Compass Talks, to be launched on 5 February 2026, before the start of the Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld international trade fairs held concurrently in Frankfurt, Germany will gather together decision-makers from politics, business, trade, and the media.

With the motto, ‘Envisioning the Future of the Global Consumer Goods Market’, the talks will highlight key transformation topics in the consumer goods industry, such as artificial intelligence, regulation, platform strategies, and sustainability.

Forum

Said Julia Uherek, vice president, Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe Frankfurt, “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.”

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. The latter 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 (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.

Ambiente

Held annually in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds, Ambiente, which is the world’s leading international trade fair for consumer goods, focusing on products for the table, kitchen, household, interior design, and lifestyle, opens this year on 6 February and will run until 10 February, 2026.

In the Ambiente and Christmasworld sourcing areas, trade visitors will find the biggest sourcing platform outside China, with some 1,300 exhibitors from over 40 countries set up across seven hall levels

By holding the two fairs in parallel, a global range of products is bundled from Ambiente Dining, Living, Giving and Working as well as Christmasworld — thus opening up additional valuable contacts and a maximum degree of internationality for exhibitors.

Philippine participation

Also to exhibit in Ambiete will be DESIGNPhilippines, which will be represented by a individual exhibitors, regional group participants, and a partner province, highlighting the depth and diversity of Philippine craftsmanship.