Global Economic Outlook for Q2 2026: Growth Redefined by Energy Shock
8 Jun 26The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a consequence of the US/Israel-Iran war, has emerged as the defining economic disruption of 2026. The impact extends beyond energy markets: rerouted shipping, airspace restrictions and disrupted exports of petrochemicals and fertilisers have raised freight and input costs globally, reducing margins and exposing the depth of vulnerability in energy importing and trade-dependent economies.
Aiste Bijune
AI as the Operating System for Next-Generation Innovation
8 Jun 26AI is moving from a supporting role to a system-level driver of FMCG innovation. As companies shift from high-volume launches to precision-led strategies, AI is enabling faster demand detection, more resilient formulation and new routes to visibility on the algorithmic shelf. This article explores how AI is redefining innovation advantage and why leading companies are embedding it as the engine of their innovation systems.
Alison Angus
Social Roles as a Product Positioning Strategy: The Case of Balanced Nutrition
29 May 26Most claim strategy is trendspotting and activation. Brands scan the cultural landscape for what consumers are currently anxious about or aspiring towards and build claims around that signal. Clean label, gut health, immune support, stress relief; each of these has had its moment, and each has faded or been diluted as the cultural mood shifted and the category filled with me-too competitors. The underlying logic is demographic and attitudinal: find a segment, find their current focus or fear, match your claim to it. There is a more durable, sticky alternative. Alongside following trends, we should follow roles.
Miri Eliyahu
World Cup Effects on Consumer Foodservice in Mexico and the US
11 May 26As the FIFA World Cup approaches, leading foodservice and delivery players are rolling out strategies to capture consumption beyond the stadium, recognising that most viewing will take place in homes, offices, bars, and restaurants.
Benjamin Bahena
Chart of the Month: Economic Impact of a Prolonged Iran War
30 Apr 26The US/Israel-Iran war has caused a major shift in global economic dynamics, driving oil prices higher and exposing vulnerabilities in energy-dependent economies. Our latest Chart of the Month looks at the projected impact of this war by country.
Aiste Bijune
How Travel Learns from Crisis
20 Apr 26The US/Israel-Iran war has delivered the steepest shock to global travel since the pandemic. Over half of scheduled flights in the region were cancelled in the first two weeks, oil surged 30% to USD92.3 per barrel in March with projections reaching USD115 by July, and major hubs from Dubai to Doha saw capacity plunge by 55-85%. Yet every crisis reshapes the industry. The question is not whether travel will recover, but what strategic lessons will separate those that return stronger and gain a competitive edge in resilience.
Stephen Dutton
Longevity Ingredients in Beauty: Separating Trends from Drivers of Skin Care and Hair Care Growth
2 Apr 26Longevity is everywhere in beauty today across product claims, ingredient narratives, and innovation pipelines. But when a theme becomes this pervasive, the more important question is not what is trending, but what is translating into sustained demand. From a market perspective, this distinction matters. Trends create noise while repeat purchase, ingredient scale, and cross-category adoption signal where companies should invest versus where they should wait.
Ina Dawer
Driving Foodservice Traffic Through In-Person Experience
2 Apr 26As increasingly digital consumers prioritise convenience in their purchasing decisions, online delivery’s share of restaurant sales has skyrocketed. With third-party delivery fulfilment being the biggest engine for growth, foodservice operators are seeing their margins eroded by merchant fees. Thriving, let alone surviving, is a juggling act when ingredient, shipping, and labour costs continue to rise.
Nik Allen
The Evolving Landscape of Personal Accessories: Top Trends Shaping 2026 and Beyond
1 Apr 26The global personal accessories market is being recalibrated by economic uncertainty, shifting consumer expectations and rapid digital transformation. Despite inflationary pressure, trade volatility and cautious discretionary spending, the sector returned to growth in 2025. Jewellery and watches remain the standout performers, stabilising the market and signalling where opportunities lie.
Suzi Gardner
Beauty Offers Health Supplement Companies a Route to Faster Growth
23 Mar 26As consumers strongly link being attractive with appearing healthy, beauty-positioned supplements surpass traditional health products in both growth and innovation focus.
Nick Stene
When Disruption Becomes the Baseline: Rethinking Travel for a Polycrisis World
11 Mar 26Geopolitical challenges are becoming ever more disruptive to travel operations. Rather than isolated incidents, they now serve as a stress test for a new operational baseline in which macro shocks – geopolitical, socioeconomic, and climate-related – are increasingly frequent and prone to cascading through global systems. In this era of polycrisis, resilience, corridor diversification, and digital seamlessness must become central to travel and tourism businesses’ growth strategies. The US/Israel-Iran war and its spillover effects on GCC countries is illustration of this disruptive risk.
An Hodgson
US/Israel-Iran War Set to Impact the Global Economy, Oil Markets, and Consumers
5 Mar 26The US/Israel-Iran war, launched on 28 February, has introduced a material geopolitical shock into global markets. Given the region’s economic scale and its critical role in global energy supply, the consequences reach far beyond regional security, affecting the global economy, commodity markets and consumers. The risk of oil price surges, rising inflation and travel disruption is significant, although the full extent of the impact will depend on how long the war lasts.
Jana Rude
Dairy’s Strategic Reinvention for Healthy Longevity in Asia
3 Mar 26The dairy industry in Asia Pacific is undergoing demographic shifts and rising competition from consumer health categories. To stay competitive for the long term, brands must focus on early‑life preventative health and build relevance among consumers under 30.
Emil Fazira
New Tariffs, New Uncertainty, and New Business Strategies
2 Mar 26The US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on 20 February 2026 found that President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs was unlawful. Far from reducing trade policy volatility, the Court’s decision – and the White House’s immediate pivot to alternative tariff tools – have increased uncertainty for trading partners, companies and consumers. Understanding the implications of this shift and its consequences is crucial for stakeholders to adapt strategically and make informed decisions.
An Hodgson
Three Key Strategies to Accelerate Mass Adoption of Electric Vehicles
27 Feb 26Global passenger EV growth is decelerating. The 49% volume CAGR of 2020-2025 is expected to moderate to 2030, shifting the agenda from premium niches to affordable scale. In 2025, 63% of consumers agreed/strongly agreed that EVs’ initial purchase price is a significant barrier. They demand quality, safety, charging reliability and residual value.
David Zhang
US Heat Pump Adoption Continues to Rise Amid Shifting Policy Support
25 Feb 26Despite lagging behind European adoption rates, heat pumps in the US have outsold traditional gas furnaces annually since 2021, according to RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute). Since 2015, the Energy Information Administration has reported higher residential HVAC activity each year. With cooling rates increasing due to higher average global temperatures, heat pumps have two points in their favour.
Benjamin Bahena
Key Imperatives Driving Global Industrial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Transition
23 Feb 26Industrial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are entering a transformative era. The global market is accelerating towards electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) systems, reshaping operational models and industry priorities. This shift is significant and urgent, influencing logistics, safety, and infrastructure strategies worldwide.
David Zhang
US Immigration Policies are Further Destabilising Consumer Foodservice Operators
20 Feb 262025 was a particularly challenging year for restaurant owners from both an operations and business perspective. An uncertain economic landscape complicated by ongoing US trade policy reforms is impacting consumer foodservice.
Benjamin Bahena