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Retail World Forum

6th August 2026 | Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town

Where retail leaders meet to define what’s next

Cape Town, South Africa

A curated leadership forum bringing together senior decision-makers, innovators, and brands shaping the future of retail across South Africa.

What is Retail World Forum

South Africa’s retail landscape is entering a period of accelerated transformation, driven by digital adoption, evolving consumer behaviour, new commerce models, and infrastructure growth.

Retail World Forum, Cape Town brings together the region’s most influential leaders to discuss, debate, and define the next phase of growth across the continent.

It is a curated platform for decision-makers.

What Makes this Edition Matter

  • One of South Africa’s fastest-evolving retail markets
  • Growing investment in digital commerce and infrastructure
  • Unique mix of formal retail, DTC, and innovation
  • Rising consumer demand and urbanisation

Who You’ll Meet

  • CEOs, COOs, CMOs, CIOs, CDOs, CBOs, Heads of E-commerce, Marketing, Supply Chain
  • Brands across Fashion, Beauty, FMCG, Food, Speciality and Electronics
  • E-commerce and Omnichannel leaders
  •  Fin-tech, 3PL, SaaS, Enablers, and other retail solution providers

What You’ll Experience

  • Keynote & Panel DiscussionsTechnology Showcases & Case Studies Bespoke Engagements & Fireside Chat
  • Retail World AwardsNetworking

Speakers

Alaine Rossouw

Alaine Rossouw

Chief Operating Officer
Toy Kingdom

Barry Sickle

Barry Sickle

Co-Founder
Footgear

Christopher Baird

Christopher Baird

Head of E Commerce
G-Star

Hazel Pillay

Hazel Pillay

Managing Director
Pick n Pay Clothing

Hylton Bannon

Hylton Bannon

Managing Director
Toy Kingdom

KEVIN LENNETT

Kevin Lennett

Group CEO
Melbro Holdings

Leah McCrae

Leah McCrae

Managing Director
Rand Capital Coffee - Licensee, Starbucks South Africa

Yaeesh Moosa

Yaeesh Moosa

Head of Marketplace
Takealot.com

What You’ll Experience

Keynote & Panel Discussions

Technology Showcases & Case Studies

Bespoke Engagements & Fireside Chat

Retail World Forum

Spotlight Speakers

Abdullah Al-Sabban, Chief Operating Officer and CEO Advisor at Panda Retail Company, speaker at Retail World Forum

Abdullah Al-Sabban

Chief Operating Officer & CEO Advisor
Panda Retail Company

Alok Pandey, Chief Executive Officer at Tim Hortons GCC, speaker at Retail World Forum

Alok Pandey

Chief Executive Officer
Tim Hortons GCC

Ammar Aklan, Chief Executive Officer at Al Hatab Foods Daajan Holding Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Ammar Aklan

Chief Executive Officer
Al Hatab Foods - Daajan Holding Group

Anshuman Anand, Co-Founder and CEO at Al Safa Brands, speaker at Retail World Forum

Anshuman Anand

Co-Founder & CEO
Al Safa Brands

Elie Aoun, Chief Executive Officer at Al Othaim Life, speaker at Retail World Forum

Elie Aoun

Chief Executive Officer
Al Othaim Life

Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Max Fashion - Landmark Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Hani Weiss

Chief Executive Officer
Landmark Group

Majed M. AlTahan, Founder & CEO at International Applications Company (IACo) & Co-founder & CEO Danube Online, speaker at Retail World Forum

Majed M. AlTahan

Founder & CEO
International Applications Company (IACo)
& Co-founder & CEO
Danube Online

Mohammed Aldabbagh, Managing Director KSA at Chalhoub Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Mohammed Aldabbagh

Managing Director KSA
Chalhoub Group

Neeraj Teckchandani, Chief Executive Officer at Apparel Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Neeraj Teckchandani

Chief Executive Officer
Apparel Group

Nicole Nitschke

Nicole Nitschke

Managing Director
FACES Beauty Middle East

Waleed AR Bindawood, Chief Commercial Officer at Bindawood Holding Company, speaker at Retail World Forum

Waleed AR Bindawood

Chief Commercial Officer
Bindawood Holding Company

Yasser Taher, Chief Executive Officer at MAGRABi Retail Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Yasser Taher

Chief Executive Officer
MAGRABi Retail

Industry Experts

Dr Ahad Nihal, Chief Marketing Officer at Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Co, speaker at Retail World Forum

Dr Ahad Nihal

Chief Marketing Officer
Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Co.

Ali Mansour, Chief Retail Officer at eyewa, speaker at Retail World Forum

Ali Mansour

Chief Retail Officer
eyewa

Andreu Marco, Chief Operating Officer at Chalhoub Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Andreu Marco

Chief Operating Officer
Chalhoub Group

Binoo Joseph, Chief Digital Officer at Cenomi Centers, speaker at Retail World Forum

Binoo Joseph

Chief Digital Officer
Cenomi Centers

Why Attend

  • Understand South Africa’s growth opportunities
  • Discover new revenue possibilities  
  • Connect with decision-makers driving transformation
  • Identify partnership and expansion opportunities
  • Benchmark your strategy against market leaders

Retail World Forum

Exploring the ideas, strategies, and technologies shaping the future of retail across:

  • Retail Innovation & Transformation
  • Omnichannel & Customer Experience
  • AI & Data-Driven Retail
  • Retail Media & Digital Growth
  • Sustainability & Future-Ready Commerce & more

Spotlight Speakers

Abdullah Al-Sabban, Chief Operating Officer and CEO Advisor at Panda Retail Company, speaker at Retail World Forum

Abdullah Al-Sabban

Chief Operating Officer & CEO Advisor
Panda Retail Company

Alok Pandey, Chief Executive Officer at Tim Hortons GCC, speaker at Retail World Forum

Alok Pandey

Chief Executive Officer
Tim Hortons GCC

Ammar Aklan, Chief Executive Officer at Al Hatab Foods Daajan Holding Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Ammar Aklan

Chief Executive Officer
Al Hatab Foods - Daajan Holding Group

Anshuman Anand, Co-Founder and CEO at Al Safa Brands, speaker at Retail World Forum

Anshuman Anand

Co-Founder & CEO
Al Safa Brands

Elie Aoun, Chief Executive Officer at Al Othaim Life, speaker at Retail World Forum

Elie Aoun

Chief Executive Officer
Al Othaim Life

Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Max Fashion - Landmark Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Hani Weiss

Chief Executive Officer
Landmark Group

Majed M. AlTahan, Founder & CEO at International Applications Company (IACo) & Co-founder & CEO Danube Online, speaker at Retail World Forum

Majed M. AlTahan

Founder & CEO
International Applications Company (IACo)
& Co-founder & CEO
Danube Online

Mohammed Aldabbagh, Managing Director KSA at Chalhoub Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Mohammed Aldabbagh

Managing Director KSA
Chalhoub Group

Neeraj Teckchandani, Chief Executive Officer at Apparel Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Neeraj Teckchandani

Chief Executive Officer
Apparel Group

Nicole Nitschke

Nicole Nitschke

Managing Director
FACES Beauty Middle East

Waleed AR Bindawood, Chief Commercial Officer at Bindawood Holding Company, speaker at Retail World Forum

Waleed AR Bindawood

Chief Commercial Officer
Bindawood Holding Company

Yasser Taher, Chief Executive Officer at MAGRABi Retail Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Yasser Taher

Chief Executive Officer
MAGRABi Retail

Industry Experts

Dr Ahad Nihal, Chief Marketing Officer at Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Co, speaker at Retail World Forum

Dr Ahad Nihal

Chief Marketing Officer
Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Co.

Ali Mansour, Chief Retail Officer at eyewa, speaker at Retail World Forum

Ali Mansour

Chief Retail Officer
eyewa

Andreu Marco, Chief Operating Officer at Chalhoub Group, speaker at Retail World Forum

Andreu Marco

Chief Operating Officer
Chalhoub Group

Binoo Joseph, Chief Digital Officer at Cenomi Centers, speaker at Retail World Forum

Binoo Joseph

Chief Digital Officer
Cenomi Centers

What to Expect

Keynotes, Firesides & Panels

Hear directly from the leaders shaping the next chapter of Saudi retail. Ministers, CEOs and industry pioneers will explore how commerce is evolving into a cultural force, a technological framework and a pillar of national development.

Technology in Action

Experience the next generation of retail firsthand. From AI-enabled operations to programmable payments, retail media networks and immersive in-store technologies, the focus is on solutions that already work and can scale across the Kingdom.

Strategic Breakouts

Join focused conversations with operators, investors and designers who are building the sector’s future. These sessions are designed to move ideas into pilots, partnerships and real-world implementation.

Building a Legacy

This is retail with purpose. Discover how Saudi’s new retail order will shape global consumer behaviour, drive economic diversification, and define the commerce blueprint for a new era.

What You’ll Experience

Keynotes & Panels

real strategies from operators

Technology Showcases

solutions already in market

Strategic Conversations

focused, senior-level discussions

Retail World Awards

recognising excellence across Africa

Gala Night

premium networking with decision-makers

Gold Sponsor

yango-tech-logo

Sliver Sponsors

Netcore

Commerce Sponsor

Vtext

Be part of the conversations shaping the future of retail in Africa.

Retail World Awards & Nominations

Recognising Retail Leadership Across Africa

Africa’s retail landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by digital adoption, new commerce models, mobile-first consumers, and expanding urban markets.

The Retail World Awards, Cape Town Edition, presented by Retail World Forum, recognise the brands, teams, and technologies delivering measurable impact across the African retail ecosystem.

From omnichannel innovation and customer experience to data, payments, logistics, and sustainability, these awards spotlight organisations turning ambition into real, scalable outcomes.

These awards recognise strategic thinking, execution excellence, and innovation shaping the future of commerce across Africa. Submissions are evaluated across both strategic and technical categories by an independent jury and editorial leadership.

More than 30 categories. One stage. A market in motion.

Everything You Need to Know

What is Retail World Forum Cape Town?

Retail World Forum Cape Town is an exclusive business gathering exploring the next phase of retail growth, omnichannel strategy, consumer trends, retail technology, and innovation across Africa. The event connects senior executives, retail leaders, emerging brands, and solution providers for high-level discussions, networking, and insights into the evolving African commerce landscap.

The event takes place on 6 August 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. The specific venue details will be shared with registered attendees closer to the event date. You can register your interest through Retail World Forum Cape Town Registration

The speaker lineup features CEOs, CXOs, senior VPs, VPs, directors, founders, retail executives, e-commerce leaders, digital transformation experts, customer experience specialists, and technology innovators from leading African and international brands. You can explore the full lineup on the Retail World Forum Cape Town Speakers page

The agenda covers key retail industry trends and innovations, including AI in retail, e-commerce, omnichannel strategy, customer experience, retail technology, loyalty and personalization, digital transformation, supply chain innovation, fintech, and data-driven commerce. Sessions also explore leadership, consumer behaviour, and the future of retail across Africa and global markets.

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