This is retail’s pressure test: Are you ready to compete?

CeMAT dome immage showing exhibition floor
Cemat Australia and the Processing and Packaging Pavilion will be co-located at Sydney Olympic Park. (Source: Supplied)

Across factory floors in China, policy war rooms in Washington, and logistics hubs in Sydney’s west, a new reality is taking hold, the global retail machine is changing. Trade routes once considered stable are being disrupted by a resurgence in tariffs and nationalistic trade policies. Inflation continues to tighten household budgets, and consumers, empowered, impatient, and increasingly value-driven, are demanding more for less.

Australian retailers now face escalating costs, longer lead times, and a customer base with less disposable income, and higher expectations. A 6 per cent dip in consumer confidence is just the surface. Beneath it lies a deeper challenge: “How do you remain agile, profitable, and relevant in a system being redrawn in real time”?

The question isn’t whether disruption is coming, it’s whether you’re equipped for it.

Retailers can no longer afford to treat logistics, manufacturing, and packaging as background functions. These are now the engines of competitive advantage. Whether you’re grappling with fulfilment delays, outdated warehouse systems, or the challenge of delivering sustainability without sacrificing margin, answers aren’t found in another internal strategy meeting. They’re found where industry knowledge, technology, and the future of operations collide.

That’s exactly what’s set to happen this July in Sydney. 

From July 22 to 24, three of the region’s most significant industry events, Cemat Australia, Industrial Transformation Australia, and the Processing and Packaging Pavilion powered by APPMA, will be co-located under one roof at The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park. It’s a rare convergence that brings together the sharpest thinking in logistics, advanced manufacturing, automation, and packaging, all in one place at once.

It’s not a trade show for browsing. It’s a tactical briefing for retail’s next chapter.

Cemat Australia

Cemat Australia is the country’s most advanced showcase of intralogistics, robotics, automation, and warehouse technology. For retailers competing on speed, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, this is where your future operations take shape. This is where you’ll see real solutions in action. From AI-powered pick-and-pack systems to smart inventory automation, Cemat is built for the realities of high-velocity retail.

Why it matters for retail and e-commerce:

  • Discover robotics and fulfilment tech designed to speed up last-mile delivery.
  • Learn how to scale operations without scaling headcount.
  • Connect with solution providers already working with top Australian retailers.

Experience:

  • Live Tech Demos of robotics, AI, and warehouse automation.
  • Retail-focused sessions at the Knowledge Theatre with global experts.
  • Real-world applications from logistics and fulfilment leaders.
  • The Australian Forklift Championships – because operational excellence can be world-class.

Industrial Transformation Australia

Industrial Transformation Australia (ITA) brings together innovators in automation, data, IoT, and smart manufacturing. If you’re building private label, managing supplier networks, or transforming your back-end operations, this is your edge. Retailers are no longer just sellers; they’re producers, packagers, and logistics networks. ITA is where the technologies that power the shift are on show.

Why it matters for retail and e-commerce:

  • See how digital manufacturing and data-driven systems can streamline your value chain.
  • Explore scalable automation for packaging, labelling, and production.
  • Gain insights from thought leaders transforming how brands bring products to market.

Experience:

  • A dynamic three-day program of trend forecasting, solution deep-dives, and expert panels.
  • An Innovation Stage packed with actionable strategies from leading thinkers.
  • Connections with manufacturers and providers are building the next generation of retail tech.

The Processing & Packaging Pavilion, powered by APPMA

Today’s packaging needs to work harder for your brand, your budget, and your customer. The Processing & Packaging Pavilion, powered by APPMA, is a focused hub for state-of-the-art packaging machinery, automation, and sustainability-led solutions.

From compostable materials to smart labelling and real-time traceability, the pavilion puts retail packaging innovation in your hands.

Why it matters for retail and e-commerce:

  • Meet rising sustainability standards without sacrificing speed.
  • Find flexible packaging solutions built for online fulfilment.
  • Learn how to cut costs while improving shelf presence and unboxing experience.

Experience:

  • Hands-on demos of the latest packaging systems.
  • Eco-focused solutions to align with ESG goals and consumer demand.
  • Direct access to Australia’s top packaging technology providers.
  • Retail and e-commerce-specific guidance to reduce waste and boost efficiency.

One pass. Three events. Unlimited possibility

A single registration gives you full access to all three events, designed to work in unison to help retail and e-commerce businesses thrive. Whether you’re shipping thousands of orders a day or managing growth across multiple channels, this is where your next leap begins.