Jacksonville UK Trade Mission: Retail and Brand Summit
About the event
Global State of Retail Is retail dying? Where have the shoppers gone? What is AI about to do to the market? What have been the most impressive innovations in retail in the past year? On October 15 we will take a long hard look at what is changing in retail in the UK and USA with leaders from both sides of the pond. Americans spend more than $5 trillion a year in retail, but the growth has moved: digital marketplaces, retail media, foodservice occasions and private label. Our panellists and delegates will share examples of retail and brand innovation and how growth is popping up in all sorts of new places. We will also discuss the power of regions such as Manchester, and how UK brands are tapping into growing US markets. Dedicated Networking Opportunity This session is followed by scheduled networking with the delegation and guests at Fulham Football Club, Craven Cottage. Panel 1: Is Retail Dying? Where is the growth? Senior leaders from UK and US retail and consumer brands Panel 2: Power of Regions: Manchesterism, Devolution and Partnerships Wayne Jones OBE, Chair, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Mayor Donna Deegan, Mayor of Jacksonville Marco Forgione, Director General, Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade
About Jacksonville's 2026 Trade Mission Jacksonville, Florida brings its annual trade and investment mission to London led by Donna Deegan, Mayor of Jacksonville, joined by Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham Football Club, and more than 50 business and civic leaders from the region. Jacksonville is ranked the #3 large US city for economic growth. Florida has no personal income tax, leads the US in net business relocations, and saw some 698,000 new businesses formed in 2025, more than any other state; Jacksonville is where much of it lands. The city has been called the Wall Street of the South: FIS, Fidelity National Financial and GuideWell are headquartered there, and global banks including Bank of America, Citi and…
