Retailing has never been easy. It has always been highly competitive but has also had to operate against the macro climate of the day. But in all our conversations with retailers across this year and of course at the Congress itself in Paris last April, there is a real sense, from most parts of the world, that retailing has never been as tough as it is today.  

One of the consistent issues is the unpredictability of events whether they be economic or geopolitical. Added to these is the unpredictability of change within the industry itself driven by technology, the proliferation of channels being embraced by consumers and the rise of challenger brands and disruptors.  

As we began work on the research and then planning for the 2025 World Retail Congress, our first task was to understand how the global retail industry is facing into all of these challenges. What was clear was that retailers are increasingly accepting that there is little point in waiting for some economic turnaround to help lift consumer spending. Sustainable growth and therefore profitability can only come from businesses re-examining everything they do - or have ever done - to find new ways of serving their customers and to be fit for the future.  

Looking around the world, you can see those retailers that are “winning”. The common thread across all of them is this desire to push forward, to adapt however radically to remain relevant, to take risks and to move quickly.  

The 2025 World Retail Congress will harness this focus on delivering growth with our theme: “Faster, bolder, smarter – the new retail growth drivers”.  

Across the agenda we will examine those growth drivers which retailers have identified as the consumer, recruiting and building teams, resilient business models and cutting-edge technology.  

These themes will be tackled and brought to life across the full programme in many different ways. And connecting everything is our aim to deliver content and events that will share challenging, stimulating, thought-provoking and business-critical ideas together with the opportunity to experience some of London’s world-class retailing that will inspire and inform.  

What can you expect from the World Retail Congress in 2025? 

A highly focused programme addressing how you can deliver sustainable growth by being “faster, bolder, smarter”. This will be built around great retail speakers who will be sharing their experiences of delivering growth.  

World-class Knowledge Partners including Deloitte, AlixPartners and EY who will deliver exclusive reports focused on each of the growth drivers. With direction from the Congress Advisory Board, the report findings will provide a powerful roadmap for delegates. 

Workshops, Boardroom-style discussions and breakout sessions, all designed to allow free and open discussions about the topics that are most pressing in your business. 

See, meet and discuss with the future of retail. Each year, the Congress welcomes teams of students from around the world who are looking to make their careers in the retail industry. Watch them present their ideas in the Future Retail Challenge student competition sponsored by Tendam on how to recruit Gen Z into retail. Then engage with Gen Z retail students in special breakout sessions to truly understand what your future customers and employees think. 

Accelerate the skills of your future leaders. The World Retail Congress Accelerator Programme is rapidly becoming a key part of the programme. Aimed at your future leaders who are close to joining the Executive or Main Board, the programme brings together a group of “Professors” including retail leaders and global experts for a series of “money can’t buy” closed door presentations and discussions to boost knowledge and understanding.  

Unmissable guided retail tours of London’s flagship stores. London’s top retailers are looking forward to welcoming delegates. You will be able to sign up to visit the store of your choice where you will be met by the CEO and their senior team, given a short presentation on the business followed by a guided, interactive, tour of the store for at least 60 minutes. An in-depth, unmissable opportunity to see and get into the detail of these key retailers: Tesco, Selfridges, Primark, John Lewis, Sports Direct, Flannels and Gymshark.  

Retailers hosting World Retail Congress networking meetings. We are delighted to share that the 2025 World Retail Congress opening reception will be hosted by Fortnum & Mason, London’s oldest and most iconic retailer on Piccadilly. All delegates are invited for drinks and canapes at this famous store that remains at the cutting edge of retail experience. And for our International Women in Retail networking evening on May 13th, Burberry will kindly host this special meeting which sees the announcement and presentation of the annual Woman of the Year award.  

World Retail Hall of Fame. Each year, the Congress honours outstanding retail leaders and brand builders with membership of the World Retail Hall of Fame. Hear from them speaking at the Congress itself before they are presented with the special award at the Hall of Fame dinner which will officially close the 2025 Congress being held at London’s National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.