MANILA, PHILIPPINES | NRCE 2026: The Future of Philippine Retail Takes Center Stage This August | As PRA Celebrates 50 Years, Retail Leaders, Innovators, and Global Visionaries Gather for the Industry’s Biggest Event
The retail industry is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history.
Artificial intelligence is changing how consumers discover products. Customer expectations continue to evolve. Supply chains are becoming more interconnected and complex. Digital technologies are redefining business operations. New brands are disrupting established players, while retailers across the Philippines face a common challenge:
How do you stay relevant in a world that refuses to stand still?
For business owners, retail executives, entrepreneurs, marketers, technology providers, and decision-makers, the answers may be found at the 32nd National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE 2026), happening on August 6–7, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
Organized by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), this year’s event carries special significance as the organization celebrates its 50th Anniversary, marking five decades of leadership, advocacy, and service to the Philippine retail industry.
With the theme “New. Next. Forward.”, NRCE 2026 serves as both a celebration of the industry’s achievements and a roadmap for navigating the future.
More than a conference, it is where the country’s retail leaders come together to exchange ideas, discover innovations, build partnerships, and prepare for what’s next.
A Golden Milestone for Philippine Retail
The year 2026 marks a historic milestone for the Philippine Retailers Association.
For fifty years, PRA has championed the interests of retailers, helping businesses navigate economic shifts, industry disruptions, changing consumer behavior, and emerging technologies. Through advocacy, education, networking, and industry development initiatives, PRA has played a pivotal role in shaping modern Philippine retail.
As the organization celebrates its Golden Anniversary, NRCE 2026 becomes more than an annual gathering.
It becomes a reflection of how far Philippine retail has come—and an opportunity to define where it is headed next.
At a time when businesses are adapting to rapid technological change and evolving customer expectations, PRA’s 50th year serves as a reminder that resilience, innovation, and collaboration remain the foundations of long-term growth.
Opening Keynotes from Global Retail and Supply Chain Leaders
Setting the tone for this year’s conference are two distinguished Opening Keynote Speakers whose careers have helped shape retail and commerce across Asia and beyond.
V.P. Sharma: Building One of Southeast Asia’s Retail Giants
One of the most anticipated speakers at NRCE 2026 is V.P. Sharma, Founder and Group CEO of MAP Group Indonesia.
Widely regarded as one of Asia’s most accomplished retail entrepreneurs, Sharma transformed MAP Group from a single retail operation into a regional powerhouse with thousands of locations and a portfolio of globally recognized brands.
His keynote is expected to offer invaluable lessons on leadership, customer-centricity, sustainable growth, organizational resilience, and long-term business building.
In an era often focused on short-term results, Sharma’s journey demonstrates the power of vision, discipline, and consistent execution.
Joseph Phi: Reimagining the Future of Global Commerce
Joining Sharma as a Keynote Speaker is Joseph Phi, Group CEO of Li & Fung, one of the world’s most influential supply chain and sourcing companies.
With decades of experience leading global commerce, supply chain transformation, and operational innovation, Phi brings a unique perspective on how retailers can remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected world.
As supply chains continue to evolve amid shifting consumer demands and global market dynamics, his insights are expected to provide attendees with practical strategies for building agility, resilience, and long-term growth.
Together, Sharma and Phi represent two critical pillars of modern retail success: customer-centric retail leadership and world-class supply chain excellence.
Why NRCE Matters More Than Ever
Retail today extends far beyond products and physical stores.
Success now depends on understanding customers across multiple touchpoints, leveraging data effectively, embracing innovation, strengthening supply chains, adopting new technologies, and creating memorable customer experiences.
The organizations that thrive over the next decade will not necessarily be the largest.
They will be the most adaptable.
NRCE 2026 brings together some of the most influential minds in retail, marketing, leadership, technology, logistics, venture capital, and innovation to help businesses understand and navigate these changes.
Over two days, attendees will gain access to keynote presentations, expert-led discussions, case studies, networking opportunities, and a world-class retail expo showcasing solutions that are transforming the industry.
Leadership Remains the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
Technology may be changing the way businesses operate, but leadership remains one of the most important differentiators in any organization.
This is why NRCE 2026 welcomes Louie Banta, CEO and Chief Training Consultant of Learning Just Made Better, Inc.
Having trained leaders across 24 countries and worked with more than 500 organizations worldwide, Banta brings decades of expertise in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and people transformation.
His session is expected to provide practical insights on leading through uncertainty, building resilient teams, managing change, and creating cultures that thrive in dynamic environments.
Making Sense of AI for Retail
Few topics are generating as much discussion in business today as artificial intelligence.
Retailers understand that AI is changing the landscape, but many continue to ask the same question:
Where do we start?
NRCE 2026 addresses this challenge through a practical session led by RJ Paculan, Managing Director of TBWASMP, and Paolo Broma, Chief Marketing Officer of TBWASMP.
Rather than focusing on technical jargon, their discussion will explore practical applications of AI, automation, generative search, customer engagement, content creation, and workflow optimization.
Their message is simple: successful AI adoption starts with understanding business problems first and applying the right technologies to solve them.
The future belongs not to organizations that merely understand AI, but to those that know how to apply it effectively.
Understanding the New Customer
Customer expectations continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace.
Retailers today have access to more data than ever before, yet many still struggle to convert information into meaningful action.
This is where Sunita Howe, Head of Marketing for Southeast Asia and India at Meltwater, brings valuable insight.
Her expertise in media intelligence, customer analytics, and brand growth offers retailers a deeper understanding of how data-driven decision-making can strengthen customer engagement, improve marketing performance, and create sustainable competitive advantages.
Investing in the Next Generation of Retail
Innovation often begins long before a company becomes successful.
It starts with identifying opportunities before they become obvious.
That perspective makes Joan Yao, General Partner at Kickstart Ventures, one of the conference’s most anticipated speakers.
Having invested in transformative companies including Xendit, Pickup Coffee, Kumu, Edamama, and Sprout, Yao brings firsthand experience in identifying emerging trends and helping businesses scale.
Her session will provide valuable insights into innovation, entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, and the future of Southeast Asian business.
Beyond the Stage: A Complete Retail Innovation Ecosystem
NRCE 2026 extends beyond conference sessions.
The event’s expo floor will feature technology providers, retail solution companies, logistics partners, customer engagement platforms, service providers, and innovators from across the region.
Attendees will have opportunities to:
• Discover emerging retail technologies
• Explore AI-powered business solutions
• Learn about customer engagement innovations
• Evaluate logistics and fulfillment platforms
• Connect with suppliers and technology partners
• Build strategic business relationships
• Explore new growth opportunities
For many participants, the connections made during NRCE become just as valuable as the insights shared on stage.
Why You Should Attend NRCE 2026
Whether you are a retailer, entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, marketer, technology provider, supply chain executive, or business leader, the issues being discussed at NRCE directly impact your future success.
Artificial intelligence.
Customer experience.
Leadership.
Innovation.
Supply chain transformation.
Data-driven decision-making.
Business growth.
These are no longer future considerations.
They are today’s realities.
The organizations that understand these shifts earliest often gain the greatest competitive advantage.
Be Part of What’s Next
As the Philippine Retailers Association celebrates its 50th year, NRCE 2026 promises to be one of the most significant gatherings in the event’s history.
It is where industry leaders come together to learn, connect, innovate, and prepare for the future.
The future of retail will not be shaped by those who wait for change.
It will be shaped by those who help create it.
Event Details
📅 August 6–7, 2026
📍 SMX Convention Center Manila
🌐 Register now: www.nrce-ph.com
The Future of Retail Starts Here
New technologies are emerging.
New customer expectations are forming.
New opportunities are waiting.
The question is simple:
Will your business be ready for what’s next?
Join thousands of retailers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers at NRCE 2026 and become part of the movement shaping the future of Philippine retail.
New. Next. Forward.
