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McKinsey on Consumer and Retail Podcast: Insights from experts on business and management
McKinsey experts discuss the latest trends and the most pressing challenges for leaders in the retail and consumer-goods industries. Hear about the immediate and longer-term moves that matter most for business success. Topics covered include strategy, technology, marketing, operations, and organization.
LATEST CONSULTING & BUSINESS PODCAST EPISODE
From dashboards to decisions: Empowering merchants with agentic AI
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Agentic AI can automate routine work and improve merchandising decisions at scale. Two McKinsey experts discuss what it takes to translate potential into performance.
‘How many new memories did we create?’ Rethinking restaurant success
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Union Square Hospitality Group CEO Chip Wade and president of full-service restaurants John Ragan explain why, in the future, chefs in its dining rooms are an asset and robots in its kitchens are not.
How today’s consumers are spending their time and money
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What are the trends shaping consumer sentiment and behavior in 2025—and what are the implications for brands and retailers?
Holiday shopping 2025: US consumers hunt for early deals
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They’re concerned about inflation and looking for value, so US consumers are changing their shopping habits this holiday season.
A close look at the global beauty industry in 2025
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We asked 15,000 consumers and 100-plus executives for their perspectives on today’s beauty market. In this podcast episode, we highlight the themes that emerged from our research.
How the sporting goods industry can turn uncertainty into opportunity
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A new report, Sporting Goods 2025, explores key themes that will shape the market and highlights consumer trends that could represent paths to growth.
The McKinsey Podcast
Think you know what consumers want? Think again.
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Despite lingering concerns about inflation and the high cost of living, consumers across all ages and product categories still want to spend—thoughtfully.
Luxury retail is about ‘emotions, not transactions’
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The physical shopping experience matters more than ever, says Value Retail founder Scott Malkin, whose company owns some of the world’s best-performing luxury shopping destinations.
How product design can yield ‘triple wins’: Growth, margin, and sustainability
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Some consumer companies have simultaneously increased sales, cut costs, and reduced carbon emissions. Their secret? Paying closer attention to the design of their products and packaging.
The art and science of reducing retail shrink
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For retailers, battling shrink requires a data-informed, collaborative, store-by-store approach. The payoff: higher profits and better customer experience.
Holiday shopping in 2023: ‘It started early and will end late’
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In search of the best deals, US consumers are spreading out their spending across several months this holiday season. Here’s what that means for retailers.
How to do a ‘retail reset’: Priorities for retail leaders
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Amid dramatic changes in the retail industry, the most successful companies will be those that undergo a full reset—by harnessing new technology, building ecosystems, engaging their workforce, and investing in private brands.
Consumers are in fact buying sustainable goods: Highlights from new research
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Which sustainability attributes matter most at the point of sale? Do consumers pay attention to sustainability claims? A new report from McKinsey and NielsenIQ provides answers.
‘Let’s not just rely on data’: Holt Renfrew’s Anne Pitcher on the future of retail
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Retailers must become more consumer-centric, experiential, sustainable, and diverse than they’ve ever been, says the department store veteran and former managing director of Selfridges.
Retail growth: The big sprint towards customer obsession
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What does purposeful growth look like in the retail sector? Two former Nike executives share the company’s secret formula for serving customers with its shift to digital, direct-to-consumer model, and sustainability.
The state of grocery retail around the world
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A survey of more than 30,000 consumers and 100 grocery CEOs reveals the challenges—and opportunities—that grocery retailers face today.
How Europe’s CPG leaders can navigate inflation
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With inflation persisting, consumer-packaged-goods manufacturers can’t rely on the strategies that got them through the past two years. It’s time for a reset.
The Great Attrition in frontline retail—and what retailers can do about it
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New research reveals which aspects of the employee experience matter most to US frontline retail workers. Retailers must pay attention and act quickly or risk losing more than half their store staff.
Black beauty brands and consumers: Where do we go from here?
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Inequity is rife in the beauty industry, says a new McKinsey report. Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell and two of the report’s authors discuss how to better support Black brands and serve Black consumers.
Are personalized vitamins the future of wellness?
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Two fast-growing vitamin companies, HUM Nutrition and Vous Vitamin, are betting on personalization. Listen to their CEOs discuss the biggest trends in consumer health and wellness.
Taking the pulse of the US consumer
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According to the latest Consumer Pulse survey, people across America are changing their shopping behaviors—and will continue to do so. Companies need to pay close attention.
Forecasting the future of stores
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Shoppers’ behaviors and expectations have changed dramatically—and continue to evolve. If retailers want to keep their physical stores relevant, here are five things they’ll need to get right.
Creating good packaging for packaged goods
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The e-commerce boom, widespread concerns about sustainability, and the digitization trend are spurring innovation in the packaging industry. Many consumer products will soon be in packages that are stronger, sustainable, and smart.
How to thrive in the global wellness market
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Consumers everywhere plan to spend more on products and services that improve their health and wellness. Here’s what that means for companies.
In fine jewelry and watches, sustainability shines through
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Consumers shopping for high-end jewelry and watches are increasingly favoring brands that act responsibly, value diversity, and have a compelling brand presence both online and offline.
Retail supply-chain strategies for the holidays and beyond
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How can retailers ensure strong sales this holiday season amid continuing supply-chain problems? Two McKinsey experts share their insights.
‘Everyone snacks’: How Mars Wrigley is pursuing growth in emerging markets
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Blas Maquivar, president of global emerging markets at Mars Wrigley, discusses consumers’ evolving snacking behaviors, the company’s digital and purpose-driven ambitions, and his new travel schedule amid the pandemic.
How CPG companies can sell online profitably
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Making a profit in e-commerce can be a struggle for consumer-packaged-goods manufacturers. Two McKinsey experts discuss the problem—and potential solutions.
Understanding the ever-evolving, always-surprising consumer
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With consumer behavior changing rapidly—and, often, in unexpected ways—companies must get better at anticipating and responding to new consumer needs and preferences. Our experts explain how.
Prioritizing sustainability in the consumer sector
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Consumers and companies alike are becoming more interested in making sustainability-focused choices, but how to do so isn’t always clear. Two McKinsey partners provide some research-based insights.
Taking a good look at the beauty industry
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After a challenging year, beauty brands are bouncing back. The most successful ones offer a distinctive omnichannel customer experience while prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity.
Shaping the workforce of the future in retail and consumer goods
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Forward-thinking companies are creating thoughtful guidelines for hybrid work environments, training employees in adaptability and resilience, and proactively reskilling their workforces.
How tech will revolutionize retail
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The retailer of the future will harness the power of data, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality, says serial entrepreneur and technology expert John Straw.
Gen Z and the Latin American consumer today
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Our research shows that Generation Z is more pragmatic than millennials, and that Latin American consumers aren’t as optimistic as they used to be.
Podcast
Holiday shopping in 2020
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Consumers, longing for normalcy and eager for something to celebrate, plan to spend money during the holidays—but differently from the way they have in the past.
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