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US sales of private label grocery brands grew 3.9% in 2024, outpacing the 1.0% growth of national brands, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA).

Consumers typically buy consumer packaged goods (CPG) more frequently and often in-store, making those purchases different from general merchandise. Nonetheless, ad-buying on retail media networks (RMNs) is somewhat more established with more sophisticated options for CPG than for general merchandise because retail media has been a staple of CPG ad-buying for longer. That means CPG ad-buying habits could be a model for future trends in retail media.

SNAP rollbacks could shrink grocery baskets and curb discretionary spend: With household spending already under strain, further benefit cuts risk triggering a broader pullback in consumer demand.

Even as ecommerce alcohol sales rise, physical stores continue to dominate the path to purchase. Nonalcoholic beverages and Dry January are also picking up steam.

Whether brands are aligning their product with comfort food, launching fragrances, or prioritizing scent in their retail spaces, marketers are embracing multisensory experiences as another way to stand out in the digital noise.

What consumers think: The decision to remove artificial dyes is a pragmatic way for CPGs to align their portfolios with consumers鈥� increasingly health-conscious preferences and the shifting regulatory landscape. The vast majority鈥�79%鈥攐f consumers somewhat or strongly support the FDA鈥檚 push to eliminate certain dyes from the US food supply, per a CivicScience survey.

Interest in staples like frozen foods, snacks, canned goods, and dairy products also declined鈥攁 problem for CPG brands that have relied on outsize spending from Hispanics to drive growth. Shoppers are also pulling back sharply from brands based on their (perceived) immigration stances.

The GLP-1 craze is too big of a market opportunity to pass up for many companies in the food, consumer packaged goods (CPG), health, wellness, and fitness markets. Editor鈥檚 Note: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists are a class of medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Beauty鈥檚 run of strong retail sales growth is winding down, but new audiences and sales channels will offer opportunities for savvy brands and retailers to regain momentum.

Growth rates will decline, but digital grocery will remain a key focus for retailers looking to drive incremental sales dollars in ecommerce.

Walmart announces lengthy beauty sale as it looks to protect its advantage: The retailer is expanding its assortment and refining the in-store experience to appeal to a wider variety of shoppers.

Brands in categories where loyalty is lower, such as consumer packaged goods (CPG) and electronics, are particularly at risk. Shoppers want to be rewarded for their loyalty. Price and quality remain at the forefront when it comes to purchasing decisions.

Global gains power L鈥橭r茅al past expectations as US market cools: CEO Nicolas Hieronimus flagged slowing beauty demand and US retailer constraints but noted the brand is well positioned to handle tariff-driven disruptions.

Tariffs imperil beauty industry just as post-pandemic boom slows: Costs are expected to spike as duties hit key imports, leaving brands scrambling to maintain sales without alienating price-conscious buyers.

The news: TikTok tweens and teens who make popular 鈥淕et ready with me鈥� skincare routine videos may be harming their skin. The takeaway: Amid the closer social media scrutiny, skincare health brands should be clear about products that are not made for young skin. Social media teams need to be aware and proactive when interacting with tween and teen content creators.

The news: Eight years after acquiring Whole Foods, Amazon is moving to more fully integrate the grocer into its core business, Business Insider reports. Our take: Amazon is clearly aware of the friction鈥攁nd the opportunity鈥攊n its grocery ecosystem.

Amazon's sales share will continue to grow in key product categories. But food and beverage remains a rare weak spot for the ecommerce giant.

The news: US retail sales fell more than expected in May from April, the latest sign that tariff fears and economic volatility are affecting consumer spending. Our take: While May鈥檚 retail sales data largely show that consumers are hanging in, the situation remains unpredictable鈥攅specially given the fact that tariff-driven price hikes have yet to kick in for a multitude of everyday purchases, including groceries and apparel.

Despite political pressure, McDonald鈥檚 is standing by its commitment to inclusion. While it recently replaced 鈥淒EI鈥� language with 鈥渋nclusion,鈥� its initiatives remain intact, per Bloomberg. That contrasts with brands like Target, Nike, and JPMorgan Chase, which have scaled back DEI and climate efforts amid conservative backlash. McDonald鈥檚 cosmetic rebranding reflects a strategic calculation: investing in programs it views as beneficial for business and essential to long-term brand equity, especially with key demographics. If it avoids major backlash, McDonald鈥檚 could offer a model for other brands weighing how to uphold values while managing political and reputational risk.