ALEXANDRIA, Va.—German retailers are redefining their offer by adapting to new consumer behaviors and their expectations of Berlin’s convenience retail market, and NACS is hosting its first live Convenience Summit Europe event since 2019 in Berlin this year. CSE takes place May 31 through June 2, and registration is open.
“Berlin is a very thriving market; it is a very entrepreneurial market,” said Mark Wohltmann, director of NACS global. Berlin is home to a full spectrum of convenience stores, with single stores that are entrepreneurial and innovative mixing in with the big companies who like to use the Berlin market for their trial stores when they have new concepts, Wohltmann said.
Over the three-day summit, attendees will be immersed in the city's retail landscape through expert-guided store tours—the Ideas 2 Go tours.
“It is a true global city, and this is why we see a lot of different concept formats and entrepreneurial things ... New food from around the world, large communities from all countries in the world—that makes Berlin really special,” said Christian Warning, managing director of the Retail Marketeers and NACS relationship partner based in Germany, on a recent Convenience Matters podcast episode.
Delivery service exploded during the pandemic, both in the U.S. and in Europe, and Warning says that once the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, home delivery will not fade with it.
“That’s the new customer experience that will endure, and that’s big pressure on the convenience market,” said Warning.
Wohltmann said that two of the biggest grocery delivery companies were founded and are headquartered in Berlin, Gorillas and Flink, and they offer grocery delivery in 10 minutes or less. The convenience industry will need to look at these types of companies to see if they are competitors to the industry or partners, says Wohltmann.
Also during the summit, European retailers will be recognized for outstanding achievement in the European convenience industry at the NACS European Convenience Retail Awards on Thursday, June 1, 2022.
This prestigious competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the European retail communities. The awards—judged by the pillars of the convenience industry—provide one of the greatest benchmarks of global convenience retailing excellence. Winners are selected in four categories:
Past finalists and winners say that they have used the awards to demonstrate to their peers, partners, and customers the leadership, innovation and creativity found within their businesses.
Listen to the Convenience Matters podcast episode “Berlin’s Thriving Convenience Retail Future” to hear more about what is happening in the Berlin market, including technology innovations surrounding tobacco products and shrinkage, how Germany is dealing with its own labor shortage issue and hydroponic farming inside stores.
Learn more about NACS Convenience Summit Europe.