August 26, 2026
Key Points
- UL Solutions has established a European Retail Center of Excellence in Italy to help retailers, brands and manufacturers address product safety, compliance, sustainability and market access challenges.
- The Center provides testing, regulatory, sustainability and advisory services to support product quality, compliance and market access across Europe and global supply chains.
- Building on 40 years of expertise in Italy, the Center combines technical knowledge with UL Solutions’ global network to help companies bring safer, higher-quality and more sustainable products to market.
Leading retailers, brands and manufacturers across Europe are navigating a rapidly evolving business environment. Consumer expectations are rising, regulatory requirements are changing, sustainability claims are under greater scrutiny and supply chains are increasingly interconnected across multiple regions and categories.
According to Eurostat, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index in the European Union rose 1.2% in June 2026 compared with a year earlier. This data underscores the importance of helping retailers, brands and manufacturers navigate evolving regulations while bringing new products to market efficiently.
UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, has established a European Retail Center of Excellence in Lombardy, Italy, to help companies navigate these challenges. The Center offers access to European market insight and a global network of laboratories, facilities and technical experts to help companies bring safer, higher-quality and more sustainable products to market.
The Center is designed to help firms manage product safety, quality, performance, sustainability, compliance and market access with greater confidence.
What is UL Solutions’ European Retail Center of Excellence?
The European Retail Center of Excellence is a dedicated retail hub that brings together technical capabilities, market knowledge and customer collaboration. Building on 40 years of technical expertise in Italy, the Center supports retailers, brands and manufacturers throughout the development life cycle, from product design to market readiness.
Why has UL Solutions expanded its capabilities in Italy?
In recent years, retail product development has become faster, more global and more complex. UL Solutions recognizes that companies need support that addresses product safety, quality, sustainability, compliance and market access earlier in the development process. By expanding capabilities in Italy, UL Solutions is helping companies take a more coordinated approach to these requirements across Europe and beyond.
As regulations evolve and artificial intelligence (AI) continues to impact many aspects of the global retail landscape, UL Solutions is responding to stakeholders’ needs regarding safety, security and connectivity.
Who can benefit from the Center?
The Center supports multi-product retailers, brands and manufacturers working across diverse product categories and supply chains. It is designed for organizations that need to manage complex product portfolios while meeting evolving consumer expectations, regulatory requirements and market access needs.
What services and capabilities does the Center offer?
The Center provides extensive expertise and support for the following:
- Product safety
- Quality assurance
- Product performance and durability
- Regulatory compliance
- Market access
- Packaging
- Multi-product category management
- Raw materials sourcing
- Chemical management
- Sustainability-related considerations
- Private-label development and brand protection
- Consumer behavior
Why is it important for companies to collaborate with UL Solutions early in the development life cycle?
Engaging earlier allows retailers, brands and manufacturers to identify requirements, align expectations and address potential issues before they increase risk or create costly delays. Through the Center, companies can collaborate with UL Solutions experts during design, sourcing, production and market access planning to support more confident decision-making.
Why is this important for retailers and brands in Europe?
Retailers and brands in Europe are navigating evolving regulations, category-specific requirements, sustainability expectations and increasing pressure to deliver trusted, high-quality products quickly. A Europe-based retail hub gives customers access to regional insight and local expertise while also connecting them to UL Solutions’ global network.
How does the Center support customers’ sustainability efforts?
The Center helps organizations consider sustainability-related requirements and sourcing expectations alongside safety, quality and compliance needs. This can support more consistent evaluation of products, suppliers and claims across markets and categories. Bringing sustainability experts, laboratory capabilities and technical teams together in the same facility can improve efficiency and support integrated approaches across the value chain.
How does the Center connect to UL Solutions’ global network?
The Northern Italy facility gives customers access to local expertise in Europe while connecting them to UL Solutions’ global network of laboratories and technical experts. This combination helps support both European market needs and global market access requirements.
The Northern Italy facility complements UL Solutions’ Retail Center of Excellence in Arkansas, one of the most advanced testing laboratories in the United States, serving the North American retail industry.
Why does this Center in Italy matter to manufacturers and consumers?
The Center builds on 40 years of UL Solutions’ technical expertise in Lombardy, Italy, and reflects an expanded commitment to helping companies manage complexity, strengthen brand trust and bring safer, higher-quality and more sustainable products to market.
What are the benefits for companies that collaborate with UL Solutions?
The European Retail Center of Excellence offers an integrated way to access technical expertise, collaborate earlier and manage product requirements across categories, markets and supply chains. It is designed to help companies move faster and innovate with confidence.
Where can I learn more?
More details about this Center are in an Aug. 25 press release.
Additional information about how UL Solutions supports multi-product retailers is available on the European Retail Center of Excellence page at UL.com.