Mintel Little Conversation

TV may still be the main news provider for consumers across the world, but issues of trust and credibility are undermining the institutional role of traditional media outlets. As cynical and critical audiences increasingly question the medis, what does the future of news look like? Are subscription-based models the answer to fake news? Can readers' loyalty save struggling media outlets? And how can news platforms gain younger consumers?

Host: Dana Macke (Associate Director of US Lifestyles & Leisure Reports),

Guest: Rebecca McGrath (Senior Media Analyst, UK),

John Poelking (Leisure & Media Analyst, US),

Scott Stewart (Senior Technology and Media Analyst, Canada)

Veganism has taken the world by storm. We've watched the trend explode in front of our eyes and don't expect it to end anytime soon. In this episode, Mintel experts discuss how veganism has changed the rules across food, beauty and fashion. They address the good, the bad and the questionable issues around this complex topic: Does vegan equal healthy? How do we deal with the environmental impact of animal-free products? Can vegan claims be trusted? Which brands are getting it right?

Host: Edward Bergen (Global Food & Drink Analyst)

Guest: Sarah Jindal (Senior Global Analyst, Mintel Beauty & Personal Care)

Samantha Dover (Senior Retail Analyst)

From the clothes we buy to the politicians we vote for, our opinions, decisions and tastes are constantly being influenced. With the help of social media, people have made a career from their ability to set trends and inspire action, a power that was once only reserved for celebrities and the elite. But who are these 'influencers' and do people still trust them?

Host: Edward Bergen (Global Food & Drink Analyst)

Guest: Simon Moriarty (EMEA Director of Mintel Trends), Jack Duckett (Associate Director, Consumer Lifestyles Research)

Production/ Sound Engineer: Alex Diaz - th3cult.co.uk

(Recorded in early 2019)

In this episode, we look at the 'clean' movement in Beauty, Food & Drink and Household. Clean living is about what you put in and on your body. Interest in natural ingredients is based on the idea that for something to be healthy, it needs to be simple, unprocessed and as close to the real thing as possible. This is not a fad and clean formulations will continue to grow across categories. But given an absence of official regulations, how should brands talk to their customers about the clean movement?

Host: Andrew Davidson (SVP/Chief Insights Officer)

Guest: Jamie Rosenberg (Global Household & Personal Care Analyst), Alison Gaither (Beauty & Personal Care Analyst), Hannah Spencer (Foodservice Analyst)

While finding a healthy work-life balance often looks like an impossible feat, it seems to be even harder for Millennials. This is the 'work hard, play hard' generation that can do it all: get promoted, party, travel, meditate, socialise, work out, raise children - all while working afterhours and checking their email on evenings, weekends and holidays! And with social media adding an extra layer of pressure to look like they are 'living their best life', the question arises: at what cost?

Host: Dana Macke (Associate Director of US Lifestyles & Leisure Reports)

Guest: Carol Wong-Li (Associate Director of Canada Lifestyles & Leisure Reports)

Jack Duckett (Associate Director of UK Consumer Lifestyles Research)

Kristen Boesel (Senior US Lifestyles & Leisure Analyst)

It may be losing its grip on young people, but Facebook remains, by far, the most influencial social media platform on the planet. In 2018, US companies allocated around 22% of their advertising budgets on Facebook. Despite scandals, fines and controversies, the business is thriving. But how is the tech giant going to shape its future? In this episode, we discuss how the recent debate around discriminatory ads has shed new light on privacy issues, with the positive result of the advertising industry pushing for better regulation. So, how can advertisers strike a balance between privacy and personalisation?

Host: Andrew Davidson (SVP/Chief Insights Officer)

Guests: Laura Ziemer (Director of Insights, Digital Media)

Jeannette Ornelas (Senior Digital Marketing Analyst)

Rebecca McGrath (Senior Media Analyst)

In today's episode, we drop the B-word! What does Brexit really mean for consumers? How is today's culture of individualism affecting the way people think about the economy? And why on earth is consumer confidence peaking despite all the uncertainty?! From savvy shopping to the experience economy, we give a 360 degree look at what's going on in Britain's minds and wallets. Plus, some wise advice from our analysts on what brands should do to remain relevant as Brexit day looms.

Host: Samantha Dover (Senior Retail Analyst)

Guests: Richard Shepherd (Senior Financial Services Analyst),

Simon Moriarty (EMEA Director of Trends),

Jack Duckett (Associate Director, Consumer Lifestyles Research)

A bonus episode of Little Conversation just in time for the shopping event of the year: Amazon Prime Day! Spanning over two days (15-16 July), next week's Prime celebration seems to be bigger and better than ever. But will last year's success be replicated? How are other major retailers gearing up and should they even compete with Amazon? And what can we expect in the future? Join our expert analysts to understand what Prime Day is all about and how it fits into Amazon's long term strategy.

Host: Andrew Davidson (SVP/Chief Insights Officer)

Guest: Alexis DeSalva (Senior Retail Analyst),

Lierin Ehmke (Senior Digital Marketing Analyst)

Nick Carroll (Associate Director of Retail)

As inclusion consultant Vernā Myers famously said, "diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance". In this episode, we explore diversity. Brands have a responsibility to change the moral agenda by embracing all differences, no matter age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or disability, from the people they hire to the products they develop.

Host: Andrew McDougall, Associate Director, Beauty & Personal Care

Guests: Roshida Khanom (Associate Director, Beauty & Personal Care), Toya Mitchell (Senior Multicultural Analyst), Richard Cope (Senior Trends Consultant)

What do two product innovation experts with 30 years of experience think about chickpea beer and probiotic ice cream? In this episode, we asked our global food and drink analysts to pick their favourite launches from 2018.

Host: Edward Bergen, Global Food & Drink Analyst

Guests: Lynn Dornblaser (Director of Innovation & Insight), David Jago (Director of Innovation & Insight)

Production/ Sound Engineer: Alex Diaz - th3cult.co.uk