New report highlights where innovation and investment will be most critical as retailers navigate geopolitical uncertainty, rising health consciousness, technological progress and environmental concerns to secure long-term growth
IGD has launched its Global Retail Trends 2026 report, identifying seven key trends that will define the direction of the food and grocery industry over the next 12 months.
Together, they highlight where innovation and investment will be most critical and help guide retailers’ strategic choices to differentiate themselves, stay relevant, and secure long-term growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace, the analyst explained.
”Understanding the future of retail means recognising the key macro drivers reshaping the industry,” IGD stated.
”Retailers are navigating ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, while rising consumer focus on health and wellbeing is fuelling demand for wellness, preventative, and functional products.
”Technological progress continues at pace, requiring retailers to strike a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining resilient infrastructure,” it continued.
Climate change and environmental concerns are also intensifying, IGD outlined, with both regulators and consumers expecting greater sustainability efforts.
Additionally, demographic shifts are influencing shopper expectations, with a growing demand for personalisation, faster service, and better value.
IGD’s seven trends take these macro drivers into account and follow the strategic journey shaping retail transformation, from securing resilient foundations, to empowering innovation, monetising new growth models and ultimately contributing to a more responsible industry.
IGD’s seven global retail trends for 2026 include ’Cybersecurity becomes retail’s frontline’; ’AI as the engine of the retail revolution’; ’Retail media comes of age’; ’Retailers race to capture the world on their shelves’; ’The convenience revolution’; ’Playing a meaningful role for more health missions’; and ’The war on waste’.
“Retailers around the world face evolving consumer preferences, technological advances, and market disruptions, and they are responding to these shared challenges with bold, relevant solutions,” said Toby Pickard, retail futures senior partner at IGD.
”The seven trends we have identified show how global forces are reshaping strategy, and why agility, relevance, and execution will define the leaders of tomorrow.”
