Retail & Consumer Archives

6 Practical Strategies to Break Down Silos in Consumer Products Businesses

In today’s consumer products industry, achieving effective cross-functional collaboration is essential. Silos between manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement departments create inefficiencies, limit innovation, and erode trust across an organisation. Breaking down these silos can unlock agility, promote end-to-end efficiency, and foster resilience, driving better outcomes for both the business and its customers. Based on insights from 4C Associates’ recent...

Range Optimisation ‘Less is More’ – UK Health and Wellness Retailer

We supported a UK health and wellness retailer with 700+ high street stores suffering from significant range proliferation driving up working capital, reducing rate of sale and produced a confusing assortment for customers to shop.

Navigating Economic Recovery: Strategies for Food & Beverage Companies in a Changing Consumer Landscape

Drawing on insights from the 4C 2024 F&B Survey, we’re examining how changing economic conditions are reshaping consumer choices in food and drink purchases. We explore how easing inflationary pressures have influenced shoppers' price sensitivity, and how factors such as product range and sustainability now play an increasingly important role in purchasing decisions. Furthermore, this analysis provides actionable strategies...

Can Agile Supply Chains Ease Pressures for FMCGs?

The consumer products industry is navigating the fallout of major international events such as concurrent geopolitical conflicts, inflation, and unpredictable demand. Businesses that fail to tailor their supply chain strategy to marketplace requirements risk their market share, competitiveness, or worse, their survival. So how can Introducing an agile supply chain help?

Adapting to Evolution (and Revolution): Is Your Operating Model Fit for The Constantly Changing Global Environment?

We live in an era marked by rapid technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, unforeseen black swan events and the ever-evolving and dynamic nature of business and customer culture. As a result of this, organisations often find themselves having to navigate a fluid, complex and unpredictable global environment. The considerable challenge is to develop sustainable outcomes for the long-term when faced...

The Generation Game

The workplace environment is changing and our expectations of each other, our services, products and suppliers with it. As the generational mix of workers starts to evolve towards those born into a technology enabled world, what does that mean for our working relationships?

Analogue to Algorithm: Pioneering Change in a Digital Frontier

Delve into the importance of change in the procurement domain, how diverse approaches to change management can impact outcomes and how a harmonious blend of change management principles and technology can drive successful transformation.

Is Security of Supply Possible in Deflationary Supply Markets?

Falling prices can boost your bottom line, but can you secure supply in a deflationary market? This blog explores the challenges and opportunities of deflationary supply chains. Discover strategies for leveraging cost reductions while maintaining security.

Glide Paths for Sustainable Growth: Our Takeaways from The WPC

We recently attended the World Procurement Congress which provided a great opportunity to delve into pressing retail and consumer challenges that a lot of our current clients are facing such as ESG, resilience, performance, partnerships, and digitalization. Read our key takeaways here.

Lost Without a Map?

Companies across all industries are facing an existential choice: transform or die. The proliferation of technologies; AI, automation, big data, and the cloud are rapidly reshaping how businesses operate and deliver value. Embracing these innovations is no longer a matter of competitive edge but a prerequisite for survival in an era of accelerated digital transformation. However, achieving true digital...

Money in One Hand, Money Out the Other – Cash Choreography

With fluctuating inflation, energy costs and shifting consumer demand, 2024 will be an unusually turbulent economic climate; compressing working capital cycles by optimising the time between paying suppliers and collecting from customers will be vital for companies to maximise liquidity and build resilience no matter which direction markets trend. Forward-thinking companies now take a platform approach to connect O2C and...

Do you have a secure supply chain? How well do you really know your suppliers?

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, the significance of a secure and resilient supply chain cannot be overstated. Our 4C Transformative Procurement Survey highlighted that only 38% of respondent had a very good understanding of their first-tier supply base and more worryingly only 21% had only a basic understanding- which raised the question… Do you have a...

Mastering the Robot …. Automate > Innovate > Elevate

The modern business landscape where efficiency and productivity are paramount demands that organisations evolve quickly to survive. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a key tool in this quest, allowing for the rapid automation of repetitive tasks that were once performed by humans. But what is RPA and how might it transform procurement?

The Blockchain Revolution: Cutting Through the Chain of Uncertainty

In a world where transparency is of utmost importance, trust is the most valuable currency, and middlemen are becoming obsolete. It may seem utopian, but it’s happening now, and all sector and industry leaders are quickly adopting it. Blockchain is here.

Environmental Commitments and Cost Efficiency: One or the Other, or the Best of Both?

Environmental Commitments and Cost Efficiency: One or the Other, or the Best of Both? Find out how to align your cost reduction and environmental commitments with practical tips and real-life examples. Read on and discover how to make your business more sustainable and profitable.