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World Retail Congress 25-27 April 2023  

12th - 14th May 2025 | Hilton Park Lane | London

wrc 2024 

12th - 14th May 2025 | Hilton Park Lane | London

Fringe Events & Networking Oportunaties at World Retail Congress 2025

World Retail Congress

Each year, the World Retail Congress brings together a world-renowned collection of speakers, panelists and contributors to the stage to share stories of challenges and victories. This agenda of keynotes, panels and workshops is carefully crafted in order to allow delegates to be inspired, take away practical lessons for their business and dive into the subjects that matter most to them.  

Alongside its main agenda, the Congress is also home to a number of fringe programmes; events, sessions and tours that complement the learning happening elsewhere. These fringe programmes are designed for specific groups to connect, learn and share with each other – giving all attendees a more dynamic and personal experience of the Congress.  

In 2025, we are delighted to share that many fringe programmes have been expanded and developed with insight from our incredible advisory board and wider WRC community.

Retail Study Tour

Physical retail is special. The joy of discovery, the deeper connection with a brand and the immersion in a shopping experience that cannot be replicated. And what better city than London to explore new, exciting developments in-store? 

In 2024, the World Retail Congress reinvented the “store tour”. Driven by guidance from our community, Flagship Store Tours were the result. These incredible, in-depth tours give attendees the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at some of the world’s most iconic stores that are defining the industry. 

Participants choose from a selection of impressive flagships to visit and are greeted and guided through the store by their CEOs and senior executive teams. Taking place ahead of the official opening of the Congress on Monday 12th May, this programme is designed to spotlight the most inspirational in-store experiences in the city and allow attendees to truly see London retail like never before.  

This is a unique opportunity to put questions directly to the minds behind top retail businesses and get an unprecedented view of some of the most iconic retailers. 

13:30 Department Stores: Selfridges & John Lewis

14:00 Fashion: Primark & Sports Direct

14:30 Grocery: Tesco

15:00 New Formats: Ikea & Gymshark

Accelerator Programme

In working closely with those leading the industry, along with our Advisory Board, one thing that is clear is how important it is to nurture the talent within retail businesses that exists just a few levels below the Executive or Main Board.   

The World Retail Congress Accelerator Programme is a specially designed agenda for those senior executives within retail businesses looking for a wider knowledge and understanding of the industry and preparing for top leadership. In private, invitation-only sessions run alongside the main Congress agenda, delivered by a line-up of the top voices within the industry, participants in the Accelerator Programme will get a fast-track through lessons in running successful global businesses: from leadership advice from those who have been-there and done-it to specific workshops around transformation.  

This curated group will receive a truly incomparable education through behind-the-scenes access to leaders ready to share their years of experience and advice as well as a peer group of global executives to learn from and share with.  

Participants must be nominated and accepted on the programme. Spaces limited. 

For more information please contact Niamh Stone

Future Retail Challenge

Each year, the Congress puts future retail talent at the heart of the event with a special competition based around a specific retail “challenge” which we set for teams of students from retail, fashion and business colleges from around the world. Over the years we have welcome teams from New York, London, Lille, Milan, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Mumbai. Our panel of retail judges set the annual challenge which focuses on a relevant topic that resonates with all retail leaders. Up to six college teams work on their proposals addressing the challenge and then present them in an open session at the Congress. Every year, our audience are full of praise for the innovation, confidence and ideas that the Gen Z students bring together. Speak to any alumni from previous years, and they all say that their experience of competing and attending the World Retail Congress was personally and professionally transformational. 

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Exclusive research

To ensure attendees come away with actionable intel, exclusive research reports are published each year around the key themes and challenges. For 2024, we worked with key knowledge partners, AlixPartners, BCG and Deloitte, to publish forward thinking reports to help our community grow and progress. Take a look at the enlightening findings we’ve produced.

READ PREVIOUS REPORTS

Opening Party 

The World Retail Congress opening party is a great way for networking, and this year for 2025 we are delighted to announce it will be hosted at Fortnum & Mason on Monday 12th May, 17:30 - 19:30. 

World Retail Hall of Fame hosted at the National Gallery

Launched in 2007 with a founding group of 100 members, The Hall of Fame honours retail’s most influential representatives. Each year, the Congress inducts three to four new members, recognising the achievement of individuals whose ideas have shaped retailing through the businesses and brands they have created, or by their skills in running the retail industry’s giants.

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Women in Retail

The Women in Retail programme at World Retail Congress brings together top female retail executives to celebrate and champion the achievements of women in the industry, whilst facilitating mentoring and discussion. 

For the last nine years, the programme has consisted of the International Women in Retail networking reception, combining a wonderful venue and this year we are delighted to announce it will hosted at Burberry, New Bond Street. The evening is also highlighted by the presentation of the Woman of the Year Award.  

This award is presented to a remarkable woman within the industry who is leading from the front, supporting and championing other women in the industry and celebrates an inspirational career. Providing an exclusive, intimate and women-centered space at the heart of the World Retail Congress agenda, our Women in Retail reception is the ideal space to unwind and relax in the company of influential women making a difference in the industry.   

It is our goal for Congresses in the future to achieve gender parity on stage and off. We want more women within the industry to have a seat at the table, have their voices heard and be visible leaders. To achieve this, the Congress is dedicated to create spaces to provide support through networks, mentors and learning. 

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Insightful Workshops

At World Retail Congress there are so many exciting and insightful things to get involved in. Our 2024 workshops were hugely popular, each had its own expert hosts or panellists, striking up discussions and sharing enlightening, hands-on strategy to help our delegates transform their businesses from within.

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