2025 Consumer Products Industry Outlook

The consumer products industry went through a transformative phase in 2024, shaped by evolving consumer behaviours, technological advancements, and shifting market dynamics. According to Deloitte’s latest Consumer Products Industry Outlook, companies must embrace innovation and agility to thrive in this rapidly changing landscape.

One of the key trends highlighted is the increasing demand for personalised and sustainable products. Consumers today are more conscious about the environmental and social impact of their purchases, prompting brands to prioritise sustainability initiatives and transparent supply chains. This shift is not only a response to consumer expectations but also a strategic imperative for long-term growth and brand loyalty.

Digital transformation continues to be a critical driver of success in the consumer products sector. The integration of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce platforms enables companies to better understand customer preferences, optimise operations, and enhance the overall customer experience. Deloitte emphasises the importance of leveraging data-driven insights to create targeted marketing campaigns and streamline product development cycles.

Supply chain resilience remains a top priority amid ongoing global disruptions. The report underscores the need for consumer products companies to invest in flexible, transparent, and technology-enabled supply chains. By adopting innovative solutions such as blockchain and IoT, businesses can improve traceability, reduce costs, and mitigate risks associated with supply chain interruptions.

Moreover, the outlook highlights the growing significance of direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels. As consumers increasingly prefer personalised shopping experiences, brands are expanding their DTC capabilities to build stronger relationships and gather valuable first-party data. This approach not only enhances customer engagement but also provides greater control over brand messaging and pricing strategies.

Talent acquisition and workforce transformation are also critical themes in Deloitte’s outlook. The consumer products industry faces challenges in attracting and retaining skilled professionals, particularly in areas like digital marketing, data science, and supply chain management. Companies are encouraged to foster inclusive cultures, invest in upskilling, and embrace flexible work models to remain competitive in the talent market.

In summary, the 2024 Consumer Products Industry Outlook by Deloitte offers a comprehensive view of the sector’s evolving landscape. Success hinges on the ability to adapt to consumer demands for sustainability and personalisation, harness digital technologies, build resilient supply chains, and cultivate a future-ready workforce. Companies that strategically address these priorities will be well-positioned to capture growth opportunities and deliver lasting value in a dynamic market environment.

About the report

In October, Deloitte also conducted a global survey of 250 consumer products executives spanning food and beverage, household goods, personal care, and apparel companies. All respondents were senior decision-makers at companies with more than US$500 million in revenue (most above US$5 billion). They were sourced proportionally to roughly match the geographic corporate headquarters and industry subsectors present in the top 100 global consumer products company financial analysis. The survey was targeted at the top 100 global companies but was conducted in a “double-blinded” fashion, meaning neither Deloitte nor the respondents knew the names of the respective companies involved. As such, profitable growers in survey analysis were identified as those respondents working at companies indicated to be on track to grow both revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation in 2025.

Survey questions were developed through an analysis of trending topics found in company reports, earnings call transcripts, and analyst reports, as well as through exploratory surveys and interviews with Deloitte industry leaders. We also deployed many of these same methods to determine what high-performing companies (on revenue and return on asset indexes) were doing differently from the lower-performing companies in our financial analysis.