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Compass Talks: Top speakers discuss future perspectives for the global consumer goods market

14 Jan 2026

Compass Talks is the new SME meeting place for decision-makers from politics, business, trade and the media. The new format will launch on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at 1 p.m., before the start of the three leading consumer goods trade fairs Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld. A brand-new industry survey, international keynote speakers and industry leaders in conversations will initiate new approaches to solutions in a very challenging market.

Grafik Compas Talks
A new format for the global consumer goods industry: Compass Talks on 5 February 2026, before the start of Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld, is the new SME meeting place for decision-makers from politics, business, trade, and the media. Photo: Messe Frankfurt

Under the motto ‘Envisioning the Future of the Global Consumer Goods Market’, the key transformation topics in the consumer goods industry, such as artificial intelligence, regulation, platform strategies and sustainability, will be highlighted on 5 February 2026 – the Thursday before the start of Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld.

"The global consumer goods industry is becoming noticeably more dynamic. Orientation is shaped above all through personal exchange. With the Compass Talks, we are creating a forum for the first time that brings together diverse perspectives and concrete solutions – thereby conveying a new image of the retail and consumer goods industry to politicians, the media, and market participants," emphasises Julia Uherek, Vice President Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe Frankfurt.

The agenda includes the survey results of the new IFH industry index on trends, opportunities and challenges in the global industry, two international keynotes by Sharon Gai (expert in artificial intelligence and innovation and former executive at Alibaba) and Ben Hammersley (futurist, author and digital expert), as well as three exciting panels featuring strong opinion leaders from business and trade.

These include: Dr Ralf Deckers (IFH Cologne), Leopold Grupp (Stölzle Lausitz), Finn-Maximilian Hillen (Recozy Sustainable Manufacturing), Jan-Frederik Kremer (Industrial Association of Cutlery and Household Goods and Federation of the European Cookware and Cutlery Industries), Christina Mayr (Westwing), Sebastian Müller (Max Gründl), Guilhem Pinault (La Brigade de Buyer), Mads Ring Damgaard (Stelton), Jonathan Roxlau (G. Wurm) and Klaus Striebich (RaRe Advise, International Council of Shopping Centres, German Council of Shopping Places).

Moderated by Frauke Holzmeier (ntv/RTL) and Thorsten Giersch (Markt und Mittelstand), the talks promise lively discussions, plenty of inspiration and new perspectives for the global consumer goods market.

If you are interested, you can find more information here and please contact the press team at press.consumergoodsfairs@messefrankfurt.com. The number of participants is limited – admission is only possible with a ticket.

Note for journalists:
Discover further expert knowledge and ideas for retail on Conzoom Solutions. With the Conzoom Circle network, Messe Frankfurt links the most important international platforms for the global consumer goods and retail industry and bundles industry knowledge and expertise.

Press releases & images: ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/press I
christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com/press I creativeworld.messefrankfurt.com/press I

On social media: www.facebook.com/ambientefair I www.instagram.com/ambientefair I www.ambiente-blog.com I www.linkedin.com/company/ambientefair

www.facebook.com/christmasworld/ I www.instagram.com/christmasworld.frankfurt/ I www.linkedin.com/company/christmasworldfrankfurt

www.facebook.com/creativeworld.frankfurt I www.instagram.com/creativeworld.frankfurt/ I
www.linkedin.com/company/creativeworldfrankfurt

Hashtags: #ambiente26 #ambientefair #christmasworld26 #christmasbusiness
#creativeworld26 #creativeindustry

Contact

Background information on Messe Frankfurt: www.messefrankfurt.com/background-information

Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability-information

Background information on Conzoom Circle: conzoom-circle.messefrankfurt.com/information