The Dutch retail sector, home to over 83,000 stores and employing more than 800,000 people, plays a pivotal social and economic role in communities across the Netherlands. Recognising the urgent need for adaptation amidst shifting societal and consumer expectations, retail associations have issued the manifesto Retail in Transition. The manifesto outlines a collective call for a National Retail Pact aimed at making the sector more resilient and future-proof. This transition revolves around three core themes:

• Sustainability and Green Growth Acceleration

• Digitalisation through Better Use of Data and AI

• Training Employees and Developing Skills

To achieve this, the manifesto urges collaboration between businesses, governmental bodies, knowledge institutions, and civil society organisations. It highlights the challenges independent retailers face in financing necessary innovations and calls for structured agreements that provide access to knowledge, incentive schemes, and supportive infrastructure. The proposed pact aligns with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs' Retail Agenda and aspires to serve as a social contract that sustains retail’s role as the “living room” of cities and neighbourhoods now and into the future.