NRF 2025 APAC, the Asia-Pacific edition of the NRF Retail Show, was successfully held in June at the Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore, marking the second installment of the NRF Asia-Pacific series. The event far exceeded expectations and concluded with resounding success. It brought together retail professionals from over 80 countries, with brand participation experiencing explosive growth—rising from 1,200 retail brands in 2024 to 2,200 in 2025, an increase of 83%. This remarkable expansion underscores the robust demand across the Asia-Pacific retail market for a high‑quality platform for industry engagement.

In terms of the speaker lineup, the 2025 edition featured some of the most influential retail leaders from the Asia-Pacific region and around the globe. Speakers included Sean Cheng, Chief Omnichannel Officer of FairPrice Group; Alex Lawson, Head of Strategy and Media at The Warehouse Group; Scott Price, Group CEO of DFI Retail Group; Roger Dunn, Global Head of Retail Media at Diageo; Koichi Nakata, President and Representative Director of Shiseido Japan; Deborah Jollie, Head of Australia for 7‑Eleven; Low Ngai Yuen, Director of AEON360; and Motoharu Shimokawa, Executive Officer of Nestlé Japan, among others. Additionally, executives and industry experts from internationally renowned companies such as Olive Young, LVMH, KPMG, and Woolworths shared their insightful perspectives on the future of retail.

On the exhibition floor, the 2025 show showcased cutting‑edge advancements in retail technology. The exhibit space hosted more than 300 leading technology providers, spanning key domains including artificial intelligence, omnichannel solutions, data analytics, supply chain management, and payment systems. Innovation zones and startup showcases highlighted groundbreaking solutions poised to transform customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a central theme throughout the event. Diana Marshall, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of Sam’s Club, emphasized in her address: “The history of retail is the history of personal experience. While AI will reshape how we operate, it is human touch that will remain the differentiating factor going forward.” Mark Irvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Best Buy, added: “Visiting a store should be an unparalleled experience.” Attendees generally agreed that AI is transitioning from proof‑of‑concept stages to large‑scale deployment, with human‑centered service and employee empowerment set to become core competitive advantages in the future of retail. Meanwhile, in the context of digital transformation, RFID technology is redefining store management and merchandise flow efficiency through next‑generation smart retail solutions.

Commercial Facility Equipment: Automated self-service vending machines, shelving units, mall counters, apparel display racks, automated lockers, shopping carts/baskets, checkout counters, commercial logistics equipment, refrigeration and freezing equipment for food storage and transportation, refrigerated and frozen display units, freshness‑preserving devices, food processing machinery, cling film, packaging machines, as well as pricing scales, electronic scales, barcode scales, supermarket anti‑theft mirrors, holographic imaging products, access control systems, and more.

Commercial Information Technology: Electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, video surveillance systems, barcode technologies and equipment, barcode scanners, price‑tagging machines, radio‑frequency identification (RFID), smart‑card recognition technology, point‑of‑sale (POS) systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, payment systems, printers, self‑service kiosks, intelligent payment solutions, and mobile service platforms.(Copyright of this content belongs to Juzhan. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.)

Product Manufacturers: Apparel and fashion items, detergents and household chemicals, general merchandise, seasonings, beverages, meat products, tea, edible mushrooms, office and educational supplies, regional specialty products, agricultural goods, and more.

Commercial Design Categories: Lighting, advertising materials, and point‑of‑purchase (POP) displays.

Commercial Design Zone: Store design concepts, store interiors, display accessories, lighting fixtures, decorative and visual merchandising solutions, and POP displays.

End-to-End Cold Chain Equipment: Refrigerators/refrigerated trucks, freezing units, ice makers, commercial kitchens, transit handling equipment, and warehousing solutions.