The Hare and the Tortoise – an eCategory Strategy for eCommerce success

Once upon a time, there was a hare and a tortoise who were part of the same CPG company. The hare’s team was fast paced where technology defined its rules. The tortoise’s team was slower paced, focusing on building relationships and known processes. The hare represented eCommerce and digital teams while the tortoise represented the… Read More

Don’t get blown off course, use Category as your compass

Context You’ve completed your Category Strategy. You know where you are heading. You have plotted your timed course to get there because you’ve created a quantified set of prioritised Growth Drivers and Activation Platforms and you have a multi-functional set of Strategic Imperatives, which are shaping your corporate and brand plans across the next three… Read More

HFSS potentially has implications for EVERY category

In 2022 (was April, now October) the UK government will introduce new rules for High Fat, Sugar and Salt (actually Sodium levels not Salt!).  The new rules impact three areas of brand behaviour: Volume Promotions Display Space Media (kicks in end 2022) Estimated by IRI that £1.1bn of sales is at risk. What you need… Read More

Innovation versus the Core

The role and benefits of innovation in a category has been a roller coaster journey for many suppliers and retailers.   In light of CV19, the question of ”to go ahead or not” is more relevant than ever. Brands are weighing up: How to keep category interest for consumers and shoppers. If shifting spend to the… Read More

Are you leaving money on the screen?

A lack of co-ordinated approach can lead to chaos and missed opportunities leaving money on the screen. eCommerce has been on the agenda of companies for many years now, and many are investing significant resource into pure-play, but there are still major opportunities in ‘Grocery’.  According to the latest IGD forecast, there will be $257bn… Read More

Extreme reactions or are some suppliers not facing the truth?

When Sainsbury’s recently announced its strategy to address losses to the discounters, the reactions from some suppliers were extreme. On the news that it was assessing both the ‘emotional’ and ‘functional’ connection to consumers and shoppers of all brands across some 34,000 SKUs, the Grocer reported that Sainsbury’s declares war on brands’’ and that some… Read More