Brazil business updates: Retail AI trends, APAS meetings, and Expoama economic impact

The Latam Retail Show 2026 focused on the theme ‘Everything as a Service,’ highlighting a structural shift in retail from selling products to providing integrated solutions. The event emphasized the role of Artificial Intelligence in the consumer journey, specifically discussing ‘agentic commerce’ where AI agents handle research and purchasing. A new book, ‘Retail Services AI,’ was launched to explore these vertical sector analyses across Brazil and global markets.

In the food retail sector, APAS held meetings in the ABC region, Guarulhos, and Osasco to discuss industry updates. Key topics included the impact of ICMS-ST tax changes on pricing, labor issues, and new sanitary surveillance regulations (CVS nº 03/2026). Discussions also focused on consumer behavior trends and category management.

The 38th Marabá Agricultural Exhibition (Expoama) generated over R$ 100 million in business and prospective deals. The five-day event attracted more than 176,000 visitors to the José Francisco Diamantino Exhibition Park and involved approximately 1,080 workers. The fair included 150 stalls, seven auctions, and a traditional horse parade.