On February 24th 2026, The Diplomat – Bucharest organizes the second edition of the Future of Retail & FMCG Forum, a strategic dialogue event for leaders in the retail and fast-moving consumer goods sectors.
Future of Retail & FMCG Forum is a business event that brings together actual topics of the industry, leadership insights and collaborative solutions suited to transforming economic ecosystem. The event panel and audience welcome CEOs, general managers, commercial directors, and executives responsible for supply chain, trade, marketing, sustainability and technology.
With consumer spending under pressure, retailers must adapt by leveraging AI, omnichannel innovation, and sustainable practices. Key questions include:
– What trends will shape the future of retail?
– How are immersive technologies transforming in-store and online experiences?
– How can data and AI enhance personalization, customer engagement and efficiency?
– Will sustainability and social responsibility drive brand loyalty and success?
Agenda:
- 9:00 – 9:30: Registration & Welcome Coffee
- 9:30 – 10:30: Panel 1 – CEO Talks: Leadership, Disruption & Long-Term Value
Topics
• What are the top strategic challenges for retail and FMCG in 2025?
• How are AI and digitalization influencing top-level business decisions?
• Redefining retailer–manufacturer collaboration: partnership or pressure?
• Brand investment vs. operational efficiency: how do we prioritize?
- 10:30 – 10:45: Coffee Break
- 10:45 – 11:00: Partner presentation by Loyalty Point
- 11:00 – 12:00: Panel 2 – Data, Retail Media & Consumers
Topics
• How do we turn data into concrete commercial decisions?
• Retail media: strategic growth opportunity for brands and retailers
• Collaboration models between retailers and suppliers in data utilization
• AI’s impact on consumer behavior understanding
• The rise of post-pandemic e-commerce & shifts in buying behavior
• How the two formats influence each other—from click-and-collect to omnichannel
- 12:00 – 12:15: Coffee Break
- 12:15 – 13:15: Panel 3 – Retail Parks vs. E commerce: Competition or Convergence in Romania’s Commercial Landscape?
Topics
• Evolution of retail parks in Romania: growth, investment, consumer preferences
• The rise of post-pandemic e-commerce & shifts in buying behavior
• Interplay between formats—from click-and-collect to omnichannel
• Opportunities & challenges: costs, logistics, brand experience, loyalty
• Case studies: retailers successfully integrating both channels
• What’s next? Scenarios for Romanian retail in the next 5 years
- 13:15 – 14:30: Networking lunch
