Consumer markets

In today’s uncertain economic landscape, shifting sales channels and rapidly developing technologies, Strategy& helps local and multinational consumer companies overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.

Strategy& possesses an unsurpassed depth of understanding of consumer products and the retail industry. For many years, we have supported six main types of clients: consumer products manufacturers, distributors, retailers, agriculture companies, food service companies, and investment firms. We work with clients in Ireland on strategy through to execution, operating model design, product and service innovation, manufacturing and supply chain optimisation, performance improvement programmes and post-M&A transformation.

Our consumer markets and retail expertise encompasses a wide range of industries:

Agriculture
Beauty and personal care
Beverages
Clothing and footwear
Consumer electronics and appliances
Food service

General and specialty retail
General merchandise
Leisure and entertainment
Luxury goods
Packaged food
Tobacco

How we can help you

Fit for Growth*

Consumer products companies often struggle to increase revenue and profitability in low-growth markets in which consumer demand is fragmenting, sales channels are shifting and technologies are changing fast. These dynamics coincide with rising costs for retailers—in particular, as they invest in new capabilities for online sales channels. Meanwhile, prices are falling due to competition from off-price and online channels as well as increased price transparency. In these circumstances, we at Strategy& deploy our Fit for Growth methodology to help companies manage these challenges and set them on the path to sustainable growth while eliminating unnecessary costs across the enterprise. Our Fit for Growth transformations deliver results across five critical dimensions that drive performance:

Ensuring strategic alignment
Investment in unique growth-supporting capabilities
Cost structure transformation
Organisational and operating model alignment
Enabling change and cultural evolution

* Fit for Growth is a registered service mark of PwC Strategy& LLC in the United States.

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Capabilities-driven strategy

While companies must understand the direction of the consumer products market, sustainable growth is rooted in specific capabilities—the people, processes, tools and structures that help differentiate one organisation from another. Today’s consumer products companies must be able to translate consumer insights into new products and services, turn online activity into sales and manage their retail operations. At Strategy&, we help leaders clarify their strategic priorities and the distinct capabilities that will help them win in the consumer market.

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Digital strategy and services

The digital landscape is reshaping both the customer and employee experience. To stay relevant and achieve sustained growth, retailers must see digital as more than a series of siloed initiatives. Instead, they need to treat it as an integrated ecosystem encompassing e-commerce, social, mobile, loyalty, in-store experience and supply-chain efficiency. At Strategy&, we collaborate with clients to develop holistic strategies that emphasise the potential of experience design, network economics, store operations, technology and analytics to create value.

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Operating model design

We help our clients achieve operational excellence and develop top-tier capabilities through our comprehensive operating model services:

Designing organisational structures
Crafting job descriptions and establishing key performance indicators
Determining human resource requirements
Setting governance frameworks at both board and management levels
Defining delegation protocols
Streamlining essential management processes
Formulating policies and procedures
Providing support through our operating model project management office, including end-to-end operating model transition and migration support

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Operations strategy

The continued rise of online retail, coupled with evolving consumer shopping habits, is reducing and reshaping demand at traditional retailers. At Strategy&, we help retailers serve omni-channel demand effectively and provide a unique and efficient experience for consumers. Our approach emphasises customising merchandise flows to optimise product variety and responsive demand. To boost your company’s efficiency, we refine distribution channels, streamline merchandise replenishment and elevate in-store workforce efficiency through lean methodologies, digital tools and adaptive labour scheduling.

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M&A transformation

At Strategy&, we help clients transform their business through deals that realise strategic goals, capture value and deliver growth. Within the consumer products sector, we work with companies to seize new opportunities in the rapidly evolving consumer landscape—from globalisation to industry consolidation to the rise of new, high-growth brands.

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