Renowned Blind restaurateur challenges Europe’s retailers to build inclusivity into their businesses

• MAPIC, the leading international retail property event has announced that its 2024 edition will centre around “the new retail equation.”
• Didier Roche to address MAPIC attendees in a keynote speech advocating the business benefits of inclusivity

As retail continues to battle the challenge of digital competition, Didier Roche, co-founder of the globally renowned ‘Dans le Noir ?’ restaurant group, will shine a spotlight on how inclusive retail can break down barriers and engage a broader audience in new ways.

As the latest keynote speaker to join the line-up at MAPIC 2024, one of the world’s premier retail trade events, Roche will offer a fresh perspective on the role that purpose-driven concepts can play in shaping tomorrow’s consumer landscape.

A new approach to retail: Blending inclusion with experience 

With over two decades of experience at the forefront of inclusive entrepreneurship, Didier Roche has transformed the way people think about disability in hospitality and retail. His innovative concept,

‘Dans le Noir ?’, invites guests to dine in complete darkness, guided by blind servers, creating an immersive sensory experience that challenges societal perceptions of disability. The restaurant’s mission is twofold: to deliver an exceptional dining experience and to foster greater awareness and inclusion for visually impaired individuals.

Since its launch in 2004, Dans le Noir? has grown into a global success with 16 locations and additional ventures, including spas, escape rooms, and sensory workshops. The concept garnered widespread attention after being featured on the popular TV show Top Chef, introducing millions to the idea of sensory dining. Now, Roche is taking his mission one step further, showing the retail world that inclusion is not just a social responsibility – it’s a business opportunity.

“At ‘Dans le Noir?’, we’ve always believed that the quality of the experience is what keeps people coming back, not just the novelty of dining in darkness,” Roche explains. “Inclusive retail isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about creating a meaningful, high-quality offering that connects with customers on a deeper level.”

This November, around 600 of Europe’s leading retail and leisure brands will convene at MAPIC to explore the future of retail and will be joined by experts to see how innovation can be built into everyday experiences to keep retail relevant and engaging in a world of increasingly savvy consumers.

Why inclusive retail is the future

Didier Roche’s presentation will reflect on his 20-year journey and offer insights into how retail and real estate professionals can adopt a more inclusive approach. “MAPIC is the international showcase for evolving retail concepts and brands. The rise of businesses that combine public service missions, experiential offerings, and high-quality service is a growing trend, responding to the needs of a more open and inclusive society. Inclusive brands are achieving real success and clearly demonstrate the role retail can play in building a better society. MAPIC participants will have a unique opportunity this year to understand the importance of inclusive retail and discover this extraordinary concept,” says Francesco Pupillo, Director of MAPIC.