In the fast-paced world of private equity, staying ahead of market trends and forging strategic partnerships is crucial for success. As we look towards 2025, the retail sector continues to present a wealth of opportunities for private equity firms seeking lucrative deals. Attending top retail conferences is an invaluable way for dealmakers to gain insights, network with industry leaders, and identify potential investment opportunities. This curated list of the top retail conferences for deal making in 2025 could help private equity professionals navigate the dynamic retail landscape and make informed investment decisions.
Top Retail Conferences in 2025
- National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Date: January 12-14, 2025
Description: The NRF Big Show is the premier event for retail innovation and strategy, gathering top leaders and experts to explore emerging trends, technology, and consumer behavior. For PE firms, this conference is invaluable in identifying high-growth retail brands and disruptive technologies that can yield significant returns. With extensive networking opportunities and deep-dive sessions on market dynamics, the event offers critical insights for strategic due diligence, competitive benchmarking, and evaluating acquisition targets in the rapidly evolving retail landscape.
- ASD Market Week
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Date: August 03-06, 2025
Description: ASD Market Week stands as a leading global trade event showcasing a wide range of consumer products and innovations. It attracts major retailers and manufacturers, creating a dynamic marketplace for new trends and product launches. For PE firms, the event provides a fertile ground to uncover emerging brands and scalable business models with robust growth potential. Additionally, it offers invaluable market intelligence and networking opportunities that support targeted due diligence and strategic investment evaluations in the consumer market.
- Shoptalk
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Date: September 17-19, 2025
Description: Shoptalk is a forward-thinking conference that brings together innovators and industry disruptors to discuss digital transformation in retail. The event serves as a strategic hub for unveiling trends in technology integration and business model evolution. For PE firms, Shoptalk offers deep insights into emerging retail technologies and innovative strategies, enabling comprehensive due diligence and informed investment decisions. Networking with industry leaders also provides clarity on competitive dynamics, making it an essential forum for assessing investment opportunities in a rapidly digitizing marketplace.
- AmericasMart
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Date: July 15-21, 2025
Description: AmericasMart is a massive marketplace event that connects a diverse network of buyers, sellers, and retail industry experts. The event features extensive product displays, innovative showcases, and critical trend insights. For PE firms, AmericasMart serves as a strategic platform to evaluate scalable retail operations and identify emerging consumer trends. The conference facilitates robust networking, offering opportunities for detailed due diligence, market analysis, and the discovery of lucrative acquisition and investment targets within the dynamic retail sector.
- EuroCIS
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Date: February 18-20, 2025
Description: EuroCIS is a leading trade fair focused on retail technology and digital innovation, offering a deep dive into IT solutions and smart technologies that are transforming the retail experience. The event brings together global experts and innovators to showcase cutting-edge retail tech. For PE firms, EuroCIS presents opportunities to spot early-stage investments in technology-driven retail solutions and emerging digital platforms. Its extensive networking sessions and expert seminars facilitate critical due diligence, helping identify transformative investment prospects in the fast-evolving tech landscape.
- TFWA Cannes
Location: Cannes, France
Date: September 28-October 2, 2025
Description: TFWA Cannes is a prestigious event for duty-free and travel retail, known for its exclusive networking and business opportunities among luxury brands. The conference features strategic seminars, product showcases, and high-level discussions on global market trends. For PE firms, TFWA Cannes provides a unique avenue to explore investment opportunities in the luxury retail sector, assess market dynamics, and connect with key industry players. The event supports robust due diligence and offers insights into emerging trends that can shape strategic investment decisions in the travel retail market.
- TFWA Singapore
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Date: May 11-15, 2025
Description: TFWA Singapore brings together influential leaders in duty-free, travel retail, and luxury brands across Asia. The conference offers comprehensive market insights, innovation showcases, and high-impact networking sessions. For PE firms, TFWA Singapore is a valuable opportunity to gauge the growth potential in the Asian luxury retail market, discover emerging brands, and evaluate strategic investment opportunities. The event’s in-depth analysis of market trends and consumer behavior supports detailed due diligence and helps investors develop targeted strategies in a rapidly growing sector.
- Dallas Market
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Date: June 10-13, 2025
Description: Dallas Market is a dynamic trade event connecting retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers across diverse consumer product sectors. The event is renowned for its extensive range of products, trend showcases, and strategic networking sessions. For PE firms, Dallas Market offers a unique opportunity to analyze consumer trends, assess emerging brands, and identify investment opportunities in high-growth product categories. The comprehensive market intelligence available aids in conducting meticulous due diligence and strategic planning, positioning investors to capitalize on potential high-return acquisitions.
- Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance Conference
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Date: March 25-28, 2025
Description: The Global Retailer and Manufacturer Alliance Conference convenes industry leaders to explore transformative trends in retail and manufacturing. The conference provides a platform for discussing innovation, operational efficiencies, and strategic partnerships. For PE firms, this event is critical in uncovering investment opportunities within the evolving retail ecosystem. It offers extensive networking, detailed market analysis, and expert-led seminars that facilitate rigorous due diligence. This setting empowers investors to evaluate competitive dynamics and identify scalable business models poised for growth and high returns.
- Toronto Gift Show
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: August 10-13, 2025
Description: Toronto Gift Show is a prominent event focused on the gift and consumer products industry, featuring leading brands, innovative products, and insightful industry trends. The conference offers extensive exhibition space, networking opportunities, and educational sessions. For PE firms, the event is strategic for identifying niche investment opportunities in the gifting and consumer products sectors. In-depth market insights, coupled with interactions with industry thought leaders, enable thorough due diligence and competitive analysis, making it easier to pinpoint promising acquisition targets and investment prospects in a thriving market.
- FMI Convention
Location: ChampionsGate, Florida, USA
Date: September 7-10, 2025
Description: The FMI Convention is a key event for the food industry, focusing on supply chain management, technological innovation, and operational excellence. It attracts top executives, innovators, and industry experts. For PE firms, the FMI Convention offers critical insights into emerging trends and investment opportunities within the food sector. The event facilitates detailed due diligence through interactive sessions and expert panels, helping investors identify operational efficiencies and market disruptors poised for rapid growth. It is an essential forum for recognizing transformative trends and strategically positioning investments for substantial returns.
- Food & Grocery Forum India
Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Date: November 11-12, 2025
Description: Food & Grocery Forum India is a leading conference that brings together food industry stakeholders to discuss innovation, market trends, and regulatory changes. The event provides a platform for showcasing new products, technologies, and supply chain improvements. For PE firms, this forum offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing consumer segments globally. It is an ideal setting for evaluating potential acquisitions, understanding market dynamics, and conducting thorough due diligence. The networking opportunities and expert discussions enable investors to identify high-growth opportunities and make informed strategic investment decisions in the dynamic Indian market.
- ECR (Efficient Consumer Response)
Location: Bonn, Germany
Date: September 30-October 01, 2025
Description: ECR Tag is a leading congress for the retail and consumer goods industry in Germany, focusing on collaborative supply chain strategies, sustainability, digital transformation, and shopper-centric innovations. The event attracts decision-makers from retail, consumer goods, logistics, and technology sectors, making it an essential networking platform. For PE firms, ECR Tag provides a strategic view into the operational backbone of European retail—from AI-driven logistics to sustainable value chains. It offers direct access to transformative technologies and process innovations, enabling precise due diligence. Investors can assess scalable platforms, uncover efficiency-driven business models, and target companies positioned for long-term growth in the retail and FMCG sectors.
- NACDS Total Store Expo
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Date: August 23-25, 2025
Description: NACDS Total Store Expo is a leading event designed for retail convenience and store operations, providing insights into brand innovation, customer experience, and operational excellence. The conference offers extensive networking opportunities and educational sessions focused on performance improvement and competitive strategy. For PE firms, this expo is valuable for identifying acquisition targets with robust operational frameworks and scalable retail concepts. Detailed market presentations and one-on-one networking sessions enable investors to conduct thorough due diligence, ensuring a well-informed evaluation of the strategic potential within the convenience and retail sectors.
- PLMA Show Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Date: November 16-18, 2025
Description: PLMA Show Chicago is a premier event for private label and store brands, showcasing innovative products and emerging market trends in the retail sector. The conference brings together top retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers, providing an in-depth view of industry dynamics. For PE firms, PLMA Show Chicago is critical for identifying high-potential private label brands and investment opportunities. Its focused sessions, extensive networking, and market intelligence initiatives enable strategic due diligence and a robust assessment of competitive positioning, making it an essential event for targeting profitable acquisitions within the private label space.
- PLMA World of Private Label
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date: May 20–21, 2025
Description: PLMA's World of Private Label is the premier global event for private label professionals, bringing together retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to explore new products and innovations. For PE firms, this trade show offers a strategic opportunity to identify high-growth private label brands, assess emerging consumer trends, and evaluate scalable business models. The event's comprehensive market insights and networking opportunities support thorough due diligence and informed investment decisions in the private label sector
- Gifts World Expo – New Delhi
Location: New Delhi, India
Date: July 24–26, 2025
Description: Gifts World Expo is India's largest exhibition for gifting and promotional solutions, showcasing a diverse range of products from corporate gifts to lifestyle and personal gifting items. For PE firms, the expo provides a platform to discover emerging brands, understand consumer preferences, and identify investment opportunities in the growing Indian gifting market. The event's extensive exhibitor base and industry insights facilitate comprehensive due diligence and strategic investment planning.
- Reed Gift Fair Melbourne
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Date: August 2–6, 2025
Description: Reed Gift Fairs Melbourne is Australia's leading retail trade event, featuring a wide array of giftware, homewares, and lifestyle products. For PE firms, the fair offers access to a broad spectrum of emerging and established brands, providing insights into market trends and consumer demands. The event serves as a valuable venue for identifying potential investment targets and conducting due diligence within the Australian retail sector.
- Reed Gift Fair Sydney
Location: Sydney, Australia
Date: February 15–18, 2025
Description: Reed Gift Fairs Sydney is a key event in the Australian retail calendar, showcasing a vast selection of gift and homeware products. For PE firms, the fair presents opportunities to explore new market entrants, assess consumer trends, and identify scalable business models. The event's comprehensive exhibitor lineup and industry engagement support thorough due diligence and strategic investment considerations in the retail space.
- San Francisco Cash & Carry Show
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Date: Nov 21 - Nov 22, 2025
Description: The San Francisco Cash & Carry Show is a key event for the wholesale and distribution sector, providing a dynamic platform for showcasing a vast array of consumer products and market innovations. The conference features insightful seminars, expansive product displays, and intensive networking opportunities. For PE firms, the event is crucial for identifying investment opportunities within the wholesale industry, understanding supply chain efficiencies, and evaluating scalable business models. Thorough due diligence is supported by extensive market insights and peer-to-peer exchanges, making the show a strategic venue for discovering high-potential acquisition targets and driving investment growth.
Beneficial Impact of the Retail Sector on the Economy
The retail sector is a cornerstone of the global economy, driving significant economic growth and job creation. As a major contributor to GDP, retail not only fuels consumer spending but also stimulates innovation and competition. The sector's evolution, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences, has led to the emergence of new business models and market segments. This dynamism creates a fertile ground for private equity firms to invest in companies that are poised for growth, thereby enhancing economic development and creating value for stakeholders.
Private equity investments in retail can lead to improved operational efficiencies, expansion into new markets, and the development of innovative products and services. By providing the necessary capital and strategic guidance, private equity firms play a pivotal role in transforming retail businesses, ultimately benefiting consumers through better products and services. Additionally, these investments often lead to job creation and skill development, further contributing to economic prosperity.
Challenges Faced by the Retail Sector
Despite its potential, the retail sector faces several challenges that private equity firms must navigate to achieve successful outcomes. One of the primary challenges is the rapid pace of technological change, which requires retailers to continuously adapt their business models to remain competitive. E-commerce and digital transformation have reshaped consumer expectations, compelling traditional retailers to invest heavily in technology and omnichannel strategies.
Another significant challenge is the ever-changing consumer behavior, influenced by factors such as economic conditions, cultural shifts, and sustainability concerns. Retailers must be agile in responding to these changes, which can impact demand patterns and necessitate adjustments in inventory management and supply chain operations.
Moreover, the retail sector is highly competitive, with low barriers to entry and constant pressure on margins. Private equity firms must carefully assess the competitive landscape and identify companies with unique value propositions and strong market positions. Regulatory and geopolitical uncertainties also pose risks that can affect cross-border investments and supply chain dynamics.
Conclusion
As private equity firms prepare to navigate the retail landscape in 2025, attending top conferences dedicated to deal making is an essential strategy for success. These events provide a platform for industry leaders to share insights, discuss emerging trends, and explore potential partnerships. By understanding the beneficial impact of the retail sector on the economy and addressing the challenges it faces, private equity professionals can make informed investment decisions that drive growth and create value.
The retail sector's dynamic nature offers both opportunities and challenges, making it an attractive yet complex arena for private equity investment. By leveraging the insights and connections gained at these conferences, dealmakers can position themselves to capitalize on the evolving retail landscape and contribute to the sector's continued growth and innovation.
