• Overview
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Event History

Having launched in Barcelona in 2007 and moved to Berlin for 2010 and 2011, the World Retail Congress has become the ultimate meeting place for the leaders of the global retail industry. A premium summit, which has helped to shape global retail and unique for attracting senior level, cross-sector, cross-globe delegates to look at the current state of the retail sector and unearth the next generation of growth opportunities, the event has congregated approximately 1000 C-suite speakers, sponsors and delegates on a yearly basis.

The World Retail Congress has welcomed almost 500 speakers since it was launched in 2007. As the most important gathering of the global retail industry, we are proud to state that we have included on the programmes presidents, CEOs or directors from many of the world's biggest and most important retailers: Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Tesco, Metro, JC Penney, Macys, Aeon, Toys R Us, Target, Inditex, Galeries Lafayette and Mango, to name but a few. Speakers have also been drawn from all of the fastest growing and newly emerged retail markets such as China, India, Russia and Brazil. Included amongst the list of speakers have also been leading global suppliers to the retail industry such as Procter & Gamble, Li & Fung and Estee Lauder.

The Congress has also welcomed key international figures from trade, regulatory control and politics including Ministers from China, Brazil and European Union as well as Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organisation and George Kell, head of the United Nations Global Compact Group. Delegates have been able to benefit from hearing keynote speeches from retail veterans such as Marvin Traub, the US retail legend, Sir Stuart Rose Chairman of Marks and Spencer, as well as today's biggest CEOs influencing retail's direction such as John Donahoe, President and CEO of eBay, Sir Martin Sorrell CEO of WPP and Gordon Segal CEO of Crate & Barrel.

What to do next?

• See who will be speaking at the 2012 event »
• Industry praise for the Congress »
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