WASHINGTON -- Retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are dealing with new rules of consumer engagement as they seize opportunities from advanced technology and the digitally connected consumer, according to the 2013 Financial Performance Report by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and PwC US, Growth Strategies: Unlocking the Power of the Consumer.
Despite the overall slowing of net sales growth rates in 2012, the report notes that food, beverage and household products companies experienced positive net sales growth of 7%, 5.5% and 3.2%, respectively.
According to the report, in the age of the digital consumer, leading CPG companies and retailers benefit from responding to the speed of the connected consumer and balancing operational quality with innovation accordingly. Top-performing companies see success by identifying their consumers, engaging with them and focusing on innovation that directly reach their customers. The report explores how numerous digital channels, accelerated mobile adoption and direct-to-consumer approach are rewriting the rules of retailing and CPG manufacturing. The report also examines how companies can seize new opportunities by creating lasting brand value.
"This report shows that in the midst of a challenging economy, the food, beverage and consumer products industry continues to show great resiliency," said Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the GMA. "By providing consumers with innovative products and convenient, cutting-edge shopping experiences, CPG companies are well positioned to enhance consumer loyalty and profitability."
"CPG companies that engage with consumers directly through digital channels and build out their direct-to-consumer processes will have the best advantage for creating new growth," said Steven Barr, PwC's US leader, retail and consumer industry; "52% of U.S. consumers are already buying directly online from brands they trust, proving that CPG companies now have far greater opportunities to walk alongside their shoppers in real time while driving sales of existing and new products."
In 2013, more than 40% of CPG companies expect to sell products directly to consumers, up from 24% in 2012. According to the report, direct-to-consumer is a potent vehicle for testing new products and reaching out to new consumers faster and more effectively than ever before, making the retail store aisle no longer the last mile in the purchase journey. Flexibility will be essential, as companies will also need to manage a new set of risks and security concerns.
"Consumers today share much more readily with each other and with the companies than in the past," said Bert Alfonso, president of international for The Hershey Co. "Their input tends to be about your product's characteristics and about what they like and don't like. We see it in North America, China, Brazil and in other markets that have a high penetration of both mobile and Internet usage. And that's a rich body of information for companies, which is much more spontaneous and actionable than what you would have had in the past."
"Both the U.S. and global economies are marginally stronger than they were last year, and the continued slow recovery has led to correspondingly modest growth for the CPG industry," said Lisa Feigen Dugal, PwC's North American advisory leader, retail and consumer industry. "To drive profitability, providing consumers with the core product may not be enough. Today's consumers want solutions, they want experiences and value. CPG's and retailers can address this emergence through social media, innovation and direct-to-consumer channels, which will help them understand the wants, needs and values of their consumers."
Now in its 17th year, the GMA-PwC Financial Performance Report includes analyses based on public information from 144 companies in the food, beverage and consumer products sectors as well as 69 retailers.
Among the key findings of the report:
- Total retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2012: $568 billion at grocery stores and $530 billion at foodservice and drinking establishments.
- While net sales had been slowly going up since the recession, both top- and bottom-performing CPG companies experienced a slowdown in net sales growth in 2012.
- Bottom performers are starting to hold onto their cash, which means they could be ready to start making more investments in research and development (R&D) and marketing to launch new products.
- Many companies are embracing the need for product innovation as well as understanding consumer and market needs as part of their R&D activities.
- One of the key issues faced by food manufacturers during 2012 was the continued rise of commodity prices as there is a growing gap between prices companies pay for raw materials and the prices they can charge for finished goods.
- The food sector benefited from higher sales per employee while remaining flat on inventory turnover and cash conversion cycle, while the beverage sector also posted a strong performance, with return on sales continuing a steady upward pace. The household products sector experienced better results in 2012, with also a greater increase on return on sales.
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