Retail & Consumer

How can the Swiss retail and consumer goods industry face today’s challenges?


Manufacturers and retailers face an array of challenges in their efforts to reach consumers. On the one hand, competition on global retail and consumer goods markets is becoming fiercer. As a result, market players are facing increased cost pressure. Consumer behaviour on the other hand is becoming increasingly complex. The "new consumer" is focusing on value, looking for sustainability and corporate social responsibility throughout the whole supply chain, is switching from one brand to another in the search for the best deal and interacts with other consumers in social networks. PricewaterhouseCoopers helps retail and consumer goods companies to identify the important developments that influence the retail and consumer goods market and to make the right decisions to remain successful in the marketplace.

What’s your question?

  • How can we approach environmental sustainability from a holistic perspective so that it includes green supply chain, products and processes and use of renewable energy and carbon emission reduction or trading?
  • How can we increase and control the effectiveness of promotional spending, measure performance and increase efficiency in data mining?
  • What is the right strategy when dealing with changing consumer patterns and how can we implement trends like wellness, convenience, sustainability and lifestyle-products in this strategy?
  • How can we protect intellectual property or uncover underreported revenue from licensees, tackle fraud and avoid customer data theft?
  • What structural changes do we need in order to foster innovation, reduce time to market and react more flexibly to customer demands?
  • What are the opportunities, risks and alternatives arising out of regulatory changes influencing the retail and consumer goods industry such as Cassis de Dijon, "Swiss Made" or free trade agreements in the retail and consumer goods industry?
  • What structures and processes will enable us to position our purchasing, production and distribution to become a successful player in the global marketplace?

Why PricewaterhouseCoopers?

As the number one professional services company, we have the proven industry expertise and customised services to support retailers and consumer goods manufacturers. We give you access to industry-leading know-how and established good practice networks on a regional, national, European and global level. We help you to:

  • Meet the triple bottom line (reporting of financial, ecological and social performance) along the entire value chain.
  • Use the latest technological developments to increase your productivity and expand to new business models or distribution channels.
  • Find where and how you can reduce costs by implementing shared service centres and using outsourcing/off-shoring. We optimise your processes in production, back-office, financial reporting and working capital management to respond to cost pressures.
  • Design efficient and reliable purchasing processes and value chains for lasting profitability.
  • Create a benchmarked compensation model and talent development plan to win and keep the best talents.
  • Establish a risk management framework, ensure compliance and increase transparency (e.g. in regard to non financial reporting).
  • Optimise your sale of non operational assets
  • Find the right targets for acquisitions around the globe – for example to expand into emerging retail and consumer markets or to ensure strategic sourcing.

What can we do for you?

You will find contact details and more information on the retail and consumer industry in the right-hand column.


   

NZZ Online – Impulse:
Economic matter: a minor incovenience
Martin Frey, Corporate Finance, explains why the consumer industry is in an advantageous situation.

     
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