VIENNA, 25th JUNE 2026 —Day 2 of the Global Summit reinforced the reality of modern retail: technology, sustainability, and commerce can no longer operate as separate functions. As consumers increasingly expect health, convenience, and affordability simultaneously, leaders must dismantle internal silos. Artificial intelligence has become the predominant link across companies, linking circular packaging and human rights compliance with margin protection.
For the C-suite, Nick Goad (Managing Director and Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group), Arnaud Bassoulet (Managing Director and Partner, BCG X), and Ash Mehra (Former Chief Digital and Information Officer, Constellation Brands) proved that frontrunners capture value by committing to a single artificial intelligence ecosystem rather than over-tooling.
“It’s a matter of experimenting to understand the art of the possible. Once you play around with these models and see their capabilities, you realise how proper guardrails allow merchants to become governors of their categories, rather than spending their time as analysts.” – Nick Goad, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Putting this strategic framework into measurable action, Petra Schindler-Carter (GM Retail, Restaurants, and Consumer Goods, AWS) urged leaders to move past pilot projects, and embed generative artificial intelligence into value chains. She explored solving logistical bottlenecks and stressed the need for solid data foundations and clear guardrails to prevent hallucinations, so projects can move beyond proof of concept into production.
In a session on AI agents, Matt Ellsworth (CVP AI and Autonomy Labs, Blue Yonder), Nina Lund (EMEA Retail and Consumer Goods Managing Director, Microsoft) and Andrew Sun (Senior Director of Global Business Development Retail CPG and QSR, NVIDIA) explored how they developed their own specialised AI agents to act like subject-matter experts. They recommended that when adopting their own agents, businesses should train their AI to solve specific tasks, and most of all maintain a strong governance structure before deploying them more widely.
Providing a blueprint for capturing immediate consumer demand, Susan Anderson (Global Head of Delivery, Uber), Neil Reynolds (Global Chief Customer Officer, Mars Snacking), and Leah Weckert (CEO and MD, Coles Group), shared the practical mechanics of cross-industry collaborations. They detailed the Coles and Uber Eats Australia partnership expansion to 17,000 grocery items, and how Mars Snacking captures digital impulse purchases by letting rideshare users add snacks directly to an Uber Eats cart mid-trip.
Moving to Latin America, Rodrigo Larraín Kaplán (Chief Executive Officer, Cencosud) unpacked how navigating the region’s hyper-accelerated digital adoption requires a highly localised strategy, balancing omnichannel infrastructure with regional macroeconomic realities to build supply chain stability.
Complementing this, Sandy Ran Xu (Chief Executive Officer, JD.com) and Fei Gao (CEO, Mengniu Group) analysed China’s digital transformation. JD.com detailed how advanced automation and digital logistics drive world leading inventory turnover and scale same day delivery, while Mengniu Group focused on balancing technological innovation with food safety and climate transition strategies.
Insights from the newly released CGF and Bain & Company State of Food Habits report show that while consumers aspire to cook from scratch, the rapid adoption of GLP-1 medications is driving a 3 to 4 percent reduction in grocery spending, and shifting purchases towards fresh produce and protein. Exploring these medical interventions further, Isabelle Allen (Global Head of Consumer and Retail, KPMG) and Ian Proudfoot (Global Head of Agribusiness, KPMG) provided a framework for how GLP-1 medications will force companies to adapt their recipes and agricultural planning.
On the operational front, Didier Bergeret (Director Sustainability, the Consumer Goods Forum), John Ross (President & CEO, IGA Inc.), and Leah Weckert (CEO & MD, Coles Group) discussed how to respect workers and deploy new tactics; from using AI for social listening to partnering with direct competitors on worker voice sessions.
“Anytime you’ve got a supply chain with fragility because of potential human rights compromises, you’re at risk… Being incredibly proactive is something that really builds resilience for our business going forward.” – Leah Weckert CEO & MD Coles Group
Securing long-term enterprise value requires ambitious sustainable targets backed by strict operational mechanics. Leading this charge, Jon Banner (Executive Vice President and Global Chief Impact Officer, McDonald’s Corporation) shared practical insights on scaling circular packaging across complex global systems.
Showing how data accelerates these logistical efforts, Sophia Mendelsohn (Chief Sustainability and Commercial Officer, SAP Sustainability), Jeppe Søgaard (Senior IT Business Consultant, Danish Crown), and Serena Pozza (Circular Economy Lead, Deloitte LLP) demonstrated how companies can navigate complex recycling compliance and turn sustainability reporting into a dynamic source of competitive advantage.
To ensure these strategies endure for the next generation, the Future Leaders Programme concluded with emerging executives sharing strategic case studies and exploring the realities of leading through change. Facilitated by Bain and Company, the cohort engaged in fireside discussions with Jose Antonio Fernandez (Chief Executive Officer, FEMSA), Max Koeune (President and Chief Executive Officer, McCain Foods), Brian McNamara (Chief Executive Officer, Haleon), Frans Muller (President and Chief Executive Officer, Ahold Delhaize), Ken Murphy (Group CEO, Tesco plc), and John Ross (President and CEO, IGA Inc.).
To close the second day, delegates gathered for an official ‘Taste of Austria’ reception hosted by SPAR and Heineken. This exclusive evening provided a premier environment for leaders to network and continue conversations outside the convention center.
