Driving innovation in retail as a family business

Retail is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by changing consumer expectations, rapid developments in AI, geopolitical tensions, and demands for sustainability. Innovation and the ability to act proactively with an entrepreneurial mindset will be crucial to building sustainable competitive advantages during this transformation. Many companies in retail and consumer goods are family businesses. What role does family ownership play in this new environment? Does being a family business create challenges when it comes to embracing change and accelerating innovation – or can a long-term perspective, strong values, entrepreneurial spirit, and close stakeholder relationships provide a unique competitive advantage?

This breakfast seminar brings together Caroline Berg and Gonzalve Bich, two highly experienced senior leaders from Nordic and global retail and consumer products, to explore key trends shaping the future of the sector, with a focus on innovation. Drawing on their international experience and perspectives, they will discuss how family businesses in retail can remain relevant, competitive, and innovative in an increasingly complex environment.

Through presentations and an interactive panel discussion, the seminar will offer practical insights into how innovative family-owned retail and consumer product companies can build on their distinctive strengths while adapting to and helping shape the future of retail.

Speakers

Caroline Berg is the fifth generation to lead Axel Johnson, one of Sweden’s largest family-owned business groups, founded in 1873. She has served as CEO of Axel Johnson since January 2025 and has been a member of the Board since 2014, serving as Chair from 2015 to January 2025. Prior to that, Caroline was Director of Human Development and Communications at Axel Johnson from 2006 to 2014. Caroline is Chair of the Board of Axfood and serves on the Board of Axel Johnson International. She also chairs the Axjoma Foundation, the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation, the Erik and Göran Ennerfelt Foundation and Forum för Innanförskap.

 

Gonzalve Bich is the third generation of the Bich family to lead the French publicly listed family business BIC founded in 1945. Gonzalve joined BIC in 2003 and held senior, global roles in Human Resources, Shaver Marketing, and Business Operations around the world. He became COO in 2017, and CEO in May 2018. Gonzalve stepped down as CEO of BIC in September 2025. His current roles include Co-Founder of the Nibbles Foundation, Chairman, BIC Corporate Foundation for Education, and Non-Executive Board Member of Weber Grills and OP Mobility among other assignments.