Natasha Dury

Yesterday, ahead of the official opening of Ambiente, I attended Compass Talks in Frankfurt and  found that it was one of those rare industry gatherings that felt both intellectually energising and genuinely joyful.

Designed as a new dialogue-driven forum, Compass Talks brought together global thinkers, industry leaders, and decision-makers to reflect on where the consumer goods and retail industry is heading and, more importantly, how it can navigate change with confidence, creativity, and collaboration.

As Julia Uherek, Vice President Consumer Goods Fairs at Messe Frankfurt, noted in her opening remarks, the industry is entering a far more dynamic phase, one where orientation increasingly comes from personal exchange rather than static forecasts.

Compass Talks was created precisely to enable that exchange, offering a platform that connects business realities with future-facing ideas, while also reshaping how the consumer goods sector is perceived by policymakers, media, and the wider market.

The agenda struck an effective balance between data, vision, and real-world experience. One of the highlights was the presentation of findings from the new IFH industry index, which shed light on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the global consumer goods landscape. The insights confirmed what many in the room already sense: the market is evolving rapidly, and adaptability is becoming as critical as scale.

International keynote speakers brought a strong global perspective to the discussion. Sharon Gai, an expert in artificial intelligence and innovation and former Alibaba executive, explored how technology, data, and AI are reshaping business models and consumer expectations. Ben Hammersley offered a futurist lens, encouraging the industry to rethink assumptions around growth, relevance, and long-term value in an increasingly complex world.

What made Compass Talks particularly compelling, however, were the panel discussions — practical, opinionated, and refreshingly honest. Leaders from across manufacturing, retail, sustainability, and trade associations shared their perspectives on resilience, responsibility, and competitiveness. Voices from IFH Cologne, Westwing, Stelton, Stölzle Lausitz, La Brigade de Buyer, and other influential organisations brought depth and diversity to the conversation, grounding big ideas in operational reality.

Moderated by Frauke Holzmeier and Thorsten Giersch, the discussions were lively and well-paced, encouraging genuine dialogue rather than scripted soundbites. There was a strong sense in the room that this was not about predicting a single future, but about equipping the industry with multiple perspectives, and the confidence to act.

As a prelude to Ambiente, Compass Talks did exactly what it set out to do: it created orientation, sparked inspiration, and reminded everyone present that even in uncertain times, progress comes from conversation, collaboration, and shared purpose. For me as a first time visitor to the show, the talks set the tone for the days ahead and reinforced why face-to-face exchange still matters so deeply in a digital world.

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