First European Retail Day focuses on growth and competitiveness

How is the European retailer industry to safeguard its competitiveness and future growth in these times of far-reaching change? Experts, top retailers and policy makers will discuss this topic at the very first European Retail Day in Brussels.

Importance of innovation

On 30 November 2017, policymakers, industry leaders and prominent experts will gather in Brussels to discuss how the European retail sector – both food and non-food – can respond to market, policy and technological shifts that currently engulf the industry. How can the retail sector contribute to Europe’s Digital Single Market project? What future steps and innovation are required to ensure growth and competitiveness? How are national rules and EU policies interacting with the economic potential of retail? How are digital trends, new customer behaviours, and the circular economy changing the future of the retail industry?

The themes are clear as day, because the retail industry is undergoing several important transformations. There are enormous changes in consumer behaviour, driven by technology and the internet. How retailers react to these fundamental shifts is key to the entire industry’s future success. That is exactly why innovation is vital. Technology and digitization may pose plenty of challenges, they can also become a retailer’s asset if he can turn shopping into an exciting customer experience. Sustainability and logistics are also themes that can strengthen a retailer’s connection to the consumer and where the retail industry can positively and tangibly contribute to society.

Top-level speakers

The inaugural European Retail Day is a joint initiative of EuroCommerce, EuroCoop, the European Retail Round Table and Independent Retail Europe, organized by Forum Europe.

Looking at the list of speakers, we notice several representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament, including Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness for the European Commission. Top-level retailers are also present, including Veronika Pountcheva (global director corporate responsibility and  senior vice president – Metro AG), Kerstin Lindvall (chief corporate responsibility officer – ICA Gruppen), Hans Carpels (chairman at Euronics International), Frans Muller (Ahold Delhaize, but also president of the European Retail Round Table), Kenneth Bengtsson (EuroCommerce president), Massimo Bongiovanni (Euro Coop president) en Ralf Gerking (Independent Retail Europe president).

In short, this is an event for everyone who wants to keep in touch with the European retail policies. More information about the program and the practical information can be found here.