During and post-pandemic the FMCG industry has grown and indeed changed vastly. Lifestyle choices, drastically affected by lockdowns, have gone and are undergoing phenomenal reshifts as we all find how to manage our day-to-day lives in a very different scenario. More specifically, the FMCG sector has been substantially affected, with a massive surge in e-commerce, a decided preference for trusted brands, a downward trend in discretionary spending, an average higher value basket, reduced shopping frequency, a shift towards geo-local stores, and polarisation of sustainability.
More specifically, some key evolutions across key industries include:
• Retail: according to the McKinsey “Perspectives on Retail and Consumer Goods” study, most industry categories experienced over 10% growth in online customers during the pandemic, with many people saying they plan to continue shopping online, a shift we’re seeing confirmed. This means an exponential growth in logistics and delivery needs due to online sales, along with fluctuations in workforce populations due to career pivots during the pandemic and even a larger percentage of self-service checkouts in traditional brick and mortar stores.
• Cosmetics: more attention than ever on brands’ attention to social issues, including ethical production practices (e.g. animal testing and cruelty-free, vegan products).
• Appliances: a massive pressure to decarbonize the entire value chain, and think more circularly.
• Food: on the heels of the United Nations’ Food Systems Summit that took place this September, the entire industry is looked upon as one of the key pillars needed to be transformed to help achieve the 2030 Agenda and – further ahead – how to sustainably feed the estimated almost 10 billion people expected to live on the planet by 2050.
A very different scenario, which requires a big rethink and impacts the needs of companies in terms of support needed to get the jobs done. Indeed, consumer decision journeys are changing and companies need to a) track those changes and b) adapt their delivery according to those changes. Staying on top of the game during this transitional period will allow retailers and consumer packaged goods industries to be players in reshaping consumer behavior. It is now evident that FMCG players who intend to stay ahead in the market need to identify and engage with world-class partners to support them in this challenging era where the business paradigm is at a crossroads. Moreover, that partner needs to be a truly global player, present and active in locations where the FMCG market is producing and distributing, but also where HQs are located. Cultural nuances, laws, lifestyles, and practices do affect the character of recruitment and positioning for effective and valid team members. In-depth analysis of the geographical production, distribution, and HQ sites are also at the very base of an effective recruitment drive. Grafton is perfectly positioned on the world market to be your trusted partner in moving forward in a phase that probably still holds many surprises for us.
Both organizations and candidates will find in Grafton the very best support possible in matching current requirements with current availability. Deep functional specialization means that we can do exactly that, effectively ensuring satisfaction on both sides of the table. Over the last three months, across three European markets, Grafton has been the partner of choice for both regional and multinational companies, in seeking and placing over 500 highly talented professionals. These valuable team members work across all functions related to FMCG such as Sales, Marketing, IT, Supply chain, Distribution, Production, and more. Our background and expertise are multi-sectorial and include retail, cosmetics, fashion, food & beverage, logistics, and e-commerce. Grafton is perfectly poised to provide in-depth knowledge of numerous markets and countries. This in turn allows the team to calibrate the staffing consultancy by taking into consideration the differing vocational aspects of the value chain (production, distribution, post-sales service, and more), permitting the placement of qualified professional candidates who can deliver positive impact to the companies and thus partake in the evolution of the company towards environmental, social and political growth.
The FMCG sector is absolutely at the forefront of this new era and will play a fundamental for the world’s “reset.” This requires exactly the right professionals at the helm, and the right support teams too. Grafton is a superbly qualified partner, ready to contribute to your success. Learn more about us and about what we can do for you.