Agenda

Join NRF Chairman, Bob Eddy, Chairman and CEO of BJ’s Wholesale Club, for NRF 2027’s official opening to hear the state of the retail industry, NRF’s priorities and what the three days of Big Show will offer. After his welcome address, Bob will sit for a fireside conversation with Worldwide Amazon Stores CEO, Doug Herrington. The two leaders will discuss how Amazon is innovating for customers, including the impact of AI and the Alexa shopping agent, what the holidays revealed about changing consumer behavior, and Doug’s perspective on the forces that will shape the future of retail.

AI is transforming retail, but access to AI alone won’t differentiate tomorrow’s leaders. Competitive advantage will come from what retailers uniquely know about their customers, products, stores, employees, and operations, and how effectively they turn that intelligence into impact. Join Judson Althoff, CEO, Microsoft Commercial Business, and retail leaders for a conversation about putting proprietary intelligence to work with AI to transform customer experiences, optimize operations, empower employees, and unlock new sources of growth.

In this fireside chat, Anna Marrs, Group President, Global Merchant & Network Services at American Express, will share perspective on the forces shaping today’s retail landscape. Drawing on American Express’ unique view of both consumer and retail trends, Anna will discuss spending patterns and priorities for today’s consumer and how retailers can prepare for the new technologies that are transforming how people search for, compare and choose products. The conversation will explore what agentic commerce means for retailers, as the biggest shift to shopping and purchasing since the rise of e-commerce.

Levi's® has never stood still. For more than 170 years, the brand has continuously evolved to meet the needs of new generations while remaining true to the authenticity, quality and cultural relevance that have defined it from the beginning. In conversation with NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay, Michelle Gass will discuss how iconic brands navigate change, respond to shifting consumer expectations and build for long-term success. From innovation and technology to culture, retail and leadership, the discussion will explore how companies can embrace the future while preserving the essence of what makes them iconic. 

Session details are to come.

As retailers navigate a complex and fast-evolving landscape, Target is putting a fresh strategy behind one of the industry's most distinctive brands. Throughout his first year as CEO, Michael Fiddelke has focused the company on a clear set of choices – leading with merchandising authority, elevating the guest experience, accelerating technology and strengthening team and community – designed to meet the needs of busy families and drive growth over time. Michael will join CNBC’s Sara Eisen for a conversation about what those choices look like in practice and where Target sees the greatest opportunities to create a more relevant and delightful guest experience. The discussion will offer a window into how one of retail’s largest players is approaching many of the questions facing the industry today and what it will take to turn strategy into sustained growth.

Ten years after the creation of Ahold Delhaize, what have we learned about combining global scale with staying close to local customers and communities? Frans Muller, CEO of international grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize, will share experiences from across its 17 local brands in the U.S. and Europe, including what has worked, what hasn’t, and how ideas and learnings travel from the U.S. to Europe, and vice versa. Drawing on the company’s Growing Together strategy and looking ahead to where grocery retail is going next, he’ll explore how own brands, e-commerce, healthy and sustainable choices, digitalization and AI are reshaping the customer proposition. With a Group ambition of 45 percent own brand sales by 2028, building on experiences in markets such as the Netherlands, where penetration is around 55 percent, Muller will discuss what Ahold Delhaize is learning about creating value for customers. And amid rapid technological change, he’ll reflect on why local relevance, community connection and customer trust remain as important as ever.

Session details are to come.

For more than three decades, Jay Schottenstein has driven the evolution of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) from a single-brand retailer into a multi-brand, global powerhouse. As CEO and NRF’s 2027 Visionary Award recipient, Jay’s legacy is defined by bold brand-building, disciplined execution and a sharp focus on long-term profitable growth. Under his leadership, AEO launched industry-defining brands like Aerie and OFFLINE, and scaled American Eagle’s denim franchise into a multibillion-dollar business while consistently creating authentic connections with each new generation of consumers.

In this Main Stage conversation with Consello Partner & Vice Chair, Mindy Grossman, Jay will reflect on his leadership principles, growth strategies and customer-first mindset that continue to fuel AEO’s success through changing retail cycles. From brand relevance and marketing innovation to operational agility and shareholder value, hear how one of retail’s most influential leaders continues to fast-forward his business—and the timeless lessons every retailer can leverage to build an enduring enterprise.

Sam’s Club is staying true to its heritage as a no-frills warehouse while evolving into a modern membership platform that serves members where, when and how they want to shop. And a new generation is taking notice: more than half of new members joining Sam’s Club are Millennials and Gen Z. As the business evolves, it remains grounded in three promises to members: deliver value on the items they want and love, make shopping easy, and serve them with people who help and care. In this Main Stage conversation, Sam’s Club President and CEO Latriece Watkins will share how the company is listening to a new generation of members, where their expectations are shaping the business - and where Sam’s Club is deliberately staying the course. She’ll explore what it takes to modernize a beloved retail model without overcomplicating it, and why, in a rapidly changing retail landscape, staying grounded in the fundamentals may be more important than ever.

Session details are to come.

Victoria's Secret & Co. is one of the most recognizable names in retail, but sustaining relevance requires continually evolving with the customer. Since becoming CEO, Hillary Super has focused on strengthening Victoria's Secret, reigniting PINK, and deepening customer connection across the portfolio. In this conversation, she'll share how culture, talent, community, and a relentless focus on the customer are helping power the company's next phase of growth. From building high-performing teams to balancing what customers love with what needs to evolve, Hillary will discuss the leadership principles shaping the company's transformation.

Session details are to come.

Under Libby Wadle’s leadership, J.Crew Group is building on the heritage of some of American retail’s most recognizable brands while positioning them for their next chapter of growth. The conversation will also explore how heritage can serve as a source of inspiration rather than constraint, how Wadle approaches long-term growth across product, technology and customer experience, and the leadership principles that have shaped her career and the next chapter of J.Crew Group. Recent investments in brand leadership and digital capabilities reflect a broader focus on building a portfolio positioned for long-term growth across J.Crew, Madewell and J.Crew Factory. In this Main Stage conversation, Wadle will share how she balances what makes an iconic brand special with the need to continually evolve its product, talent, technology and customer experience – and how she thinks about building brands that can remain relevant for generations to come.

Zara needs little introduction. Over five decades, the brand has continuously evolved its products, stores and digital experiences while staying true to what has always been at the heart of its business model: listening to customers, being responsive and adapting to their needs. Today, the Zara brand reaches customers around the world by drawing them in with thoughtfully crafted fashions reflective of their unique styles and aspirations.

Zara is the foundation and driving force behind Inditex, but the Group is also home to Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Lefties and Zara Home. Each brand has its own distinct identity and customer but shares in the same customer first approach to doing business.

In this Main Stage conversation, Inditex CEO Óscar García Maceiras will share the Group’s path forward, guided by the principles at the heart of its model and by its commitments to brand and design bringing together the beauty of fashion to millions of people around the world through creativity, quality products and adaptability. 

What happens when you stop thinking about retail as stores, websites or marketplaces – and start with the consumer and work backward? That is what Marc Lore is building with Wonder. Leveraging his experience disrupting e-commerce at Jet.com and Walmart, Marc is creating a new kind of consumer platform to make great food more accessible. From recipe development to kitchen robotics and autonomous drone delivery, Wonder owns mealtime from end to end, bringing a level of consistency, quality and speed to new geographies and at price points unattainable by traditional restaurants and delivery platforms. On the Main Stage, Lore will share what he sees coming next, and why the biggest retail opportunities may belong to companies willing to rethink the entire consumer journey.

Geoffroy van Raemdonck has spent his career transforming luxury businesses, and now he is leading one of the industry’s most consequential reinventions. As CEO of Exemplar Luxury Group (ELG), the luxury collective comprising Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, Geoffroy is doubling down on his belief that the future of luxury retail will be defined not by the products sold, but by the strength of relationships and the quality of experiences. This discussion will explore how, with data-rich insights and technology to enhance the power of human-touch, ELG is able to deliver a personalized journey and exceptional service at scale. As the company looks to the future, it is building on the collective strength of ELG, while preserving the heritage and distinctiveness of each of its iconic banners. Learn how ELG is working to realize its full potential with a stronger and more stable financial foundation, unlocking the power of its footprint, relationships, people and capabilities to drive profitable and sustainable growth. Hear how, in doing so, the company is building a more resilient business model, designed to create lasting value for its owners, customers, brand partners and the broader luxury ecosystem.

Session details are to come.