For the past six years, Circana has collaborated with NYU's Stern Center for Sustainable Business to produce a report on sustainability in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) marketplace. While sustainability-marked products in the U.S. continue to gain share, their research shows that shares of sustainability-marked products are much larger in the UK and Germany. This episode dives into the comparison between the U.S., UK, and Germany, offering insights and inspiration for CPG manufacturers and r...
Jun 11, 2025•19 min•Ep. 179
There are more than 150,000 convenience stores across the U.S., and while multiple chains make up the majority, these typically small-format stores can vary widely from urban to suburban to rural. To some consumers, it might be the store where they purchase auto fuel. For others, it serves as their local grocer or a place to grab morning coffee. Circana’s Anthony Dostal, director of retail insights for the convenience channel, talks about the state of the convenience channel, including consumer ...
Jun 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 178
Household spending has shifted due to high inflation and economic uncertainty. Consumers are prioritizing essential items like groceries while often forgoing discretionary purchases, including games, apparel, and prestige beauty. Circana’s Sally Lyons Wyatt, global EVP and chief advisor for consumer goods and foodservice insights, and Adam Mellott, vice president of consumer and shopper insights, provide valuable insights into the current state of household spending, the role of retailers, and t...
May 13, 2025•18 min•Ep. 177
While they differ in size of revenue, U.S. CPG Growth Leaders all found innovative ways to connect with fragmented consumer communities using a range of growth levers. Sally Lyons Wyatt and Cara Loeys dive into the strategies that leading CPG companies deployed to achieve healthy growth in 2024, including the Five Cs of Success: community connections, comprehensive value, catering to multi-pronged wellness, collaborative growth, and company culture. Key takeaways: Community connections: King Art...
May 12, 2025•24 min•Ep. 176
Globally, licensing is a $365 billion business. The U.S. comprises about 60% of the market. Kristen McLean, senior executive director, The Circana Entertainment Knowledge Group, takes listeners into the world of licensing. Hear insight into the elements of successful licensing deals and what to consider when partnering with another brand. Highlights: There are four main types of licensing: character, personality or lifestyle, co-branded, and limited-time offer (LTO). 11% of licensing involves fo...
Apr 23, 2025•28 min•Ep. 175
As a share of the total CPG/FMCG market, private brands vary across major global regions. In the EU, private labels account for nearly 39% of total market value and 47% of unit sales, while in the U.S., they represent 22% of dollar sales and 24% of unit sales. Sally Lyons Wyatt and Ananda Roy talk about retailer investments for private brands, including being category-focused, consumer-obsessed, innovative and of high quality. Highlights include: Successful retailers treat private labels like br...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min•Ep. 174
Inspired by their recent Top Trends in Fresh webinar , Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods group, and Kelly Krumholz, perimeter client insights consultant, provide a “refresh” on trends and opportunities impacting fresh grocery departments. While opportunities for growth continue to take root (GLP-1s, we’re talking about you!), headwinds – including being out-marketed by center store – temper growth. Tune in to learn more. Highlights: Well over half – 56% – of all trips to retail stor...
Mar 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 173
Dive into the cutting-edge innovations and trends from CES 2025 with Circana’s tech analysts Paul Gagnon, Ben Arnold, and Mike Crosby. This episode explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and more on consumer and B2B electronics, the evolution of smart home technology, and the future of wearable devices. Technology is reshaping not just consumer experiences, but also manufacturing, go-to-market strategies, and retail. Key Highlights: AI is being incorporated into everyday p...
Jan 28, 2025•37 min•Ep. 172
The impact of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) usage for weight loss on the CPG food and beverage, nonfood, and other industries is just beginning. It’s going to influence product innovation, store assortments, consumer engagement, and more. Sally Lyons Wyatt discusses groundbreaking research on GLP-1 use for weight loss, including how users shift their purchase habits while using the medication and after they stop taking it. GLP-1 users generally purchase more than nonusers, with notable shifts ...
Jan 27, 2025•16 min•Ep. 171
Carbonated soft drinks and bottled water are the universally preferred beverages across generations. From there, nuances emerge that shed light on the life stage priorities of different cohorts. Similarly, differences in product choices are seen by household income level and even ethnicity. Tatiana Lopez Aranzazu, consumer and shopper insights consultant at Circana, discusses differences across demographic cohorts and uncovers opportunities for manufacturers and retailers. Highlights: Energy dri...
Dec 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 170
While hydration is still key, consumers want more from their beverages. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s global executive vice president and chief advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, shares extensive beverage research on out-of-home and in-home trends across tap water, morning beverages, cocktails, and satiety beverages. Highlights Consumers seek more personalization than ever, from flavoring tap water to interesting portable beverage containers. Marketers can see what consumers are tu...
Dec 07, 2024•19 min•Ep. 169
Despite inflation, consumers are optimistic about their ability to spend a little more on gifts, foods, and beverages for upcoming holiday occasions. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s global executive vice president and chief advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, and Marshal Cohen, Circana’s chief retail officer, share their insights and observations for what’s in store (literally!) this holiday season. Highlights: Inflation has eased, but consumers still anticipate paying a little more f...
Dec 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 168
For more than 30 years, Circana has conducted extensive audits of the food items found in America’s kitchens, from spice cabinets and pantries to refrigerators and freezers. Results from the 2024 audit reveal our kitchens have fewer items, pointing to our growing desire for convenience. Darren Seifer, industry advisor, consumer goods & foodservice insights at Circana, shares observations on changing behaviors and opportunities to meet consumer needs. Highlights: Consumers are keeping around ...
Dec 05, 2024•19 min•Ep. 167
The outlook for fall and winter holidays is bright, even for CPG items experiencing persistent inflation. Consumers are willing to spend a little more to make the holidays special, but it’s up to retailers to facilitate this. Circana’s Jonna Parker and 2010 Analytics’ Anne-Marie Roerink discuss supporting holiday traditions and encouraging the adoption of new seasonal flavors. Highlights When holidays fall during the week, such as Halloween 2024 landing on a Thursday, retailers should encourage ...
Oct 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 166
Cottage cheese. Grapes. Cucumbers. Each of these categories — among others — has seen tremendous sales lifts based on inspiration from social media influencers. Jonna Parker, team lead of Circana’s Fresh Foods Group, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, talk about the opportunity to lean into social media. Explore how you can inspire and entertain young consumers who are still learning their way around the kitchen and the grocery store. Highlights: Gen Z and millennials might be m...
Oct 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 165
Retailers, brands, and services can support consumers around the world on their physical, mental, and social health journeys. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s global EVP and chief advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insights, shares well-being research highlights from industries as diverse as books, food, beauty, apparel, consumer tech, pet, toys, and more. Consumers’ pursuit of well-being is strong, and the opportunities to lean in and support them are many. You might just learn how to suppor...
Sep 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 163
U.S. consumers under the age of 35 will experience similar life stages as previous generations, but they will never mirror the grocery shopping patterns of older consumers. As the most ethnically diverse and tech-savvy population, they are inspired and moved by infotainment. They also have the unique ability to lean into their personal moods and appetites, answering in the moment, “what am I hungry for?” Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods group, and Kelly Krumholz, perimeter client i...
Sep 11, 2024•31 min•Ep. 162
When it comes to meals, U.S. consumers are having a 2020 moment, believes Darren Seifer, our industry advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insights. The percentage of meals sourced from retail for home consumption is nearly 87% in 2024, giving us a vibe of at-home behaviors during the pandemic. However, how we’re getting to those meals and what’s on the table is where shifts are occurring. Jonna Parker, team lead for our Fresh Foods Group, says grocery retail might be winning, but it’s not ...
Aug 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 161
Circana has been chronicling changing consumption behaviors in its Eating Patterns in America research for 39 years. David Portalatin, Circana’s senior vice president and industry advisor for food and foodservice, shares how insights from our research inform go-to-market strategies and innovation across CPG manufacturing, grocery retail, and foodservice. David also shares some of the biggest shifts taking place in recent generations, including how Starbucks reinvented the coffee occasion even as...
Aug 07, 2024•29 min•Ep. 160
How can you use the biggest takeaways from the 2024 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show in June to help your business succeed? Jonna Parker, team lead of Circana’s Fresh Foods Group, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, share highlights of new technologies, the challenges of balancing assortments by generational differences, the value of special occasions, and other lessons you should know for the rest of the year and beyond. Highlights: In addition to major h...
Jul 29, 2024•35 min•Ep. 159
Dupes, or replicas, of premium products are having a moment. Fueled by high inflation and turbocharged by social media, dupes are being purchased and touted with pride by U.S. consumers attracted to high-quality, low-priced items. Circana analysts Maggie Swiatkowski, Kristen Classi-Zummo, and Beth Goldstein illustrate how dupes are playing out across categories from apparel, accessories, and beauty to consumer tech, home goods, and food. Is this the dawn of a new era for private brands? Highligh...
Jul 26, 2024•24 min•Ep. 158
Nostalgia, inspiration, and self-care are trends driving consumer escapism. Inspired by her report, The Great Escape: Exploring the Rise of the Joy Economy, Kristen McLean, senior executive director of Circana’s Entertainment Knowledge group, highlights opportunities for connecting to consumers’ desire for escapism. Also important, she reviews what not to do. Highlights: Consumers are looking to escape negativity in the world. The joy economy provides manufacturers and retailers with the opportu...
Jul 25, 2024•27 min•Ep. 157
There are four key principles fueling successful innovation beyond launch: distribution growth, trial, marketing support, and product expansion. None of these should be considered stand-alone strategies. Lisa Maas, principal and lead for Circana’s Innovation practice, shares examples from New Product Pacesetters on how to achieve growth in the years after launch. Highlights: Table stakes should include setting the right expectations for sales and distribution. Marketing and support investment mi...
Jul 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 156
Consumers continue to feel the pinch of inflation. While food remains a priority, consumers face tough choices when making any purchases, but emotions also impact their decisions. Jonna Parker, principal, fresh foods, and Darren Seifer, industry advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, discuss the consumer mindset and how competition for the food dollar plays out across food destinations, channels, and stores. Highlights: Heat-and-eat and items and cooking sauces for easy meals are risi...
Jun 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 155
Beverage alcohol consumption has changed dramatically in recent years. The pandemic impacted the way people consumed adult beverages, and younger consumers aged 21 and older are driving consumption of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage alcohol products. Scott Scanlon, executive vice president of Circana’s Beverage Alcohol practice, provides insight into these changes and the outlook for 2024 and beyond. Highlights: Typically, as adults aged 21 and older begin drinking, their first choices are beer or...
Jun 10, 2024•25 min•Ep. 154
Our distribution, velocity, and penetration data, along with other metrics, shows us the top CPG Growth Leaders . But by listening to and observing the top companies, we can identify successful integrating strategies. Circana’s Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor, consumer goods and foodservice insights, and Cara Loeys, principal, corporate CPG thought leadership, describe how the annual CPG Growth Leaders report is developed and share insights for CPG companies ...
Jun 07, 2024•23 min•Ep. 153
In 2023, CPG private labels grew dollar and unit sales thanks to the unique confluence of retailers investing in their own brands and consumers facing high inflation. Mary Ellen Lynch, principal of Circana’s center store solutions practice, discusses private brand shoppers and what they’re looking for. Highlights: While consumers of all affluency levels buy private brands, households with children, as well as millennial and Gen X households with no children, are top purchasers of private brands....
Jun 06, 2024•15 min•Ep. 152
Our expansion of multi-outlet data, MULO+ , increases point-of-sale (POS) coverage 15%, providing 90% accuracy of CPG dollar sales sourced from census POS data. Jonna Parker, Team Lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods Group, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, share a glimpse of this new, expanded view of the competitive grocery landscape. Discover why it’s critical for retailers to understand the go-to-market approach taken by all channels to determine their point of differentiation. High...
Jun 05, 2024•32 min•Ep. 151
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in business has positive benefits for workers, for business results, and for people and communities engaging with these businesses. Cecilia Ogude, Circana’s senior vice president, Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, breaks down the benefits and talks about what’s missing without DEI. Diversity doesn’t just focus on one element or group and doesn’t diminish the value of one group over another. It includes and supports everyone. Equity – not equality – gives e...
Mar 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 150
Some 93% of Gen Z and younger millennials are changing their behavior based on higher prices, a much higher percentage than previous generations. Stepping back for a wider view, Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods Group, believes these younger consumers have been impacted by more trauma, from terrorism and a recession to pandemic and current inflation. Given the world they’ve grown up in, they aren’t going to become like their older counterparts. Parker and Anne-Marie Roerink, preside...
Feb 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 149
