As the world's leading trade association for convenience and fuel retailing, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has been at the forefront of the industry for over 60 years. Representing more than 150,000 convenience stores and fuel stations in the U.S. and members across 60+ countries, NACS continues to set industry benchmarks and drive future trends. 

For the first time on the FBIF stage, NACS will deliver deep insights into the global convenience retail landscape, uncovering the key strategic imperatives shaping the industry: 

1. What critical challenges and opportunities are redefining convenience retail worldwide? 

2. How is foodservice emerging as the next growth engine for the sector? 

3. How are store design, technology, product innovation, and consumer experience reshaping the competitive landscape? 

4. What can brands and suppliers do to stay ahead of global convenience trends and unlock new growth potential?

This session will provide a comprehensive analysis of key markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, equipping retailers, F&B brands, distributors, and supply chain partners with the knowledge to navigate industry shifts and seize emerging opportunities.

Social commerce is experiencing rapid growth worldwide. With its unique combination of social interaction and convenient shopping experiences, it continues to attract an expanding base of consumers. According to data from Statista, the global social commerce market is projected to reach USD 688 billion in 2024, reflecting a 20% year-on-year increase. By 2028, the market is expected to grow by another 57%, surpassing USD 1 trillion in value, with an estimated 2.5 billion users globally.

Among all platforms, TikTok has emerged as a go-to destination for food and beverage brands, thanks to its ability to attract high-value users and deliver exceptional category conversion and transaction rates.

In this session, we will explore the following key topics:

1. An overview of the food and beverage landscape within content-driven e-commerce channels;

2. Emerging global trends in the F&B industry through the lens of content commerce;

3. How brands can leverage content commerce to unlock a new wave of high-growth opportunities.

Genbridge Capital believes that a once-in-three-decades generational shift in the retail landscape has arrived. Traditional food and beverage channels are under mounting pressure to transform, and brands, manufacturers, and distributors must act swiftly to seize the opportunities presented by category reinvention.

This presentation will offer an investor’s perspective to systematically unpack the paradigm shift in the food and beverage retail industry—from supply-driven to demand-driven models. Drawing on in-depth research, it will explore strategic pathways to breakthrough over the next decade, providing forward-looking insights and practical references for industry peers.

-How China’s unique fresh e-commerce model can “inspire in reverse” and offer new perspectives to overseas retailers

-The global replicability of Dingdong Fresh’s strengths in supply chain efficiency, low-waste management, and instant fulfillment

-Exploring international expansion pathways using Hong Kong as a strategic springboard

-Empowering key accounts (KAs) to build a digitalized fresh food supply chain

The Era of Channel-Driven Customization: How Can Brands Win the Next Product Battle?Retail channels are no longer passive distributors—they are awakening, actively demanding differentiated products from brands. Whether it’s traditional key accounts (KA), convenience stores, e-commerce, interest-driven commerce, or emerging membership stores, the consumer demographics, consumption scenarios, and price segments behind each channel are undergoing rapid transformation.

How can brands break free from a one-size-fits-all approach and truly understand the underlying logic of "channel-driven product innovation"? Channel customization, scenario-specific offerings, and price restructuring—those who move first will seize the next growth frontier. Oatly is pioneering this shift by collaborating with various retail channels—convenience stores, supermarkets, cafés, and membership clubs—to introduce tailor-made concept products. For the first time, these innovations will be unveiled on-site, offering an immersive experience of how the same oat-based product can unlock endless possibilities across different consumption scenarios.

According to NielsenIQ, in China's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) retail market, "traditional channels" such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and grocery stores still account for about 70% of the market share. While emerging channels like snack warehouses, O2O, and community group buying are growing rapidly, the digital and visual transformation of traditional channels remains one of the "core issues" most concerning FMCG brands.

On the other hand, traditional channels are also undergoing continuous changes with trends such as "de-KA (key accounts) transformation, promotion of direct sourcing, and shifting roles of distributors." For brand owners, the visibility, control, and scientific decision-making capability of traditional channels have become increasingly important for assessing the effectiveness of their channel market strategies. However, all of this depends on one key premise: the ability to see how traditional channel shelves look in detail, on a large scale, and in real-time, along with the changes occurring within them.

With the rapid development of technologies like AIGC (AI-generated content) and CV (Computer Vision), it is now becoming possible to transform the scattered channel locations into a digital management structure and to turn massive amounts of shelves into visualized representations.

At the same time, as technology takes over human time in these processes, the wide applicability of technology to complex scenarios, its recognition accuracy compared to manual efforts, and the convenience and feedback speed of the business flow are becoming key challenges in the visualization process.

In this discussion, Clobotics will join forces with digital international/local FMCG companies' CIOs or key business decision-makers to explore the digital and visual practices in traditional channels, how these practices are changing the operational models of FMCG traditional channels, and how they bring about transformation and efficiency gains. The conversation will also touch on the difficulties and hidden issues in the digital and visual transformation of traditional channels, along with possible solutions.

Over the past century, Ajinomoto has transformed from a small Japanese seasoning company into a global food giant. Today, its products are sold in over 130 countries and regions, with a portfolio spanning more than 100 subsidiaries. Beyond traditional seasonings, Ajinomoto has expanded into pharmaceuticals, health foods, and sports nutrition. In 2023, the company achieved $9.86 billion (approximately ¥70.1 billion RMB) in revenue.

Global Expansion: Tracing Ajinomoto’s journey from Japan to international markets, this session explores its market entry strategies and localization practices in key regions such as Southeast Asia and North America.

Product Innovation & Localization: Ajinomoto has tailored its offerings to diverse culinary cultures, from Sajiku seasoning mix in Southeast Asia to health-focused product lines in North America. This discussion delves into how the company develops region-specific innovations to meet local consumer preferences.

Technology & Supply Chain Optimization: Leveraging amino acid technology, production automation, and supply chain enhancements, Ajinomoto continuously strengthens its global competitiveness.

Future Outlook: Looking ahead, Ajinomoto is actively expanding into health foods and pharmaceuticals, exploring opportunities and challenges in emerging global markets.

The Middle East, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, is attracting increasing attention from international brands due to its diverse culture and thriving consumer market. From 2024 to 2028, the region's food market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.39%. This year, market revenue is expected to reach $135.5 billion, with the largest segment being candies and snacks, projected to reach $23.1 billion. The retail market in the Middle East is rapidly developing, primarily consisting of large supermarket chains and convenience stores, showcasing a unique channel landscape. For food and beverage brands looking to enter this market, understanding the layout and operational modes of these retail channels is crucial.

1.Major Retail Channels and Their Characteristics: Introduce key retailers in the Middle East market, including large supermarkets like BinDawood, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, and Spinneys, and analyze their market coverage and consumer demographics. Explore the advantages of convenience store chains in the region (such as 7-Eleven and Al Meera) and understand their roles in the fast-moving consumer goods market.

2. Localization and Market Adaptation Strategies: How should brands adjust their strategies based on consumer preferences in different countries (like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc.)? How do varying demands for halal certification and localized products influence the choice of retail channels? Discuss the necessity and challenges of collaborating with local distributors, and how brands can enhance market adaptability through local partners.

3.The Rise of E-commerce and Omnichannel Retail: What impact does the rise of e-commerce platforms in the Middle East (like Noon and Amazon.sa) have on traditional retail channels? How can online retail effectively complement brand market expansion? Explore the importance of omnichannel strategies in the Middle East market and how to combine online and offline advantages for broader market coverage.

4.Logistics and Supply Chain Considerations: What logistics and supply chain challenges do brands face when expanding in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE? How can they address food storage and distribution issues in the high-temperature environment of the Middle East? Discuss optimizing supply chains through localized warehousing and logistics networks to ensure product timeliness and quality.

5.Case Study: Analyze the channel selection strategies of some international brands (such as Nestlé and Coca-Cola) in the Middle East market and discuss how they achieved market share growth in the region.

In the process of many Chinese brands entering overseas markets, Fly By Jing has successfully broken cultural barriers and gained rapid popularity through its unique brand marketing strategy. Unlike many brands that choose to sell in Chinese supermarkets, Fly By Jing boldly placed its products on the shelves of mainstream American supermarkets, now reaching over 12,000 retail stores, including Whole Foods, Target, and Walmart. Fly By Jing's success is no coincidence. Its fashionable and modern packaging design, effective social media content marketing, and successful omnichannel marketing strategies, along with bold expansion into mainstream retail channels, are key to its ability to stand out.

When it comes to Chinese food entering overseas markets, many people think of instant noodles, sauces, or frozen dim sum. But who would have imagined preserved eggs could take center stage? XURI has broken through the barriers of mainstream overseas channels with this "black pearl of the East," successfully landing in Costco, the high-standard, high-traffic retail giant in the U.S.

Unlike traditional Chinese supermarkets, XURI keenly observed that an increasing number of second- and third-generation Chinese consumers prefer to shop for ingredients at local supermarkets. To reach a broader audience, entering mainstream retail channels became an inevitable choice. However, this was a hard-fought battle from "daring to dream" to "daring to act."

From Trial to Confidence: Did XURI accumulate enough successful trial sales experience before applying to list its products at Costco? What market conditions prompted this bold decision?

From Certification to Shelf Placement: How did XURI navigate Costco’s rigorous review process? And how did they convince channel agents to take the leap and recommend preserved eggs?

From Initial Success to Market Expansion: How did preserved eggs perform in sales during their early days at Costco? What follow-up plans does XURI have to further expand into a broader market?

In this session, we are honored to invite Mr. Hongliang Wu, the mastermind behind XURI’s overseas market strategy, to share the fascinating journey of how XURI leveraged sharp insights, steadfast belief, and flawless execution to bring preserved eggs from the docks to the shelves of mainstream U.S. retailers.

Are you ready to be inspired by this incredible "egg-cellent" success story?

As one of the world’s largest retailers, Walmart is committed to providing sellers with professional operational services and delivering a high-quality shopping experience for customers. This session will focus on Walmart Global E-commerce’s insights into the North American market, breaking down how brands can leverage its omnichannel strengths, data capabilities, and robust supply chain network to set sail globally with confidence.

-Traffic Aggregation Effect: How can Walmart Global E-commerce help brands reach high-value consumers in key markets such as North America, India, and Latin America?

-Logistics Services: Sharing Walmart Global E-commerce’s one-stop logistics solutions to help sellers enjoy an exceptional fulfillment experience

-New Seller Incentives: Interpreting Walmart’s incentive policies for new sellers—efficient global expansion through FBIF’s exclusive onboarding channel