Retail Asia Summit 2025
- Rosette Media
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
The Retail Asia Summit 2025 in Singapore focused on “Shaping the Future of Retail: Digital Integration and Consumer Trends,” gathering top industry leaders and innovators to discuss the latest strategies and technologies shaping the region’s retail landscape. The summit featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and case studies from executives at major brands like FairPrice, PUMA, H&M, Adidas, and more, providing participants with actionable insights for adapting their businesses to evolving market dynamics.
Thematic Approaches
The summit convened on September 23, 2025, at One Farrer Hotel, Singapore, attracting C-suite executives, retail pioneers, and disruptors. Key themes included omnichannel strategy, AI and digital integration, customer experience transformation, e-commerce growth, and supply chain resilience. Sessions explored how businesses are leveraging technology for profitability while maintaining a human touch, the importance of sustainable and ethical retail models, and strategies to drive consumer loyalty in fragmented markets. The event provided high-impact networking opportunities and an exclusive “2025 Retail Trends Playbook” for attendees.
Main Insights
Several of the key insights uncovered during the Summit include the following themes:
AI-Driven Retail Transformation: Retailers are increasingly adopting AI for hyper-personalization, optimized customer experience, and enhanced operational efficiency. Understanding and implementing AI while keeping the “human touch” remains vital for consumer trust and loyalty.
Omnichannel Agility: Success relies on seamless integration of physical and digital channels. Leading brands shared methods for adapting to consumer expectations through omnichannel models, enabling consistent experiences across platforms.
Sustainable and Ethical Retail: The summit emphasized building supply chain resilience and adopting circular retail models, highlighting sustainability not just as a moral imperative but as a competitive advantage in the modern marketplace.
Data-Driven Strategy: Leveraging advanced analytics for better decision-making and inventory management allows brands to anticipate market shifts and meet ever-changing consumer demands.
Market Growth and Expansion: Attendees gained frameworks for effective market entry and regional expansion, broadened by insights from top expansion leaders in Asia.
Hyperlocal : Curation on Retail
Of particular interest to some of the key references from this year's Summit, we observed some of the key findings from Sarah Ler, Retail director of Enterprise Singapore, where she opined on Singapore Retailers embracing unique experiential concepts to enhance and engage with consumers, and where local brands, like Design Orchard and New Baru taking the lead at the retails convergence forefront.
Retail in Singapore is transitioning from traditional transactions to immersive experiences.
“Retail is no longer just about selling products,” shared Sarah... “It’s about creating connections, experiences, and value that redefine customer engagement with brands.”
"Local retailers are leading the way with experiential concepts that surpass conventional shopping. Design Orchard’s Doris, located on Orchard Road, features over 80 local designers and brands, while New Baru by the Lo & Behold Group merges F&B, wellness, and cultural activities to highlight local talent."
"Examples include Morning Coffee at New Baru, where customers discover their favorite coffee profiles through tastings and workshops, and Vivino’s flagship store at Raffles City, offering wine bars, tapas, VR experiences, and personalized recommendations powered by data. Even traditional formats like FairPrice Finest at Clarke Quay have been reinvented with food halls, cocktail bars, pick-and-cook services, and culinary workshops, turning routine grocery shopping into a planned experience."
"Technology is crucial in supporting these experiences. Decathlon has introduced RFID inventory robots and automated systems for two-hour island-wide delivery of click-and-collect orders. Love, Bonito integrates online and offline systems for real-time stock visibility and seamless ordering across 10 outlets and online platforms."
Combining operational efficiency with engaging, customer-focused experiences is essential for differentiating Singapore’s retail sector. “The retail landscape is evolving rapidly. The question isn’t whether to transform, but how quickly you will begin,” she emphasized.
The summit delivered a clear message: success in Asia’s retail sector hinges on blending technology with human-centered approaches, embracing sustainability, and remaining agile to growing consumer and market demands.
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