Extreme weather is forcing retailers and manufacturers to adopt new rules

The exceptionally hot and dry European summer is a clear sign: extreme weather is having an increasingly direct impact on the operations of retailers and food producers. As stores see shifts in foot traffic and sales, companies like Carrefour and Danone are experimenting with more flexible procurement policies and water reuse.

Shopping streets are emptying

Extreme weather is becoming an operational risk for companies across Europe. The hot and dry summer of 2026 demonstrates how high temperatures simultaneously affect sales, supply, logistics, and labor productivity. Research by ABN AMRO in the Netherlands provides an indication of what retailers elsewhere in Europe can expect.