SymphonyIRI Study: CPG 2012 Trends
The latest research from SymphonyIRI Group’s Times & Trends, “CPG
2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving
Marketplace,” uncovers several exciting trends -- from new product development and technology to store layouts
and consumer shopping patterns.
From the unstable economy and stubborn unemployment rates to frugal consumers and high commodity prices, there has been endless discussion around the challenges facing consumer packaged goods marketers. All is not doom and gloom, though. The latest research from SymphonyIRI Group’s Times & Trends, “CPG 2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving Marketplace,” uncovers several exciting trends taking place in everything from new product development and technology to store layouts and consumer shopping patterns.
“Evolving economic conditions have brought a polarity to the CPG marketplace,” says Susan Viamari, editor, Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI, Chicago. “There is a sizable consumer segment that is feeling more optimistic about the road ahead, while a similar sized group is expecting a continued deterioration of economic and personal financial health. Among optimistic and pessimistic shoppers alike, all indications point to continued frugality and conservatism in 2012. CPG marketers need to actively respond to these trends with products and strategies that really emphasize their understanding of consumers’ most pressing needs and wants in order to drive purchase behavior and loyalty.”
SymphonyIRI predicts the following trends will be prominent in 2012:
• Shoppers will continue to define value largely based on price. According to SymphonyIRI’s MarketPulse consumer survey, more than half of shoppers still choose their store based on lowest prices, and three-quarters note that price weighs heavily in brand decisions. However, SymphonyIRI anticipates that some shoppers will start to open their wallets more if positive economic reports continue.
• Manufacturers and retailers will pass manufacturing price increases on to shoppers, but reaction to potential commodity price deflation is yet unclear. When commodity costs began to rise in 2008, much of these were absorbed by cutting other costs and streamlining the supply chain. Running out of efficiencies and sensing the shopper’s ability to pay more, SymphonyIRI expects manufacturers and retailers to become more aggressive about passing costs along to consumers.
• Private label will continue to account for unit sales in the 22-23% range and dollar sales in the 18-20% range. Retailers will increase assortments and retain the tiered product strategies that have worked so well in the past.
• Manufacturers will expand their focus on innovation as the primary private label mitigation strategy.
“It’s no secret that conservative consumers are embracing a variety of money-saving behaviors, such as making shopping lists before entering a store,” says John McIndoe, senior vice president, marketing, SymphonyIRI. “Digital media will play an increasingly integral role in the pre-planning process and helping consumers find new ways to save in 2012. Like coupons, the Internet is being leveraged as a list-making tool. Though penetration is much lower versus coupons, we expect it to rapidly and steadily increase this year.”
To effectively compete in 2012, CPG manufacturers and retailers should consider the following action items:
• Identify opportunities and risks: Manufacturers should re-evaluate sourcing and inputs resources and be on the lookout for opportunities to lower manufacturing costs through innovative sourcing, packaging and product sizing strategies. Retailers should closely track the evolving competitive set at the channel and retailer level to ensure appropriate product mix and inventory management strategies are maintained.
• Evaluate pricing and promotional strategies: Manufacturers should continually re-assess and adjust pricing to maintain an optimal price gap between private label and name brand offerings. Retailers should work with key manufacturer partners to develop cross-promotional opportunities with high-growth categories/brands and/or with key staple products.
• Explore opportunities to enhance product assortment: Manufacturers should consider exploring product development opportunities at both ends of the product spectrum based on existing and emerging product trends. Retailers should align assortment strategies with changing trip mission and product usage trends.
This month’s Times & Trends Report, “CPG 2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving Marketplace,” is a free report, available at http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/ArticleDetail/tabid/117/ItemID/1432/View/Details/Default.aspx
From the unstable economy and stubborn unemployment rates to frugal consumers and high commodity prices, there has been endless discussion around the challenges facing consumer packaged goods marketers. All is not doom and gloom, though. The latest research from SymphonyIRI Group’s Times & Trends, “CPG 2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving Marketplace,” uncovers several exciting trends taking place in everything from new product development and technology to store layouts and consumer shopping patterns.
“Evolving economic conditions have brought a polarity to the CPG marketplace,” says Susan Viamari, editor, Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI, Chicago. “There is a sizable consumer segment that is feeling more optimistic about the road ahead, while a similar sized group is expecting a continued deterioration of economic and personal financial health. Among optimistic and pessimistic shoppers alike, all indications point to continued frugality and conservatism in 2012. CPG marketers need to actively respond to these trends with products and strategies that really emphasize their understanding of consumers’ most pressing needs and wants in order to drive purchase behavior and loyalty.”
SymphonyIRI predicts the following trends will be prominent in 2012:
• Shoppers will continue to define value largely based on price. According to SymphonyIRI’s MarketPulse consumer survey, more than half of shoppers still choose their store based on lowest prices, and three-quarters note that price weighs heavily in brand decisions. However, SymphonyIRI anticipates that some shoppers will start to open their wallets more if positive economic reports continue.
• Manufacturers and retailers will pass manufacturing price increases on to shoppers, but reaction to potential commodity price deflation is yet unclear. When commodity costs began to rise in 2008, much of these were absorbed by cutting other costs and streamlining the supply chain. Running out of efficiencies and sensing the shopper’s ability to pay more, SymphonyIRI expects manufacturers and retailers to become more aggressive about passing costs along to consumers.
• Private label will continue to account for unit sales in the 22-23% range and dollar sales in the 18-20% range. Retailers will increase assortments and retain the tiered product strategies that have worked so well in the past.
• Manufacturers will expand their focus on innovation as the primary private label mitigation strategy.
“It’s no secret that conservative consumers are embracing a variety of money-saving behaviors, such as making shopping lists before entering a store,” says John McIndoe, senior vice president, marketing, SymphonyIRI. “Digital media will play an increasingly integral role in the pre-planning process and helping consumers find new ways to save in 2012. Like coupons, the Internet is being leveraged as a list-making tool. Though penetration is much lower versus coupons, we expect it to rapidly and steadily increase this year.”
To effectively compete in 2012, CPG manufacturers and retailers should consider the following action items:
• Identify opportunities and risks: Manufacturers should re-evaluate sourcing and inputs resources and be on the lookout for opportunities to lower manufacturing costs through innovative sourcing, packaging and product sizing strategies. Retailers should closely track the evolving competitive set at the channel and retailer level to ensure appropriate product mix and inventory management strategies are maintained.
• Evaluate pricing and promotional strategies: Manufacturers should continually re-assess and adjust pricing to maintain an optimal price gap between private label and name brand offerings. Retailers should work with key manufacturer partners to develop cross-promotional opportunities with high-growth categories/brands and/or with key staple products.
• Explore opportunities to enhance product assortment: Manufacturers should consider exploring product development opportunities at both ends of the product spectrum based on existing and emerging product trends. Retailers should align assortment strategies with changing trip mission and product usage trends.
This month’s Times & Trends Report, “CPG 2011 Year in Review: The Search for Footing in an Evolving Marketplace,” is a free report, available at http://www.symphonyiri.com/Insights/ArticleDetail/tabid/117/ItemID/1432/View/Details/Default.aspx
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
