According to the UK government, retail sales in Great Britain amounted to a massive £510 billion in 2023. With a total economic output of over £112 billion, it’s no surprise the UK retail sector hosts one of the flagship retail trade show events in Europe: the Retail Technology Show!
Featuring more than 15,000 attendees and 400 tech suppliers, this London event is a critical platform for industry leaders to examine the latest solutions that enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive business growth. From AI-driven analytics to payment innovations, the Retail Technology Show showcases the future of the sector and equips businesses with the tools they need to stay competitive in a continuously evolving business environment.
With years of experience assisting clients at retails events like the Retail Technology Show in London, we’ve decided to compile below all the key information you need as a potential exhibitor. Sit back and get your notepad ready, you’ll want to know everything you can about this major trade event!
Dates and venue
The Retail Technology Show is usually held around April during the first half of the calendar year; it was last held in April 2024 at the London Olympia. Currently, the 2025 edition is slated for 2-3 April 2025 at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London.
As one of the top three major trade show venues in the UK, the ExCeL in London is an obvious choice for the organisers behind the Retail Technology Show. This contemporary nexus for trade show glory cost £500 million to build and spans 100,000 square metres of flexible exhibition space. It also features some top-notch conferencing facilities, which are highly relevant to this particular trade show.
It’s an easy-to-attend venue too, with various transport methods available to visitors and exhibitors. The venue is served by two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations: the Elizabeth line meets at the western entrance while the eastern entrance is joined with Prince Regent Station. For more information about navigating London by train, check out our exhibitor’s guide to the London underground.
Event outline and history
Despite its recent launch a mere three years ago, the Retail Technology Show demonstrates that appearances can sometimes be deceiving. The event is actually spearheaded by the organisers behind the RetailEXPO, London’s previous major retail trade event.
Unfortunately, RetailEXPO was shut down due to the 2020 pandemic, but this did not stop the organisers from bouncing back with a brand-new technology show for the retail sector. Overall, the organising team boasts fourteen years of experience hosting business-to-business (B2B) retail events for exhibitors and attendees to leverage.
What to Expect from the Retail Technology Show exhibition
When it comes to navigating the Retail Technology Show, the organisers have done a remarkable job of keeping things straightforward. The event consists of three seamlessly integrated elements, namely the renowned show conference, several dedicated networking events, and the exhibition itself. Most attendees will spend time exploring the trade show floor, but the conference and networking events should not be ignored either. All three aspects are equally important for achieving retail business success, so try not to restrict yourself to only one part of the show.
Products and services
Exhibitor offerings at the event exemplify the latest trends in the future of retail. From state-of-the-art CRM systems to signage solutions and even supply management services, this trade show truly is a showcase for the right tools buyers need to boost their retail business performance.
Some of the more well-known exhibitors slated to appear at the 2025 exhibition include:
- Brother UK
- Aptos Retail
- Denson Wave
- Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions
- KPMG
- PayPal
- Oracle
- Uber Direct
They’ll be joined by several hundred other retail tech suppliers.
Conference
Learn everything there is to know about the British retail sector with the help of the Retail Technology Show’s renowned conference. From supply chain and customer engagement to seamless multichannel operations, there are limitless opportunities within the programme to upgrade your business knowledge. The 2025 programme will build upon the successful conference of 2024, which covered retail-relevant topics like:
- Leadership, economy, and workforce
- Sustainability, supply chain, and delivery
- Security, loss prevention, and payment solutions
- Marketing, customer, and loyalty
- AI, data, and innovation
- The future of commerce in the UK and beyond
Each presentation topic involves several guest speakers, some of whom caught our eye at the previous show iterations. Amongst them were the likes of:
- Alex Rutter, Head of Retail at Google Cloud
- Bobby Amirahmadi, Logistics Director for Hello Fresh UK
- Chris Thompson, Director of Digital Payments at United Airlines
- Fred Fishlock, FMCG at Tiktok Shop
- Paul Sims, Chief Architect at M&S
If past events are anything to go by, the Retail Technology Show conference will turn heads and impress trade leaders once again in 2025. Remember to familiarise yourself with the venue layout and speaker schedule beforehand; you don’t want miss out on this opportunity to improve your retail insight.
Networking events
Connecting with senior retail professionals is made easy with the Retail Technology Show’s ample networking opportunities, which happen both digitally and in person:
The BIG Retail Party
Held at the end of the first exhibition day, this networking event features drinks, music, and an awards ceremony. It’s an industry trade professional’s paradise, so don’t miss out!
Digital Networking
A dedicated event app combines with an online visitor portal to deliver online networking opportunities, which are available to attendees before and after the event is held. Should you want to make the most of this flagship event, it’s definitely something to try and utilise.
Retailers Lounge
The Retailers Lounge is an area free from vendors where visitors can relax and network simultaneously. It will be open on both days of the exhibition and is less intense than The Big Retail Party.
Drive retail innovation and more at the Retail Technology Show
Retail and hospitality organisations can now rejoice; the Retail Technology Show will return to the ExCeL London from 2-3 April in 2025. Whether you attend for the new products or the education and networking, you’ll leave knowing how to deliver an enhanced customer experience for your clients.
Are you keen to take part? At Booth Exhibits™, we’d love to assist you during your quest for business success at the Retail Technology Show. No matter your vision or budget, we do whatever it takes to see you on exhibition day with an exhibition booth you can be proud of. Our prices are transparent and easily accessible, so why not give our online stand price calculator a try?
What is the retail technology show excel?
The Retail Technology Show is one of the UK’s premier events for retail professionals, hosted at the ExCeL convention centre in London in 2025.
What’s next in retail tech in 2024?
New retail technologies take the form of payment technologies and analytics software; they focus on improving customer experiences and streamlining operations.
What is retailing technology?
Retailing technology refers to the tools, systems, and software that enable retailers to manage their operations, interact with customers, and sell products or services more effectively.
How big is the retail technology market?
The UK retail technology market is substantial and is part of the UK retail sector worth £112 billion.
