A unique setting for a focused, high-level discussion among peers ' concise, interactive, and entirely off the record. Participation is by invitation-only so please enquire for more details.

 

Retail is experiencing unprecedented transformation. From AI-driven personalization and sustainability imperatives to shifting consumer behaviours and global economic pressures, the next five years will redefine what success looks like. In this opening panel, visionary leaders share their roadmap for navigating disruption, unlocking growth, and building resilient, future-ready businesses. Expect bold predictions, actionable strategies, and a candid look at the forces shaping retail's journey to 2030.

Top student teams from leading universities present their solutions to this year's real?world retail brief, showcasing bold ideas, fresh thinking and future?ready strategies. Watch them compete live for the coveted Future Retail Challenge Championship as a panel of industry leaders selects the winning concept shaping the next era of retail.

As resale moves firmly into the mainstream, customers are driving explosive growth in pre?loved fashion and consumer goods ' and retailers are rethinking their role in the circular economy.'This session explores'where resale is heading next ' and what it means for retailers now

Discover how advanced AI is redefining personalisation at scale ' from sharper recommendations and better fit prediction to more intuitive, seamless customer journeys.

This session explores how store?based digital technology is reshaping frontline work by automating routine tasks and enabling teams to focus on higher?value service. This session will examine how in?store digitisation can boost productivity, enhance decision?making and create more responsive, efficient retail environments.

Less Noise, More Growth: The Commerce Media Playbook. Hear from a leading retailer and Rokt on how they are going beyond “retail media” and building commerce‑led monetisation, where customer value comes first, and revenue follows.  

What can global retailers learn from those supplying the world's fastest?growing Chinese marketplaces? A rare, inside look at how Chinese platforms operate ' and the lessons retailers can apply to compete with their pace and precision.

This session reveals the strategic advantages of owning more of the product value-chain, how private?label can drive trust and differentiation, and the key lessons retailers can apply to build stronger margins, customer loyalty, and long?term resilience.

AI is fast becoming the most transformative force in retail; but the real question for leaders is how to stay visible and competitive as consumers shift to AI shopping journeys. Making the right strategic bets requires understanding how this shift changes competitive dynamics, customer behavior, and infrastructure priorities'and that's exactly what this panel will unpack.

As digital takes an ever-greater share of customer attention, this panel explores why the craft of great shopkeeping ' human connection, sensory experience, and the theatre of the store ' still matters profoundly. Leaders will discuss how the most successful retailers are blending digital intelligence with physical creativity to elevate service, personalise journeys, and rediscover the magic that makes people fall in love with shopping all over again.

Fresh thinking often comes from beyond your own sector. In this panel, leaders from hospitality, media, and FMCG share the consumer behaviours, experience innovations, and brand strategies reshaping their industries ' and what retailers can learn from them.

Quick commerce is evolving fast, shifting from ultra?rapid delivery to smarter, more efficient models. This session unpacks the operational lessons, customer expectations and scalable tactics emerging from the sector, and what retailers across categories can take from the quick?commerce playbook to boost responsiveness, relevance and experience.

Loyalty is shifting from points and perks to dynamic, data?driven relationships. This session explores how a leading retailer is reinventing their loyalty model to deepen engagement, personalise value, and build longer?term connection in an era of rising expectations and shrinking margins. Discover the strategies reshaping loyalty and what it takes to stay relevant to the modern customer.

Do not miss this practical masterclass giving CEOs the tools to build a confident 2030 strategy. This session translates real consumer forecasts into clear decisions leaders must make now: which markets to prioritise, where to invest and how to spot early indicators of risk or opportunity. Attendees walk away with a usable forecasting toolkit, actionable next steps, and the insight required to steer their organisation toward sustained growth through 2030.

The 'grab and go' store that attracted headlines when Amazon moved into the space faced a set back when Amazon pulled back last year. But behind these headlines, the 'grab and go' autonomous store is not going away and are growing around the world. Hear from one of the world's leading experts in this sector on why consumers are looking increasingly to this ultimate convenience store format.

What does it take to build a brand that endures ' and grows ' in a world defined by rapid shifts in culture, commerce and consumer expectation? A forward?looking view on the models, mindsets and brand architectures that will shape the next generation of retail success stories.

Where will the next wave of retail expansion come from ' and what does it take to win there? This session highlights the regions and customer segments showing the strongest growth potential, and the strategic playbooks retailers are using to enter new markets with speed and confidence. From localisation and partnerships to supply?chain agility and digital?first routes to scale, discover the models delivering sustainable, profitable growth in high?opportunity markets.

Luxury is being redefined as new generations, shifting global wealth and rapid technological change reshape what customers value. This session explores how brands can balance heritage with innovation, from hyper?personalised experiences and phygital retail to the rising importance of sustainability and cultural relevance. Leaders from across the sector share where growth will come from next'and what 'luxury' will mean by 2030.

Front-line teams aren't there to execute tasks; they're there to create value ' for customers, for the brand, and for the bottom line. The future of retail belongs to the people who can personalise, problem-solve, and humanise an experience technology can't. This expert panel will explore how the most high-performing retailers are shifting from process-led to people-led environments.

Significant growth opportunities lie in the consumer groups that retail has historically overlooked; audiences with distinct needs, high spending power, and rising expectations for products and experiences designed with them in mind. This session explores how retailers can unlock new demand by identifying unmet needs, designing inclusive propositions, and innovating with sensitivity and authenticity.

AI is fast becoming one of the most powerful levers for advantage in retail and beyond, redefining how businesses grow, compete and serve customers. Yet for many CEOs, the gap between AI's promise and its proven value remains wide and the future is uncertain. This panel will explore the strategic choices CEOs must make to ensure innovation becomes a source of sustained advantage and the leadership steps necessary to take us there, beyond technology.

The existential question that weighs heavily on retail CEOs' minds is: how do we grow like-for-like sales volumes when consumers are spending less, costs are rising, and competition is at an all-time high?

Customer expectations are shifting faster than ever ' reshaped by technology, culture, economics and a new definition of value. This session examines the behaviours, motivations and decision drivers redefining how people shop today, and what retailers must adapt to stay relevant. From demand for personalisation to new loyalty dynamics and emerging lifestyle priorities, gain a clear view of the consumer forces that will matter most through 2030.

Don't miss this exclusive panel as top retail CMOs reveal how marketing is driving more than sales, it's building communities and deepening loyalty. This will be an unmissable conversation on how marketing is powering retail's future. Discover strategies that turn shared values into lasting connections and creativity into commercial impact.

Online shopping has become part of everyday life for nearly eight in ten Europeans, with expectations rising fast around convenience, trusted delivery and seamless digital journeys. This session take's finding from the latest E?shopper Barometer, drawing on more than 31,000 consumer interviews, to explore major shifts retailers must respond to. This session distils the key attitudes shaping the modern e?shopper and explores how retailers can meet their evolving expectations to deliver a genuinely world?class online experience.

This session explores how confidence shapes whether people engage, decide or opt out of spending; especially in moments that feel high?risk or uncertain. As AI transforms search and advice into more conversational, personalised experiences, it is increasingly influencing these hesitation points by building trust and clarity. This session examines how AI?led design and behavioural insight can reduce friction at key decision moments and unlock new growth for retailers and brands.

In a market crowded with choice and constant noise, true differentiation has never been harder, or more essential. In this session, you'll learn how to carve out distinctiveness through product, experience, storytelling and operational excellence. Explore the strategic decisions, cultural foundations and customer?led innovations that set great retailers apart and gain practical insight into how retailers can build meaningful, defensible difference that drives loyalty and long?term growth.

This session explores how retailers can build a unified operations hub that connects data, people and decisions. Learn how AI-enabled insights now drive faster reactions, stronger store execution and smarter commercial moves ' all with less manual effort.

What does it take to turn a bold idea into a global movement? In this session, we explore how founder-led brands are rewriting the rules of retail - starting with underserved communities and scaling to partnerships with some of the world's biggest names. Discover how resilience, purpose, and innovation can transform niche markets into mainstream success stories and how the future of retail is being defined by consumer choice.

Social platforms are becoming full?funnel commerce engines ' reshaping how customers discover, evaluate and buy. This session explores the models driving growth in social commerce, from creator?led selling to in?app checkout and shoppable video, and the tactics retailers can use to turn engagement into sales. Clear insights on what's working now, where the biggest opportunities lie, and how to build a social commerce strategy that scales.

Retailers are awash with data ' but only a few are turning it into clear, actionable decisions that drive growth. This session explores how leading organisations are building the right data foundations, applying advanced analytics and AI, and empowering teams to make faster, smarter choices. From forecasting and merchandising to customer insight and operational optimisation, discover the models and mindsets that turn data into real competitive advantage.

Sustainability may not be the leading issue most talked about by retailers, but its relevance and importance do not go away. But at a time when retailers are also looking to drive great efficiency, there is a renewed logic and focus on strategies and actions that are not only good for the planet and consumers but are also good for the retail business. This panel will hear from retailers on practical initiatives that deliver on all fronts and rework the approach to sustainability and the circular economy.

The next wave of retail innovation is being built now ' by startups redefining how the industry creates, captures and delivers value. In this dynamic session, some of the most exciting young companies from our Value Creation Zone share the technologies, models and breakthroughs set to transform retail performance. From AI?driven efficiency to new customer experience tools and operational reinvention, discover the innovators pushing the boundaries of what's possible ' and where the biggest value?creation opportunities lie next.

Retail media is becoming a core growth engine ' but success depends on more than selling ad space. This panel explores the essentials: using first?party data effectively, proving ROI for brands, integrating with loyalty and ecommerce, and creating media experiences that enhance the customer journey. Clear, practical lessons on building retail media models that scale.

With a growing number of consumers around the world feeling financial pressure, the value retail sector is forecast to grow faster than any other. But that momentum does not guarantee success as we have seen with some value players coming under pressure. So how is the value retail sector facing into the future to ensure it can win customers in an increasingly competitive sector. This panel brings together some of the key players in the sector to share their experiences.

Retail innovation is alive and well ' and this session showcases the standout new stores setting the benchmark worldwide. From immersive brand experiences and next?level service concepts to bold design, tech integration and hyper?local relevance, we spotlight the openings that truly raised the bar this year. A fast, inspiring tour of the ideas, formats and store strategies defining what 'great' looks like in 2026.

Be the first to hear the headline findings from the Global CEO Survey. This session reveals the priorities, pressure points and growth bets shaping boardroom agendas around the world ' from investment hotspots and AI adoption to talent, profitability and geopolitical risk. A fast, data?rich briefing on how the industry's top leaders are steering their companies into the future.

Retail's future talent is entering the workforce with new priorities, values and expectations. In this candid panel, Gen Z students share what they're looking for in employers ' from meaningful work, skills development and career mobility to culture, flexibility and purpose. Hear directly from the next generation about what attracts them, what turns them away, and how retailers can build workplaces that inspire, retain and empower tomorrow's leaders.

In a market defined by volatility, shifting consumer behaviour and squeezed margins, retailers are rethinking how they grow ' and with whom. This session explores the evolving landscape of M&A and strategic partnerships, from acquiring capabilities and scaling new models to unlocking value through collaboration. Hear how leading retailers are navigating uncertainty, identifying the right opportunities, and structuring deals that build resilience and long?term advantage in a fast?changing world.

Who's redefining what exciting retail looks like today? This fast?paced session spotlights the most original, high?energy retail concepts emerging around the world ' from breakthrough formats and bold brand worlds to inventive use of tech, community and culture. A curated look at the retailers raising the bar for creativity and relevance, offering fresh inspiration and practical ideas for every leader shaping the future of retail.

What does it take to lead a retail business into the next decade? Drawing on global executive insights, this session explores the emerging leadership model ' one rooted in curiosity, digital fluency, cross?functional collaboration and the ability to balance innovation with operational discipline. Discover the mindset shifts and capabilities that will separate the industry's most effective CEOs by 2030.