Q&A with Christian Warning: “forecourttech is a one-of-a-kind event in our industry”

forecourttech 2025 will take place in Alicante, Spain, on October 1 – 2, bringing together retailers and solution providers in a boutique setting. We spoke with Christian Warning, Conference Chair of forecourttech and CEO of The Retail Marketeers, about what makes the event unique, this year’s big conference topics, and why Spain is now a land of innovation.

MobilityPlaza. What would you say makes forecourttech special compared to others in our sector that may be similar?

Christian Warning. From a retailer’s perspective, forecourttech is really about enlarging the tech stack. It’s about the next-generation digital toolkit to stay relevant and ahead of the curve. The pure focus on technology and bringing solution providers together with retailers and the right people from the retailer side makes a real difference. All of this is embedded in thought leadership with many impulse sessions dedicated to retail tech. That focus is what sets it apart.

MP. What is the geographical approach, from both the retailer and supplier side?

CW. It’s mainly Europe, but also a bit of the Middle East and Africa. The regions are coming together, and we meet people from all around the world at these conferences. Tech solution providers from the US entering Europe are present, and vice versa, along with others from different parts of the world. So I’d call it a European event, but not only European.

MP. As our industry becomes more complex with a growing number of players, technology is the platform for much of this change. Would you say forecourttech helps retailers and suppliers navigate these waters?

CW. Absolutely, that’s key. At many conferences today it’s all about tech, tech, tech—not just location, location, location as in the past. The winners in 2030 won’t just be those who own infrastructure. The winners will be the brands loved by consumers, which may be very different from today’s leaders, offering multi-energy both on and off the forecourt. Retailers need to prepare for this, and solution providers must deliver strong, turnkey solutions that help them navigate the transformation.

MP. Beyond the meetings, when it comes to the conference side, what are the big topics this year?

CW. It’s a good mix of thought leadership and practical input. We’re very proud to have the upcoming NACS president, Frank Gleeson, at this year’s forecourttech. Mark Wohltman, NACS Global Director, will also share global survey results from CEOs, focused on technology. There will be best practices and use cases from both retailers and solution providers—sharing not just solutions but also their thinking to help retailers prepare. And it all happens in a very open, almost family-like atmosphere in Spain, which makes forecourttech special.