Reflections from Stockholm - June 18 Nordic Initiative Meetup

Our June meetup in Stockholm brought together leading Nordic retailers and partners to align on next steps for the Nordic Merchant Service Framework.

Lars Erik Fjørtoft (PwC), Project Manager for the framework and ongoing initiatives, kicked off the day by outlining a structured path for growth and strategic partnerships - setting the tone for a collaborative and forward-looking discussion.

Juuso Paulasuo (S Group) shared practical lessons from Finland on how alternative payments can drive conversion, while also highlighting new fraud risks.

The panel featuring Temu, Klarna, Walley, and EPI delivered powerful insights into consumer behavior, fraud prevention, and the evolving payments landscape across the Nordics and Europe. Moderated by Juuso, the session sparked a critical discussion: What’s working? What must change?

Bengt Wessborg challenged us with a bold outlook on global retail disruption - covering everything from AI and chips to robotics - and emphasized the strategic decisions the Nordics must make to stay ahead.

In the afternoon, Toshiba and Mobai brought practical perspectives on fraud trends and age verification. 

Guðrún Aðalsteinsdóttir, CEO of Krónan, closed the day with an inspiring look into Icelandic retail and Krónan’s transformation journey.

Participants also got a first glimpse of the Nordic Initiative Summit 2025 program.

Wishing everyone a great summer break - and thank you for being part of shaping the future of Nordic retail.