FMCG Weekly

This week’s episode reviews and compares the Q1 2026 results of 21 publicly listed FMCG companies across beverages, alcohol, food, beauty, personal care, consumer health and household products. The analysis shows that the industry is moving beyond broad price-led growth into a more demanding phase focused on quality volume. Companies need growth, but not volume created by margin dilution, pack cannibalisation, stockpiling or subsidised loyal buyers. Stronger performance is coming from functional benefits, sharper pack-price architecture, productivity, portfolio focus and better promotional diagnostics. The key question is no longer how much volume grew, but where it really came from. 

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

AB InBev has broken an 11-quarter volume slide by pivoting from brewery acquisitions to an "organic growth algorithm," concentrating 70% of its marketing on a few "megabrands." In Europe, retail sales have dipped 0.1% as energy shocks from the Iran conflict suppress consumer confidence. Meanwhile, Amazon has launched a massive price offensive in the UK, undercutting the "Big Four" on 65% of comparable grocery SKUs. Finally, McDonald’s and Burger King are leveraging value-based menu strategies to maintain volume amidst a tightening consumer economy. 

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

Coca-Cola’s first-quarter results show a shift from price-led growth toward architecture-led growth. Organic revenue rose 10 percent, volume grew 3 percent, and EPS guidance improved, but the strategic signal is in pack design, affordability, cold availability, and occasion-based innovation. The 1.25-liter bottle and mini cans show how Coca-Cola is addressing pressured consumers without relying mainly on discounting. For FMCG leaders, the key question is whether growth is truly incremental or driven by cannibalization, subsidized loyalty, or stockpiling. The next RGM advantage will come from source-of-business clarity, disciplined pack roles, and precise execution.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

Tesco’s strong results, affluent shoppers moving into discounters, and the decline of traditional budget ranges. Tesco shows how modern retail advantage now comes from an integrated system of price, loyalty, media, digital fulfilment, AI, and premium own label. At the same time, higher-income consumers are becoming selectively frugal, saving on low-joy essentials while still spending on experiences and chosen indulgences. Meanwhile, explicit value tiers are shrinking because retailers increasingly deliver value through ecosystems rather than just cheap ranges. For FMCG leaders, value is not disappearing. It is becoming more personalised, data-led, and strategically contested.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

This week’s podcast examines the landmark $66 billion merger between Unilever’s food business and McCormick, a deal creating a $20 billion revenue "flavor powerhouse." Structured as a reverse Morris trust, the agreement sees Unilever pivoting toward beauty and personal care after a century in food, while McCormick significantly scales its global footprint. We also analyze Nestlé’s response to a 12-ton KitKat heist in Italy. By utilizing humor and viral engagement, Nestlé turned a supply chain crisis into a PR victory, providing key lessons for executives on brand voice, spontaneity, and the rising risks of cargo theft.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

This episode analyzes Unilever’s potential divestiture of its food division, valued at over €30 billion, to McCormick & Company. This move would be a fundamental shift toward a pure-play beauty and personal care model, aimed at eliminating the "conglomerate discount" and matching the valuation multiples of peers like P&G. While the food division remains profitable with a 22.6% operating margin, its 2.5% growth lags behind the 4.7% seen in Personal Care. We benchmark Unilever’s RGM capabilities against L’Oréal and P&G, highlighting the role of AI in driving "Desire at Scale" and the risks of stranded costs during this massive transition.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

BrewDog, once valued at $2.7 billion, sold out of administration for £33 million. This week, we examine what Tilray's acquisition of the brand tells us about a deeper structural shift in FMCG. The industry's biggest players, such as Unilever, Nestlé, and Keurig Dr Pepper, are shedding categories, demerging divisions, and concentrating on a handful of power brands. Meanwhile, a new type of lifestyle conglomerate is doing the opposite, buying distressed assets to build cross-category platforms. We explore why both strategies depend on the same thing: disciplined revenue growth management. Plus, how retailer pushback on pricing is changing the rules of supplier negotiations across the UK and Europe.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

This week’s episode analyzes a major structural realignment in the FMCG and retail sectors. Nestlé is divesting its ice-cream and water businesses to focus on coffee, petcare, and nutrition under CEO Philipp Navratil, amid an infant-formula recall crisis. Carrefour is implementing a 2030 strategy focused on France, Spain, and Brazil, exiting underperforming European markets. Most significantly, Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart in annual revenue ($716.9B vs $713.2B), marking a historic shift in retail dominance. Walmart is countering by targeting high-income shoppers and expanding its advertising business, while Amazon scales rural same-day delivery and grocery infrastructure.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

This episode of FMCG Weekly examines the structural shift from price-led growth to Real Internal Growth (RIG) in 2026. With global volume growth stalling at 0.9% and private label penetration hitting 40%, the "pricing ceiling" has been reached. We analyze how leaders like PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Coca-Cola are utilizing "right-sizing" and occasion-based Price Pack Architecture (PPA) to drive volume. A key focus is the shift from gross promotional lift to "Source of Business" logic—decomposing volume into incrementality, cannibalization, and stockpiling—and the emergence of "failure rebates" in manufacturer-retailer negotiations to ensure mutual value creation.

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management

In 2026, FMCG growth is shifting from broad price increases to a multi-lever RGM approach. Prices can still rise, but investor and retailer scrutiny now targets mix quality, volume resilience, and brand trust. Winning strategies prioritize Real Internal Growth, mission-led price-pack architecture, and transparent right-sizing over shrinkflation. Promotions are returning, but must be precision tools optimized for net incrementality, not blunt discounts that erode baselines. Trade terms are evolving toward performance-based joint business planning, while retail media and AI shopping agents reshape discovery and conversion. 

FMCG Weekly - News and trends curated by Accuris, the leading independent consultancy for revenue growth management