Agenda

As large retail businesses evaluate their growth strategies and the competition, they must constantly assess whether to (1) create their own accelerators to explore cutting-edge technologies, (2) partner with companies that specialize in helping retailers build out these programs, and (3) invest more substantially in research and development (R&D) to build out new products and initiatives. This session will look at how retailers are approaching innovation to ensure their businesses identify and incorporate the latest trends, technologies and business models.

This session will highlight two well-known Professors of Marketing at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Each speaker will spend 15 minutes presenting his or her latest research on the retail industry, followed by a joint 10-minute Q&A with the audience.

Retail and ecommerce players in Latin America have embraced a variety of innovative business models and technologies to win over shoppers in this region of 650 million consumers. Success in the region is not easy, however: Latin American retailers have to overcome hurdles that range from complex taxes in Brazil to low credit card penetration in Mexico and logistics challenges in almost every country. In spite of these obstacles--and in many cases, because of them--Latin American companies have learned to be creative and adaptable. Join us to hear from forward-thinking retail organizations in Latin America as they discuss their most groundbreaking initiatives and the lessons other companies can learn from their approaches to online and offline shopping.

In this session, leading research organizations will present the latest grocery industry trends as well as insights into consumer buying behavior.

Retailers and startups no longer exist in different worlds: Today many established retailers are partnering with or acquiring direct-to-consumer and commerce technology startups. Additionally, a growing number of retailers now sell products from smaller, early-stage brands. This session will look at how retailers and startups are working together and which partnership models have proved the most successful for both types of businesses.

This session will highlight two well-known Professors of Marketing at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Each speaker will spend 15 minutes presenting his or her latest research on the retail industry, followed by a joint 10-minute Q&A with the audience.

Asia Pacific has become a locus of commerce innovation, with new cutting-edge retail and ecommerce initiatives being piloted from Delhi to Singapore and Sydney to Tokyo. Yet the markets across the region are vastly different from each other, leading to a broad spectrum of innovation. From advanced robotics in Japan to ecommerce companies in India with fulfillment options that cater to a rural population of 800 million, the region is home to some of the most exciting commerce initiatives today. Join us to hear from the companies at the forefront of innovation in Asia Pacific as they discuss the disruptive trends and technologies in the region today.

To stay competitive, grocery retailers and branded manufacturers must rethink how they collaborate. In this interactive session, industry experts will discuss how retailers and brands can leverage technology, streamline processes and optimize organizational structures to reduce operational costs and improve sales. The session will focus on partnership opportunities in key areas including product data, marketing and promotions, inventory forecasting and shopper insights.

Every organization struggles with creating a culture that encourages innovation. At startups, every hire can have an impact on whether the company is able to commercialize its innovative products and services; at larger organizations, the right processes and organizational structures can drive or inhibit innovation. Hear how executives who have run large businesses and startups have dealt with hiring and organizational challenges, and how their leadership style has evolved as they've learned what their companies need to remain competitive in rapidly evolving markets.

This session will highlight two well-known Professors of Marketing at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Each speaker will spend 15 minutes presenting his or her latest research on the retail industry, followed by a joint 10-minute Q&A with the audience.

Europe is home to some of the most exciting retail innovation in the world. Advanced digital grocery initiatives in the UK, cutting-edge pickup options in France, groundbreaking ecommerce businesses in Germany and creative retail store design in Scandinavia are just a few of the areas where European businesses have excelled. Join us to hear from retail leaders across Europe as they discuss innovation originating in the region and the companies and categories where retailers from other parts of the world should be looking for inspiration.

The grocery industry is set to undergo substantial changes over the next few years as businesses accelerate their digital transformations. In this session, senior executives from leading brands and grocery retailers will discuss how they are adapting to the expectations of shoppers who now demand fresh products with nearly instantaneous delivery or pickup options. Additionally, retailers are being forced to meet consumer demands for streamlined, in-store shopping experiences. Grocery retailers will share their perspectives on how they are prioritizing investments and guiding their organizations through change.

Chatbots and virtual assistants continue to gain momentum; at the same time, a variety of messaging apps are incorporating commerce. Established and emerging brands alike are trying to figure out their strategy amidst a growing number of options in platforms, partners and formats. Speakers will lay out the near-term opportunity to take advantage of these technologies and also assess the long-term implications for retail and ecommerce.

Leading retailers and branded manufacturers are taking a variety of new approaches to product development: They are employing tactics such as using data to inform product design, creating computer-generated prototypes to reduce lead times and deploying A/B testing tools to refine products before market launch. In this session, we'll hear from product and supply chain executives on how they are using nextgen technologies to reduce the risks in product development and improve speed to market.

Upheaval in the retail industry has grabbed Wall Street's attention. Some investors are placing long-term bets on the brands and retailers they feel have sustainable business models, while others are unwilling to wait for returns on their investment. At the same time, activist investors are seeking out businesses whose shares they deem to be undervalued, often requesting spots on the company's board or making demands such as pushing executives to sell off real estate. In this session, we’ll hear from some of retail’s biggest investors about their outlook for the sector.

Mobile has become a fundamental part of brands' and retailers' digital strategies, touching every aspect of the shopping journey from discovery to transaction. The most innovative companies are going beyond typical use cases, launching interactive offerings like AR or employing tactics like geofencing to communicate with consumers near their stores. In this session, retail leaders will discuss some of the most creative initiatives that have convinced mobile shoppers to engage and buy.

CPG companies and grocery retailers are starting accelerators and other initiatives to identify and develop new breakthrough brands and technologies that improve the customer experience, streamline operations and more. At the same time, the high valuations achieved by many direct-to-consumer ventures have encouraged traditional investors to eye grocery and CPG startups. Join us to hear from some of today's leading investors and accelerators in these categories as they highlight which emerging trends, technologies and business models are set to change the industry.

Regions beyond the U.S. and Europe are leading when it comes to mobile messaging, with some of the most exciting players operating in markets from Asia to Latin America. These players have taken revolutionary approaches to messaging, adding new tools and features and building out capabilities to support both advertising and commerce. Join us as we hear from three iconic players that dominate messaging in other parts of the world as they discuss the strategies that have made them successful and lessons that can be learned from their rollout of groundbreaking messaging tools and features.

A key area in which AI is being applied in retail is in demand forecasting. Sophisticated tools now enable retailers to better predict which products will resonate with consumers in different locations, thereby reducing the chance of stockouts as well as costly markdowns and liquidations. This session will look at how retailers are using the latest AI-based technologies to understand what shoppers are likely to be buying, enabling them to optimize inventory planning and mitigate risk.

The rise of online shopping has made it possible for consumers to purchase an endless array of products without ever stepping foot in a store. As a result, real estate firms are reimagining their shopping centers as entertainment and lifestyle properties that are less dependent on traditional, transaction-based retail and more about creating experiences. From bringing in innovative direct-to-consumer brands to incorporating new technologies, hear how leading shopping center owners are transforming their properties into destinations of the future.

Leading retailers are creating new physical environments that enable consumers to experience their products in more immersive and memorable ways. Some are creating experiences where customers can interact with their products in settings that mimic real life; others are enabling shoppers to explore and experiment through classes, performances or social gatherings. In this session, retailers and design agencies will discuss how they are creating engaging physical experiences to increase sales, decrease returns and gain a better understanding of how customers engage with their products.

A new category of venture-backed startups is disrupting the grocery and CPG industries. Some of these startups are focused on creating new consumer brands in a single product category while others offer improved access to a broad selection of items across different categories. These startups often control everything from product sourcing to sales and distribution, enabling consumers to buy high-quality products at better prices. In this session, we'll hear from leading startups creating new direct-to-consumer propositions in grocery and CPG.

The rise of voice-activiated assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant is creating a new mass market platform that is enabling discovery and, increasingly, commerce. This session will look at how the most forward-thinking retailers and brands are taking advantage of the growing penetration of these new devices by encouraging shoppers to visit their stores and make purchases from their homes.

Retailers constantly struggle to ensure their assortments are optimized to provide shoppers with the products they're looking for. At the same time, "right pricing" remains a challenge for retailers, as there is no single strategy that works for every merchant to optimize product pricing. This session will address topics ranging from dynamic pricing to unified pricing across channels and provide insights into the assortment planning strategies that have proven successful for retailers.

Shoppers today are spending in new ways, leading some retailers to flourish while others fail. In addition to the migration to ecommerce, consumers are favoring experiences over physical goods, younger consumers are flocking to urban areas over suburban ones and shoppers continue to seek out value. In this session, we'll hear from retailers that are adjusting their merchandising and supply chain strategies, rethinking their store portfolios, and partnering with or acquiring other retailers and brands to ensure their offerings are positioned to win over today's shoppers.

Today’s online shopping experiences are more personalized than ever, and consumers now expect retailers to understand their preferences and buying habits. Increasingly, these expectations are crossing into physical stores as forward-thinking retailers adopt new clienteling and customer service technologies. In this session, three companies will highlight the tactics and technologies they're using to create individualized online offerings, as well as the new ways store associates are building meaningful connections with shoppers.

Consumers are increasingly buying groceries in novel ways, including through specialized grocery delivery services, in meal kits which offer measured amounts based on recipes and in monthly curated subscription boxes. They are also placing orders differently by talking to virtual home assistants and pressing replenishment buttons. In this session, both traditional grocery retailers and startups will discuss how they are creating new and innovative services to tap into consumers' desire for convenience.

Ecommerce companies are taking a variety of new approaches to attract and retain customers, including embracing rental models, subscriptions and recommerce. In this session we'll hear two leading startups discuss how they've redefined ecommerce to build entirely new businesses.

From smart watches to refrigerators, many connected devices are becoming commerce enabled--at the same time, new devices on the market like connected buttons are facilitating product replenishment. Though still in its infancy, commerce through connected devices has the potential to transform shopping by creating a more intelligent, frictionless shopping experience. In this session, companies will discuss the evolving landscape of connected commerce and the imperative for retailers and brands alike to develop a connected commerce strategy.

A new type of brand has emerged that caters to a specific group of shoppers or focuses on a small, well-defined product category. These brands are succeeding by addressing unmet consumer needs with their products--they're also winning over shoppers who seek out less mainstream brands that reflect their own preferences and ethics. Traditional retailers are taking notice of this trend, sometimes partnering with or acquiring these niche brands. In this session, we’ll hear from three venture capital-backed startups that have launched niche brands and converted customers with their unique products or market positioning.

Center aisle brands are making the shift to ecommerce. To succeed online, these CPG companies are creating packaging that's easier to ship, branding that stands out on the web and mobile devices, and search-optimized product content. They are also developing strategies to advertise on leading retail sites. In this session, ecommerce and marketing executives from CPG brands will discuss selling on virtual shelves in addition to physical ones.

Online marketplaces have evolved well beyond their early days of auctions and pre-owned products. As a result, brands are increasingly turning to them as alternative sales channels in the US and abroad. In this session, we'll hear from three brands about how they’re successfully leveraging online marketplaces to build awareness and revenues for their companies, while still managing to deliver a consistent brand message to consumers.

Few retailers have successfully built a seamless omnichannel customer experience--they must decide how to manage myriad issues including prices, products and promotions across every consumer touchpoint. Retailers are also seeking competitive advantages with initiatives such as infinite shelf capabilities and click and collect, popular consumer offerings that require high levels of inventory visibility. Join us to hear how leading retailers are tackling these core issues and creating a great brand experience no matter where the customer is shopping.

The relationship between consumer brands and retailers is in flux as brands shift their resources toward operating their own stores and websites. Yet even as these strategies are helping brands learn more about their customers’ behavior, achieve greater margins and retain control over their pricing and positioning, their relationship with retailers remains essential. This session will feature leading brands and retailers who are navigating this new ecosystem, including the technologies retailers are deploying to improve the brands’ experience on their platforms and in stores.

New food and beverage trends emerge every year. Some fade away or remain niche while others catch on, in some cases introducing entirely new product categories to the market. In this session, we'll hear from both startups and established brands as they discuss how they identify the user behavior and trends that have staying power and how they create products that cater to these new tastes and preferences.

Israel's startup ecosystem has been known to many as a powerhouse in areas such as adtech, fintech and cybersecurity, but today close to 350 ecommerce startups exist in the country, putting it on the map as a key innovation hub for the retail and ecommerce industries. These startups are tackling everything from AI-based search, personalization and analytics to warehouse robotics, IoT, AR/VR and a variety of new technologies targeted at the fashion industry. This session will highlight some of the most exciting ecommerce startups coming out of Israel and explore the technology advances that are fundamentally changing the online shopping experience.

Augmented reality (AR) has moved into the mainstream, with apparel, beauty and furniture brands emerging as the earliest adopters of the technology. Meanwhile, virtual reality (VR) use cases are quickly materializing in retail--increasingly these use cases revolve around retail store simulation for internal planning purposes rather than customer-facing, immersive VR worlds. Online product visualization is also becoming more sophisticated, with new technologies emerging that enable consumers to see 3D product renderings from different angles and change features in real time. In this session, companies at the forefront of these technologies will share their experiences and their vision for the future.

Private label brands are becoming increasingly popular with price-sensitive consumers. The cultivation of these brands presents retailers with several opportunities, including (1) providing them with exclusive merchandise that’s less susceptible to price matching, (2) reducing the costs associated with acquiring products from a third party, thereby enabling lower prices and (3) giving them greater control over products, facilitating better inventory allocation. In this session, three retailers will discuss the technologies and strategies that are shaping their private label businesses.

Consumers have myriad choices when it comes to grocery shopping, including new food and beverage options from online retailers, drugstores and dollar stores. Brands and retailers must therefore go beyond traditional loyalty programs and weekly deals to keep customers coming back. They need to offer personalized recommendations and savings, and reward continued engagement. In this session, innovative retailers and brands will share the strategies they are using to create and maintain a loyal customer base.

This session will feature presentations by three leading market research firms. Each one will highlight new, original research based on the firm's area of expertise and will provide fresh perspectives that help retailers and brands better understand changing consumer behavior and other major industry trends.

This session will feature presentations by three leading consulting firms. Each one will highlight new, original research based on the firm's area of expertise and will provide fresh perspectives that help retailers and brands better understand changing consumer behavior and other major industry trends.

This session will feature presentations by three leading equity analysts. Each one will highlight new, original research based on the firm's area of expertise, and will offer fresh perspectives that help retailers and brands better understand changing consumer behavior and other major industry trends.