Sector
Consumer goods
“The need for constant evolution just to stay competitive is accelerating as both internal and external challenges herald change across the consumer goods industry. Berkeley can help CPG companies respond to these pressures wherever they are in their transformation journey - turning potential threats into opportunities.”
Jon Bradbury
Contact Jon
“The need for constant evolution just to stay competitive is accelerating as both internal and external challenges herald change across the consumer goods industry. Berkeley can help CPG companies respond to these pressures wherever they are in their transformation journey - turning potential threats into opportunities.”
Jon Bradbury
Contact Jon
Transformation is essential...
...for consumer packaged goods (CPGs) organisations to continue to drive growth.
The rise of digitalisation and data, new disruptive challenger brands, increased emphasis on sustainability and the breakdown of traditional market archetypes are just some of the megatrends impacting the entire CPG industry and the way it looks to the future. At Berkeley, we bring our strong consumer goods experience to bear, but will never assume we know your business better than you do. Embedded as part of your team, we help you quickly define and deliver the change you need to succeed around the world, online, with your customers, consumers, distributors and suppliers.
It’s about doing it fast and doing it right, which suits us down to the ground. With our ‘low volume, high value’ model, we won’t overwhelm your CPG business with large teams or take months to produce results.
Enhancing the consumer packaged goods industry through digital transformation
CPG companies, traditionally B2B-focused, have the opportunity to evolve in the digital era. There are now opportunities for a dual focus on both B2B and B2C, emphasising growth and margin over efficiency. This is mainly seen in the shift from prioritising the customer (retailer, distributor, or outlet owner) to directly engaging with the end consumer (shopper). Our approach involves crafting a comprehensive top-down digital vision for CPG companies, not just a bottom-up capability strategy. This vision encompasses seizing B2C opportunities while maintaining a focus on traditional B2B relationships. It also emphasises the necessary cultural adjustment toward a "digital mindset," fostering consumer-centricity, agility, innovation, and quicker responses to market changes.
Customer (sales) transformation in consumer packaged goods companies
We help CPG companies drive their business performance by harnessing the power of their data. From Net Revenue Management/Revenue Growth Management through to Retail Execution (In Market Execution), Trade Promotions Management and Trade Terms optimisation, and on to eCommerce and Direct-to-Consumer channels, we can help you set direction and quickly drive the changes you need. If you need to transform the role of your salespeople, merchandisers and distributors; implement a new operating model; or deliver new technology capabilities we’ll help you set up and run programmes that deliver the real and lasting change needed to truly optimise your sales across all channels and markets.
Channel transformation for consumer packaged goods
We can help you build and deliver on eCommerce strategies (pure play, omni channel, direct-to-consumer and new business models) that are both profitable and meet consumer expectations. From portfolio (value density, packaging, bundling, etc.), to demand optimisation (content, SEO, etc.) and through to execution (CRM, pricing, supply chain, etc.). By being forward thinking, challenging the norm, and offering structure and rigour, we help our CPG clients adapt and even transform their operating model and core capabilities to compete.
Consumer (marketing) transformation in consumer packaged goods
Our CPG industry consulting helps organisations build and leverage digital capabilities to drive their businesses forward. From transforming consumer insight and relationship management to optimising digital asset and product information management we can help you deliver the latest and best on-line consumer experience. Wherever there’s an opportunity on which to build, or a challenge to overcome, we can help you use digital to meet your aspirations.
Consumer packaged goods services / operations transformation
Berkeley can help you set the right CPG industry strategy and deliver the necessary transformation to your key ‘back office’ functions in order to best align and support the new business reality. We work with our clients to help drive global efficiency through shared business services as well as get the ‘local vs. global’ balance right.
Sector
Retail
Sector
Supply chain and logistics
Sector
Manufacturing
Berkeley’s involvement has been truly transformative. They have helped us unlock the power of an end-to-end offshore model by helping us reset our joint approach, addressing all the major areas but in particular moving us to embrace a sprint production model."
Global eContent & Experience Design Director, a consumer goods company
Clients often ask us...
Question 1
How can I setup my big transformation programmes for success, especially when they need to span multiple markets, product categories and functions? How can I best govern so much change effectively?
Question 2
How can I make the most of the shift to ecommerce channels (in all forms – omni, pure-play and direct-to-consumer) in the CPG industry? What operating model do I need to make that happen?
Question 3
How can I define an overall digital vision and strategy and make the most of the digital transformation in all its forms?
Question 4
How can I take optimisation and automation of my global business services to the next level, for a truly integrated experience that fully leverages digital?
Question 5
How do I take the strategic use of data as an enterprise platform to the next level, and optimise the opportunities for data and analytics, including AI?
Question 6
What does ‘next generation’ revenue growth management (net revenue management) look like, and how can I practically implement it?
Question 7
How can I build sustainability into the heart of everything we do?
Question 8
How can I use data and AI to optimise and simplify my product portfolio?
Question 9
How can I better partner with my retailer customers to drive mutual growth?
Client stories
Unilever - managing project turnaround
One of the world’s leading fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, selling its products in over 190 countries. The Unilever of today has been created over many years of mergers and acquisitions. While these have enabled the group to grow, they have brought with them complications, not least for the group’s IT function.
The function's response has been to try to simplify its IT infrastructure. One important objective has been to transition to a single global SAP financial and management reporting platform, named Victory. We helped them achieve this goal, by reviewing the project underway to deliver Victory, before supporting a project turnaround and ultimately project managing it through to a successful delivery.
Unilever - HR IT Strategy
We were asked to help Unilever with their HR IT strategy and roadmap. Unilever didn’t have the in-house capacity and skills to handle all the work themselves so they were looking for outside expertise. They wanted independent experts who could put together a purely Unilever-focused view of the world, allowing them to stay in control of defining their strategy, rather than give the responsibility to someone else.
High stakes supplier selection
Our client engaged us to provide programme delivery expertise and to help them run a rigorous supplier selection and mobilisation process, appointing the organisations who would ultimately support them in creating a new fit for purpose infrastructure.
Unilever - financial reporting
Unilever wanted to redefine its approach to management reporting, extending existing SAP tools to deliver a simpler and faster European financial close and management reporting timetable. We helped them evaluate their options, define plans and create the business case to secure funding for the project and then took over mobilisation and management of the 50-strong global vendor/client team which would deliver it.
One of the world’s largest beverage manufacturers
One of the world’s largest beverage manufacturers had created a new Global Data and Analytics function with a mission to accelerate business performance by providing business insight via new and evolving analytics tools, technology, capabilities and industry-leading data management.
However, it was clear the operating model needed better definition to make this new team work.
Over a short but intense engagement – through a mix of our strong Data and Analytics and Consumer Goods experience, and our collaborative and integrated approach - we developed a content-rich target operating model that leveraged best practice but was also specific to the organisation’s circumstances.
There are many companies that theoretically provide this type of work, but the combination of Berkeley's strong Data and Analytics background, and their individual skills, are what made this a truly differentiated experience, in a very positive way.”
SVP Global Data and Analytics
Global consumer goods organisation
We helped a global consumer goods organisation deliver a significant Finance transformation across over 100 countries.
This involved both implementing a new suite of SAP systems for financial consolidation and all group management and financial reporting, and also streamlining their financial reporting by consolidating the group financial results directly from the source ledgers in each of their 600+ Legal Entities around the world.
Global FMCG
We delivered an in house, one-stop-shop for social listening and consumer analytics insights enabling FMCG brands to better understand and engage with consumers, develop strategies, conduct market research and plan marketing to drive growth and performance globally. An early proof of concept was stood up in a matter of weeks and enabled consumer behaviour to be analysed differently to yield results in changed marketing campaigns.
Packaging organisation
We helped develop the strategy for a packaging organisation to enable them to benefit from Digital trends and approaches. This included how analytics can help them deliver value-add services to their customers to optimise their logistics, using virtual reality to envisage how packages will look in shelf formats to optimise customers’ shelf-fill, and how IoT sensors can help improve package transportation and handling for better cost and quality outcomes.
Global FMCG
We created visibility around global media investment at a global FMCG company, building stakeholder engagement and understanding up to board level and clarifying a prize running into hundreds of millions of euros.
We rapidly got to grips with the complex problem and developed a clear and simple communication to explain this to a range of stakeholders, including those at Board level. This created a more productive environment to engage a range of stakeholders across marketing, categories, key agencies and IT to look at solution options.
Leading consumer goods company
We helped a leading, global consumer goods company define, mobilise and run their global information and analytics programme.
A core part of our contribution was to work with them to shape the strategy and business case, then select suppliers and mobilise the programme to roll out 17 key analytics capabilities, globally. These included, for example, combining their own data with retailer loyalty and point of sale data to drive sales growth.
This programme is one of our top strategic initiatives, not just for IT but for the business worldwide. It will transform the way our businesses around the world access and use information, bringing enhanced insight and consistency.”
Chief Information Officer
an integrated mobility and CRM solution
One of the world’s largest consumer goods companies was seeking to create a single, integrated mobility and customer relationship management (CRM) solution for use during quality inspection store visits by the retail sales force across Europe.
Global FMCG
We created an in-house change capability to support radical supply chain transformation at a global FMCG present in 180 countries with annual turnover of €50bn.
Faced with increasingly intense competition in developing markets, the client needed to transform supply chain efficiency by enabling its third party distributors to use mobile devices to provide real time access to back office and stock control systems.
Strong change management was needed to help distributor and client staff adopt the solution and change ways of working.
The solution
Berkeley worked with the client team to design and develop a bespoke change management toolkit for the programme, including a set of easy to use tools and templates.
The change management toolkit was rolled out across 13 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, supported by the client’s own in-house team who by this point had the skills and experience needed to lead the ongoing work themselves.
The new solution subsequently went live successfully in several further territories, delivering both efficiency savings and competitive advantage as distributors become able to respond quickly to changing market needs.
FTSE top 30 Consumer Goods and Retail group
This critical and complex programme had a history of cost overruns and missed delivery dates. When further technical and delivery challenges materialised, the programme sponsors invited Berkeley to conduct a health check of the programme and recommend a way forward. Berkeley successfully turned around the programme, and it went live on time and on budget against the revised plan. The post-turnaround phase of the programme was seen as a best-practice exemplar for others in the group to follow.
Berkeley successfully turned around a failing project. They brought the clear skillset and leadership which was previously missing.”
CEO
Client stories
One of the world’s leading fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, selling its products in over 190 countries. The Unilever of today has been created over many years of mergers and acquisitions. While these have enabled the group to grow, they have brought with them complications, not least for the group’s IT function.
The function's response has been to try to simplify its IT infrastructure. One important objective has been to transition to a single global SAP financial and management reporting platform, named Victory. We helped them achieve this goal, by reviewing the project underway to deliver Victory, before supporting a project turnaround and ultimately project managing it through to a successful delivery.
We were asked to help Unilever with their HR IT strategy and roadmap. Unilever didn’t have the in-house capacity and skills to handle all the work themselves so they were looking for outside expertise. They wanted independent experts who could put together a purely Unilever-focused view of the world, allowing them to stay in control of defining their strategy, rather than give the responsibility to someone else.
Our client engaged us to provide programme delivery expertise and to help them run a rigorous supplier selection and mobilisation process, appointing the organisations who would ultimately support them in creating a new fit for purpose infrastructure.
Unilever wanted to redefine its approach to management reporting, extending existing SAP tools to deliver a simpler and faster European financial close and management reporting timetable. We helped them evaluate their options, define plans and create the business case to secure funding for the project and then took over mobilisation and management of the 50-strong global vendor/client team which would deliver it.
One of the world’s largest beverage manufacturers had created a new Global Data and Analytics function with a mission to accelerate business performance by providing business insight via new and evolving analytics tools, technology, capabilities and industry-leading data management.
However, it was clear the operating model needed better definition to make this new team work.
Over a short but intense engagement – through a mix of our strong Data and Analytics and Consumer Goods experience, and our collaborative and integrated approach - we developed a content-rich target operating model that leveraged best practice but was also specific to the organisation’s circumstances.
There are many companies that theoretically provide this type of work, but the combination of Berkeley's strong Data and Analytics background, and their individual skills, are what made this a truly differentiated experience, in a very positive way.” ”
SVP Global Data and Analytics
We helped a global consumer goods organisation deliver a significant Finance transformation across over 100 countries.
This involved both implementing a new suite of SAP systems for financial consolidation and all group management and financial reporting, and also streamlining their financial reporting by consolidating the group financial results directly from the source ledgers in each of their 600+ Legal Entities around the world.
Service
Finance transformation
Sector
Digital economy
We delivered an in house, one-stop-shop for social listening and consumer analytics insights enabling FMCG brands to better understand and engage with consumers, develop strategies, conduct market research and plan marketing to drive growth and performance globally. An early proof of concept was stood up in a matter of weeks and enabled consumer behaviour to be analysed differently to yield results in changed marketing campaigns.
We helped develop the strategy for a packaging organisation to enable them to benefit from Digital trends and approaches. This included how analytics can help them deliver value-add services to their customers to optimise their logistics, using virtual reality to envisage how packages will look in shelf formats to optimise customers’ shelf-fill, and how IoT sensors can help improve package transportation and handling for better cost and quality outcomes.
Sector
Digital economy
Service
Digital transformation
We created visibility around global media investment at a global FMCG company, building stakeholder engagement and understanding up to board level and clarifying a prize running into hundreds of millions of euros.
We rapidly got to grips with the complex problem and developed a clear and simple communication to explain this to a range of stakeholders, including those at Board level. This created a more productive environment to engage a range of stakeholders across marketing, categories, key agencies and IT to look at solution options.
Service
Independent programme assurance
Service
IT strategy and operating model
We helped a leading, global consumer goods company define, mobilise and run their global information and analytics programme.
A core part of our contribution was to work with them to shape the strategy and business case, then select suppliers and mobilise the programme to roll out 17 key analytics capabilities, globally. These included, for example, combining their own data with retailer loyalty and point of sale data to drive sales growth.
This programme is one of our top strategic initiatives, not just for IT but for the business worldwide. It will transform the way our businesses around the world access and use information, bringing enhanced insight and consistency.””
Chief Information Officer
One of the world’s largest consumer goods companies was seeking to create a single, integrated mobility and customer relationship management (CRM) solution for use during quality inspection store visits by the retail sales force across Europe.
We created an in-house change capability to support radical supply chain transformation at a global FMCG present in 180 countries with annual turnover of €50bn.
Faced with increasingly intense competition in developing markets, the client needed to transform supply chain efficiency by enabling its third party distributors to use mobile devices to provide real time access to back office and stock control systems.
Strong change management was needed to help distributor and client staff adopt the solution and change ways of working.
Berkeley worked with the client team to design and develop a bespoke change management toolkit for the programme, including a set of easy to use tools and templates.
The change management toolkit was rolled out across 13 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, supported by the client’s own in-house team who by this point had the skills and experience needed to lead the ongoing work themselves.
The new solution subsequently went live successfully in several further territories, delivering both efficiency savings and competitive advantage as distributors become able to respond quickly to changing market needs.
This critical and complex programme had a history of cost overruns and missed delivery dates. When further technical and delivery challenges materialised, the programme sponsors invited Berkeley to conduct a health check of the programme and recommend a way forward. Berkeley successfully turned around the programme, and it went live on time and on budget against the revised plan. The post-turnaround phase of the programme was seen as a best-practice exemplar for others in the group to follow.
Berkeley successfully turned around a failing project. They brought the clear skillset and leadership which was previously missing.””
CEO
