Looking Forward 2026

2025 shook up the retail sector: store closures, the rise of e-commerce, and ever more demanding customer expectations… For the third consecutive year, 20/CENT Retail is launching the Looking Forward series to kick off the year. On The Retail Influencer podcast, we welcomed six leading figures and experts to look back at the past year and decode the trends ahead. Thierry Michiels from Carrefour explains how the group is focusing on data, local agility, and personalization to deliver an optimal customer experience. Jennifer Nemry looks back at Delhaize’s accelerated digital transformation, with integrated e-commerce, AI, and connected stores. IKEA is betting on sustainability and second-hand, with Nathalie Van Edom sharing the details. DIY is reinventing itself, and Oliver Ginestier from EDRA-GHIN discusses more compact formats, enhanced services, repairability, and high value-added projects. And when it comes to innovation and the challenges expected in 2026, Ben Miller from Shoptalk and Stefan Van Rompaey from RetailDetail highlight Sunday openings, the threat of Asian platforms in Europe, and explain how AI and retail media will transform the customer experience in 2026. One clear conclusion: retail is evolving fast, driven by technology, personalization, and sustainability. Find all Looking Forward 2026 episodes on The Retail Influencer by 20/CENT Retail. Episodes available via https://vincentpanneels.substack.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.