medina, Minnesota, with her husband Tarun and son Mikhail.

Mike Stigers joined Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, on June 1, 2023, as its President. Mike brings with him five decades of food industry knowledge, having begun his career as a part-time courtesy clerk at Safeway in his home state of California.

Mike has a distinguished track record in both the retail and wholesale sides of the supermarket business, having held executive roles in both operations, merchandising, supply chain and fresh. Mike has experience on the vendor side having worked for BASS, Inc., a retail automation software company, and for Sterilox Fresh, a food safety company, as regional vice president.

Prior to joining Wakefern, Mike served as executive vice president of SuperValu’s Fresh division from 2019 to 2020 as well as being named CEO at Cub Foods. Cub Foods is a subsidiary of UNFI, the natural and organic food company headquartered in Rhode Island.

In 2011, Stigers joined SuperValu, as president of Shaw’s/Star Market grocery stores in New England. He went on to lead SUPERVALU’s northern wholesale region in Hopkins, MN in 2013, and was named president of CUB in March 2014. Two years later, he was promoted to executive vice president of SUPERVALU Wholesale and Supply Chain Services, serving three years in that role until SUPERVALU was purchased by UNFI in October 2018.