The global economy showed resilience in H1 2025, supported by improved financial conditions, lower energy prices and front-loading exports. However, rising US tariffs and persistent uncertainty are set to constrain growth going forward. Global real GDP growth is forecast to stay at 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, down from 3.3% in 2024. Trade tensions, policy risks and inflationary shifts weigh on outlooks for both advanced and developing economies.

Nestlé continues to be in neck-and-neck competition with Mars at the head of global pet care, with these players combined accounting for almost a third of overall sales. Nestlé, while offering a wide portfolio of products, continues to prioritise the premium segment, tapping into the pet humanisation trend as well as the increasing demand for functional claims. Nestlé’s new CEO has stressed the company’s commitment to focusing on its core business, which includes its PetCare division.

Even with the sale of the Aesop and The Body Shop brands, Natura&Co remains a top 10 player in the global beauty and personal care market. As it moves to simplify its company structure, Natura&Co plans to focus even more on its core business in Latin America, which, following its recent divestments, now accounts for the vast majority of company turnover. A final decision on the future of Avon International has yet to be made, with a potential sale not having been ruled out by Natura&Co.

Although second behind Nestlé in the overall global market, JDE Peet’s remains the leading pure-play hot drinks company in the world. Its sales are dominated by coffee, with the company holding the leading position globally in standard fresh ground coffee and ranking second in most other coffee categories. It aims to drive future growth based around what it dubs “three big bets”, which are its Peet’s and L’Or brands as well as “10 iconic local brands led by Jacobs”.

Although General Mills only ranks fourth in the global and US pet care industries, Blue Buffalo is the leading brand in the US, which is home to the world’s biggest pet food market. In addition, General Mills continues to grow its pet care operations, with the recent acquisitions of Edgard & Cooper in Europe and Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American operations adding further depth and reach to its portfolio.

Colgate-Palmolive is a strong leader in the global oral care market, with major shares in both the toothpaste and manual toothbrushes categories. It is also the number two player globally in bath and shower, in which it leads liquid soap, is second in bar soap and third in body wash/shower gel. In addition to its oral and personal care products, Colgate-Palmolive is also active in the home care and pet nutrition industries.

Henkel is bringing to a close its Strategy Optimisation Programme, which will have overseen the divestment or discontinuation of brands and activities with sales of more than EUR1 billion since it began in 2022. The Germany-based company, which leads hair care in its home market and is the number two player in a number of neighbouring countries, has now acquired the Vidal Sasson brand in China, which will enhance Henkel’s presence in this major market, particularly in the premium segment.

Unilever, the number three player in the global beauty and personal care industry, continues to shape the future direction of the company through its Growth Action Plan 2030. This has seen the recent acquisition of the UK’s number one refillable deodorant brand (Wild), ticking the relevant boxes in terms of being a premium product able to compete in high-growth spaces, while the planned demerger of the group’s ice cream business is expected by the end of 2025.

Disrupted and transformed by evolving consumption, influx of younger fans and increasing role of technology, the professional sports industry generated healthy growth in 2024 both in terms of event attendance and social media following. Companies and brands investing in sports are increasingly seeking smarter, deeper, more holistic partnerships, often involving activations in growth segments, such as women’s sports or esports.

Even as global inflation eases in 2024, prolonged economic uncertainties have created new spending norms generating new trends that will drive eyewear growth over the next five years. Added value and sustainable offerings will be addressing not only what consumers desire but what they come to expect from businesses. Shoppers will further invest in functional-led products, such as myopia control, all while relying on AI for customised solutions.

The briefing examines how the construction and real estate industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of construction and real estate output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability and number of companies. The industry and market overview provide benchmarks against other countries in the region.

The nicotine and cannabis markets continue their evolution and are expected to reach a combined USD1.2 trillion in value by 2029. It becomes critical to separate the noise from actionable insights to clarify which strategies are helping companies and countries worldwide capture opportunities. This report aims to highlight the central issues in the industry, informing equitable conversations and strategies. Tags: Tobacco, Cannabis

Escalating geopolitical uncertainty, Trump policies, shifting consumer demands and technological disruptions are all having a significant impact on the fashion market globally. From diversifying their sourcing and retail markets to investing in AI tools and experience-led models, or banking on sustainability for longer-term value creation, this report looks at the various strategies fashion players are adopting, to build growth and resilience.

Paper-based packaging is gaining momentum as a renewable packaging choice, driven by consumer preferences and brand strategies. Increasing environmental scrutiny and regulatory pressure presents opportunities and a clear need to optimise sustainable solutions. This report examines the rise of paper packaging, its environmental credentials and reveals how to navigate evolving regulatory, technological and trading challenges, to secure its place in a waste-conscious, circular economy.

Retail value sales of consumer electronics are predicted to grow at a 3.3% CAGR over 2025-2030, despite the uncertainty caused by tariffs looming large. Growth is being driven by the rise of affordable premium products, the growing influence of new Chinese brands and increasing demand for personalisation and sustainability.

Aldi Group is a leading player in the global discounters channel. This report analyses the retailer’s strategic approach in both domestic and international markets, with a focus on key markets such as the US and UK, amongst others. The report also examines the competitive landscape and showcases Aldi’s private label strategy through selected case studies.

In a global travel landscape shaped by shifting expectations and uneven recovery, this briefing shows how airlines, lodging providers and intermediaries are innovating. From AI and digital tools to smarter booking and distribution, it highlights strategies that boost resilience and relevance. Drawing on global data and case studies, it offers insights for businesses aiming to stay competitive and future ready.

Monitoring new product innovation is not just about spotting what is new, it is about finding what lasts. This report reveals how to look beyond and learn how tracking product launches, market expansion and longevity transforms innovation into a strategic advantage. By mapping the full lifecycle of innovation, it helps brands spot high-potential opportunities and ideas, avoid costly missteps and build smarter, more resilient pipelines in a fast-changing, high-stakes market.

As the global pet care market surpasses USD200 billion, growth is shifting from volume to value. Stabilising pet populations and rising costs are reshaping demand, with cat care and premiumisation emerging as key battlegrounds. While North America leads in spend, the next wave of growth lies in Asia Pacific and emerging markets. This report explores how brands can unlock future value through innovation, localisation and channel agility in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Rising costs, changing pet preferences and premiumisation are shaping pet care demand. Pet health is paramount, as pet owners adopt a preventative approach to pet health management. In parallel, health-related attributes are infiltrating the non-therapeutic pet food space, highlighting the focus on pet health. Digital distribution is winning to varying degrees across markets. Gen-AI powered solutions are making their way into pet owners’ hands, enabling personalised pet health management.

This briefing examines how the furniture industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of furniture output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability and number of companies. The industry and market overview provide benchmarks against other countries in the particular region.

This briefing examines how the furniture industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of furniture output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability and number of companies. The industry and market overview provide benchmarks against other countries in the particular region.

Snacks face a variety of evolving challenges making sustained value growth increasingly difficult to achieve. With this dynamic environment expected across the forecast, it becomes more important that strategies are well defined and adaptive to the ever-changing consumer landscape. And despite high levels of shifting geopolitical risks (eg tariffs), snacks’ 2025-2030 retail forecast appears promising with both value and volume sales elevated compared to the prior five-year historic CAGR.

This report explores the urgency for FMCG companies to prioritise sustainability, even amid geopolitical and market uncertainty. Focusing on the top three fastest growing industries – beauty and personal care, snacks, and pet care – it highlights how targeted sustainability initiatives can enhance products’ value proposition, drive cost efficiencies, generate new revenue streams, foster differentiation, and build resilience.