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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.

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LATEST CONSULTING & BUSINESS PODCAST EPISODE

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Consumers are in fact buying sustainable goods: Highlights from new research

– 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.
Podcast

‘Let’s not just rely on data’: Holt Renfrew’s Anne Pitcher on the future of retail
– 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.
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Retail growth: The big sprint towards customer obsession
– 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.
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The state of grocery retail around the world
– A survey of more than 30,000 consumers and 100 grocery CEOs reveals the challenges—and opportunities—that grocery retailers face today.
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How Europe’s CPG leaders can navigate inflation
– 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.
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The Great Attrition in frontline retail—and what retailers can do about it
– 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.
Podcast

Black beauty brands and consumers: Where do we go from here?
– 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.
Podcast

Are personalized vitamins the future of wellness?
– 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.
Podcast

Taking the pulse of the US consumer
– 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.
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Forecasting the future of stores
– 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.
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Creating good packaging for packaged goods
– 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.
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How to thrive in the global wellness market
– Consumers everywhere plan to spend more on products and services that improve their health and wellness. Here’s what that means for companies.
Podcast

In fine jewelry and watches, sustainability shines through
– 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.
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Retail supply-chain strategies for the holidays and beyond
– How can retailers ensure strong sales this holiday season amid continuing supply-chain problems? Two McKinsey experts share their insights.
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‘Everyone snacks’: How Mars Wrigley is pursuing growth in emerging markets
– 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.
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How CPG companies can sell online profitably
– Making a profit in e-commerce can be a struggle for consumer-packaged-goods manufacturers. Two McKinsey experts discuss the problem—and potential solutions.
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Understanding the ever-evolving, always-surprising consumer
– 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.
Podcast

Prioritizing sustainability in the consumer sector
– 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.
Podcast

Taking a good look at the beauty industry
– After a challenging year, beauty brands are bouncing back. The most successful ones offer a distinctive omnichannel customer experience while prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity.
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Shaping the workforce of the future in retail and consumer goods
– Forward-thinking companies are creating thoughtful guidelines for hybrid work environments, training employees in adaptability and resilience, and proactively reskilling their workforces.
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How tech will revolutionize retail
– 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.
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Gen Z and the Latin American consumer today
– 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
– 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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