Episode Details

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2026 in Vienna, Chris Walton sits down with Wesley Wilson, Regional Director, North America at the Consumer Goods Forum, to discuss the biggest trends shaping the future of retail and consumer goods.

One year into his leadership role, Wilson reflects on how the Consumer Goods Forum is expanding its innovation initiatives ahead of the 2027 Global Summit in San Francisco. He explains why AI is becoming an essential tool for managing complexity, how GLP-1 medications are accelerating consumer demand for better nutrition, and why pre-competitive collaboration is becoming increasingly important as retailers and manufacturers navigate industry-wide challenges together.

Key Topics Covered:

• Wesley Wilson's first year leading the Consumer Goods Forum in North America
• Why innovation has become a major priority for CGF
• What to expect from the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2027 in San Francisco
• The growing importance of AI across retail and consumer goods
• How AI helps retailers manage personalization and operational complexity
• Why open-source technology is becoming a strategic business advantage
• The role of pre-competitive collaboration in driving industry innovation
• How GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumer expectations around nutrition
• The industry's shift toward nutritional quality over quantity
• Why health outcomes are becoming central to retail strategy
• Serving customers through collaboration across the consumer goods ecosystem
• How CGF is helping retailers and manufacturers prepare for the future

Special thanks to the CGF Leadership Studio sponsored by Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's coverage from the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2026 in Vienna.