Summer Leaders’ Lunch 2026

The Retail Retreat 2026 is a one-day, paid retreat for ambitious retailers, hosted at Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny. Set in an inspiring environment away from the pace of day-to-day business, it’s positioned as an immersive experience—more strategic offsite than standard conference—built for meaningful conversation, practical insight, and peer-to-peer learning.

Expect a thoughtfully curated flow of keynote-style talks and facilitated discussions with industry leaders and operators who’ve navigated real-world growth.

Across the retreat, attendees can explore what Retail Excellence frames as “the next era of retail”: evolving consumer behaviour, innovation, growth strategy, and leadership—paired with plenty of time to swap notes with peers who understand both the pressure and the opportunity that comes with modern retail.

If you attend, you will:

• Pressure-test your priorities against what other retailers are seeing on the ground—and spot the opportunities you might be missing.

• Learn how leading retail operators are thinking about innovation and growth, then translate those ideas into actions you can take back to your business immediately.

• Get fresh perspective on customer expectations and behaviour shifts, helping you refine merchandising, marketing, and in-store experiences (including how eCommerce fits into the wider retail mix).

• Strengthen your leadership toolkit by exploring what it takes to build clarity, confidence, and momentum through change.

• Take away practical ideas you can apply quickly, rather than theory that stays stuck in a notebook.

• Build meaningful relationships with peers, creating a network you can lean on long after the event ends.

For retailers who want to think bigger, reconnect with their purpose, and return with sharper direction, this retreat offers a concentrated reset—plus the kind of conversations that rarely happen when you’re stuck in weekly firefighting, before planning the next quarter.

Check the event website below for the latest programme, speaker announcements, and ticket details.