Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders globally, we drive success in Consumer Goods (or Consumer Packaged Goods, CPG) supply chains. From small essentials to perishables to oversized goods, high volume products demand precision and agility. Each category in the industry presents distinct challenges, requiring our tailored solutions to ensure quality, speed, and efficiency that keep you ahead of consumer demand.
While traditional brick-and-mortar retail remains the backbone for many CPG products, evolving consumer behaviors and new companies grown by social media are facing the need for e-commerce strategies that excel. By partnering closely with our clients, we create adaptable supply chain frameworks that keep up with evolving market demands – helping CPG brands deliver reliably and seamlessly, across every channel.
Trends & Challenges
Challenges and Trends Shaping the CGP Supply Chain
Geopolitical uncertainty continues to reshape global supply chains, and many leading CPG companies are rethinking where and how they produce. With tariff vulnerabilities, offshore production has the potential to significantly increase costs and disrupt established supply chains. Beyond costs implications, geographic proximity also reduces lead times to be more responsive to market fluctuations. In addition, CPG companies are also diversifying manufacturing and sourcing locations to enhance the overall resilience of their supply chains to mitigate risk.
Reliable data is the linchpin of advanced analytics and digital transformation in CPG. When data is incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated, it undermines predictive models and limits AI-driven decision making. Leading CPG companies start by investing in data governance, system upgrades, and integrated platforms to build a solid foundation. From there, AI, machine learning, and IoT unlock supply chain potential: real-time tracking, predictive demand forecasting, control towers, digital twins, and others. The result is smarter, more adaptive operations to drive efficiency and deliver value.
Accurate supply chain planning has never been more vital. With consumers expecting products on demand, the ability to forecast accurately can make or break a product or brand. Companies are investing in integrated planning systems from sourcing and manufacturing to distribution to enable faster responses to market shifts. Additionally, many CPG companies are coordinating their processes with those of key suppliers and retailers for a unified approach.
With labor shortages and rising cost pressures, automation isn’t optional—it’s essential. While the initial focus has been production line automation, companies are now racing to automate intralogistics and warehousing. Legacy plant infrastructure and limited space pose challenges, but evolving technology is closing the gap. Automation is also transforming distribution and mixing centers, by maximizing storage capacity, reducing footprint, accelerating throughput, and reducing labor costs.
Sustainability is reshaping the CPG industry, with companies setting bold carbon-neutral targets for the next decade. Circular supply chains are on the rise – eliminating waste by repurposing byproducts and generating renewable energy. Material optimization and sustainable packaging are becoming priorities, balancing performance with environmental impact. Success depends on seamless collaboration across R&D, supply chain, and packaging teams – driving innovation and cutting CO2 emissions from production to delivery.
An optimized consumer goods supply chain requires an integrated approach that combines logistics, real estate, and financial solutions. This integration enables automation, reduces costs, and accelerates success. By aligning supply chain needs with the right facilities and financial strategies, we empower companies to achieve greater agility, resilience, and profitability.
The CPG industry remains highly competitive, relying heavily on brand recognition, advertising, and customer loyalty. The rise of social media, influencers, and other digital platforms has leveled the playing field, allowing smaller companies and brands to gain popularity quickly. This shift creates both increased competition for larger companies and new opportunities for acquisitions. Supply chains need to be agile enough to react to these shifts more quickly than ever before.
The surge in direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales is prompting CPG companies to shift away from simply just using traditional B2B supply chains. While the retail will continue to manage the POS for a majority of CPG products, omnichannel approaches are rising in certain areas. Speed to consumer and building strong customer relationships are critical as digital retail starts to replace some sales in traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This evolution demands supply chains that are not just efficient but also flexible and responsive.
How we can help drive your business forward
Innovative digital solutions to help bridge the gap of legacy softwares & data visibility
Design & optimization of logistics operations, including automation studies, warehouse design, site masterplanning, IT solutions, and process improvement initiatives
We partner with you to evaluate planning processes, identify gaps, design a target operating model, and implement tools that drive your plans forward.
Together, we’ll optimize your end-to-end supply chain – aligning design, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics to enhance agility, sustainability, and efficiency. From network strategy to nearshoring opportunities, we create a supply chain built for resilience and real-world impact.
Industry Insights
Contact us
Local contact
Jackie Niemeyer
Manager, Consumer Goods Industry Lead
Global contact
Julian Maasmann
Senior Principal, Head of Business Unit Process Industry, Head of Industry Consumer Goods
Miebach Insights
