Trade Leaders Converge to Chart a Course for the Future

Over 350 leaders from trade, industry, politics, and research gathered at Schönbrunn Castle for the 35th trading colloquium hosted by the austrian Trade Association. The event served as a platform to address pressing challenges and explore future opportunities within the Austrian trade landscape. Discussions centered on innovation, fairness, and sustainability, with a strong emphasis on actionable strategies and policy recommendations.

Key Discussions and Insights

Geopolitics, AI, and the European Internal Market

The colloquium featured a diverse range of discussions, including the impact of geopolitics and customs policies, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail operations, the rise of retail media, sustainability initiatives, and the evolving dynamics of the European internal market. Startup coach Daniel Cronin moderated the event, guided by Rainer Will, Managing Director of the Trade Association.

Level Playing Field: A Central Theme

A prominent economic discussion featuring Minister Schumann, IHS director Holger Bonin, Interspar CEO Johannes holzleitner, and AMS-Vienna manager Katharina Luger, highlighted the need for a level playing field within the European internal market. The panel addressed the economic implications of potential Trump-era tariffs, the ongoing skilled labor shortage, and unfair competition from overseas online platforms. The consensus was clear: a uniform set of rules is essential for all market participants.

A central concern: a fair and uniform set of rules for the European internal market – a level playing field that deals with all market participants.

Economic Discussion panel at Schönbrunn Colloquium

Minister Schumann emphasized the critical role of trade as a significant employer, supporting over 700,000 jobs, and stressed the importance of fostering family-friendly policies and equitable working conditions.

Innovation in Action: AI, Retail Media, and Payment Solutions

AI-Driven Retail Experiences

SparS Andreas Kranabitl showcased forward-thinking AI projects, including the “Market Whisperer” chatbot and the “Fast Genes lab,” demonstrating the potential of AI to revolutionize customer engagement and operational efficiency. These innovations align with the growing trend of AI adoption in retail, projected to increase by 15% annually over the next five years.

Modernizing Payment processes

Florian Burgstaller from Shopreme provided insights into the latest advancements in payment technologies, notably self-checkout systems, which are streamlining the customer experience and reducing operational costs for retailers.

Retail Media: A Growing Revenue Stream

Representatives from Douglas, Rewe, Salesforce, and Austrian Post explored the potential of retail media as a significant revenue driver. Forecasts suggest that the European retail media market could exceed €6 billion by 2026,highlighting the importance of strategic investment in this area.

Inspiration and Entrepreneurship

Unlocking Mental Potential

Neuroscientist and memory expert boris Nicholas Konrad captivated the audience with live demonstrations and practical tips for mental training, emphasizing the importance of cognitive skills in a rapidly changing business surroundings.

Startup Showcase

A “startup zapping session” featured innovative solutions from emerging companies like Wejobbr, Chatarmin, and ByeAgain, offering a glimpse into the future of trade and highlighting the dynamism of the Austrian startup ecosystem.

Policy and Reform

Streamlining Regulations

State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn advocated for reduced regulation and increased flexibility to foster a more business-friendly environment.This call for deregulation echoes the sentiments of many businesses seeking to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.

Economic Outlook and Reform Approaches

A panel discussion with Rewe board member Marcel Haraszti, Heinemann Managing Director Novel Koch, and Dorotheum manager Karin Saey, moderated by Puls4’s Julia Furdea, addressed the current economic challenges and explored concrete reform proposals to support sustainable growth.

Celebrating Excellence: The FMCG Awards 2025

Recognizing Strong Industry Partnerships

the inaugural Austrian FMCG Award recognized outstanding industrial trading partnerships, celebrating companies that demonstrate reliability, innovation, and collaborative spirit. The winners were:

1. Iglo Austria
2. Coca-Cola HBC Austria
3. Recheis

The jury, comprised of representatives from Spar, Rewe, Hofer, and Lidl, also recognized Rauch, Manner, Kelly’s, and Vöslauer among the top 10.