Unitas CEO John Kinney explains why this year’s conference will be all about looking forward, and an opportunity to share your thinking on the future direction of the wholesale sector.
The wholesale landscape is changing at a pace never seen before. The question is no longer whether change is coming – it’s whether you understand these changes are ready for them.
That is the challenge at the heart of this year’s Unitas Wholesale Conference, taking place in Istanbul this September under the theme of Shaping Tomorrow Together – Understanding Change and Creating Opportunity.
Bringing together members, supplier partners and industry experts, the conference will explore the forces reshaping wholesale, retail, foodservice and hospitality, helping delegates understand not only what the future could look like, but more importantly, how to position their businesses to thrive within it.
For the past few years our industry has been focused on managing one challenge after another – rising employment costs, inflation, changing consumer spending habits and increasing regulation. While protecting today’s profitability is essential, there is a real danger that businesses become so focused on weathering the current storm that they fail to prepare for what comes next.
Our objective this year is to challenge thinking. Businesses that simply wait for conditions to improve risk finding that the battleground has already moved on. We want our members and supplier partners to understand where the industry could be heading, debate the different scenarios, and most importantly, identify how we can work together to seize new opportunities whilst mitigating the risks. The future won’t simply happen to us; together we have the opportunity to help shape it.
Understanding Change
The conference programme has been designed to inspire strategic thinking while providing practical insight that delegates can take back into their own businesses.
From artificial intelligence and automation to changing consumer behaviour, economic pressures, labour market pressures, legislation and evolving customer expectations, delegates will examine both the opportunities and threats likely to define the sector over the next decade.
The imminent introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme is a perfect example of this. We’ll be talking to the people who are shaping its implementation in our sector, as well as retailers and hospitality operators in other markets who have seized opportunities where others only saw obstacles.
Delegates will be encouraged not simply to listen, but to participate. Interactive sessions will challenge members and suppliers to consider a range of future scenarios, assess their potential impact and identify the practical actions businesses should be taking today to remain competitive tomorrow.
Artificial intelligence will also feature throughout the event, demonstrating how rapidly emerging technologies are transforming productivity, decision-making and customer engagement, while showcasing practical applications that businesses can begin implementing today through the Unitas AI Academy.
Creating Opportunity
One of the greatest strengths of Unitas has always been the willingness of members and supplier partners to work collaboratively for mutual benefit. That spirit of collaboration has never been more important than it is today.
We want delegates to leave Istanbul with fresh ideas, practical actions and renewed confidence that, by working together, we can shape the future of our industry rather than simply react to it.
We are proud that the Unitas Conference has earned a reputation as one of the wholesale sector’s premier networking and thought leadership events, bringing together senior decision-makers from across the industry to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and help shape the future of the independent wholesale sector.
So please join us this September as we explore the trends, technologies and partnerships that will define the next chapter of wholesale – and discover how, together, we can shape tomorrow.
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