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Selectivity of participants
About
Paris, 11 June 2026
The Conseil du Commerce de France and the HUB Institute launch the Retail Innovation Circle
A strategic circle bringing together innovative sector experts from across the value chain, with a first landmark contribution expected at the Paris Economic Forum 2026.
The Conseil du Commerce de France (CDCF) — the liaison body that brings together the federations and economic players of French commerce — and the HUB Institute today announce the creation of the Retail Innovation Circle, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to inform and shape the future of commerce in France. Placed under the patronage of the CDCF and run jointly with the HUB Institute, the circle will draw on a select group of expert and reference representatives from federations recognised for their ability to read innovation, with the ambition of producing a landmark contribution for economic decision-makers and public authorities.
An ambition : helping shape the future of French commerce
In the face of the profound transformations reshaping the sector — the rise of AI, the reshaping of purchase journeys, technological advances in payment, the evolution of professions — the Retail Innovation Circle has set itself the mission of fostering collective, independent and action-oriented thinking. Apolitical by design, the circle intends to produce a considered, useful and credible voice, in the service of innovation in French commerce.
Four guiding principles structure the approach :
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Independence of the work
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Rigour in production
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Consensus around deliverables compatible with the diversity of the CDCF federations
A selective circle of innovative players across the value chain
Made up of 15 to 20 organisations maximum, the Circle will bring together innovative players covering all the strategic links in the retail value chain : customer relations, digitalisation and platforms, new retail formats, logistics and last-mile delivery, payment, standards and traceability, sustainability, as well as the future of work in commerce.
The work will run from May to November 2026 through monthly video conferences, expert interviews and continuous editorial follow-up provided by the HUB Institute. It will culminate, in mid-November 2026, in the delivery of a strategic contribution on innovations for the future of commerce — the first landmark document produced by the circle.
This contribution will be presented publicly on 2 December 2026 at the Paris Economic Forum, as part of the "Territories and Commerce" coalition. A series of complementary events will be announced later, extending the circle's work beyond the first deliverable and enriching the contribution at the sector's major international gatherings.
"With the Retail Innovation Circle, we want to offer French commerce a space for reflection that matches the transformations it is going through. Innovating together, producing together, carrying weight together: that is our commitment to the entire industry and to public authorities."
"Commerce is one of the most dynamic laboratories of French innovation. By bringing together the players shaping its future, we want to produce a demanding and useful contribution, grounded in concrete use cases, international benchmarks and the vision of practitioners."
About the Conseil du Commerce de France (CDCF)
The Conseil du Commerce de France brings together the leading federations of French commerce and represents the sector's voice before public authorities. Representing all retail formats and professions, the CDCF works to defend and promote a modern, responsible and value-creating form of commerce across all territories.
About the HUB Institute
The HUB Institute is a leading think tank on digital transformation and innovation. It supports leaders and decision-makers through its prospective studies, its events (HUB Forum, HUB Forum Retail) and its expert communities, in France and internationally.
Press contacts
CDCF
contact@cdcf.com
HUB Institute
contact@hubinstitute.com