FMCG success today is now dependent on quality product images, solid SEO and prominent placement on e-tailer websites—far more so than simply having an abundant quantity or variety on the shelf at the local store.

As one of the world’s most well known bicycle races kicks off this weekend, a recent study by Nielsen Sports has tracked the growing interest of cycling around the world, most notably in the Asian region.

While unexpected by many, the Amazon-Whole Foods linkage highlights just how profoundly consumer expectations are changing with regard to food and beverage shopping—and will continue to do so moving forward.

What impact will the digital transformation have on the FMCG industry? What will it mean for the consumer, retailer and manufacturer? And what can we learn from digital disruption in other industries?

Unbeknownst to most consumers, tremendous thought goes into developing even the most commonplace products. As a result, product development in the FMCG industry is anything but fast-moving. But what if algorithms could help streamline the process and the outcomes?

The variety and increasing scale of data, as well as the scope of activity it is meant to inform, demands a solution that goes well beyond a simple enterprise data warehouse. So what might that more robust solution look like?

Global sports are thriving, but media consumption is changing before our eyes. And as the media world grapples with these issues, so too must the sports industry. But these challenges aren’t the only obstacles facing the sports realm.

For the sports industry, one challenge stands above all others. How, in a truly multimedia environment, can sponsorships be accurately measured to provide a true picture of value generated for rights holders and brands?

China’s Consumer Confidence Index reached 110 points in the first quarter of 2017, the highest score since 2015. The current figure suggests that along with the stable growth of individual income, Chinese consumer confidence continues to rise.

Measuring an ad’s ability to communicate trust is a tricky business: perceptions of trust can be non-conscious, formed almost immediately and biased by subtle factors. Given these nuances, explicit research methods aren’t sufficient.

As retailers ramp up their health and wellness offerings, and the lines between channels blurs, it’s interesting to think about the role that drug stores will play in an increasingly crowded, wellness-oriented marketplace.

The popularity of clean energy vehicles among Chinese consumers is rising, with 27% of car-buyers willing to consider purchasing Blade Electric Vehicles (BEV), and 25% interested in Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).

Compared to their counterparts in other markets, Hong Kong consumers are relatively less likely to engage in online shopping, simply because of the close proximity and convenience of nearby physical stores. A growing reliance on the internet and mobile tech, however, are opening the doors to change.

It’s no surprise that more and more items are being outfitted with built-in connectivity. Consumers’ adoption of internet-enabled devices isn’t a given, however, and it’s worth exploring why acceptance has been so fragmented across categories—as well as what the industry can do to accelerate usage.

Different consumer needs demand varied experiences. Enter precision marketing. The good news for marketers is that the fundamentals (and tools) remain the same across industries.

How many things can you say for certain that you're paying attention to, or even seeing, at any given moment? Our brains just aren’t good at recalling the kinds of details marketers need to evaluate their efforts in a complex world. That’s where the right neuroscience tools can help.

China, with its huge population and increasing affluence, is a very lucrative market for companies and brands in the Pacific. The Demand Institute, projects that consumers in China will spend $56 trillion over the next decade, with a largely young, affluent, connected consumer base with disposable incomes leading the charge.

Hong Kong may be a small market, but its 7.4 million consumers offer a big opportunity for brands and manufacturers. So which consumers represent Hong Kong’s biggest opportunities?

Product innovation, precision marketing and channel expansion are the top three drivers in emerging liquor markets.

In terms of golf’s global appeal, few markets rank higher than South Korea. Insights from Nielsen Sports show that 35% of people in the country are interested in golf, which puts it ahead of markets like the U.S. and Europe as the sport’s most interested population.

Companies striving for “leaner, bigger, better” innovations require realistic marketing inputs and an accurate forecast to identify their most promising initiatives. Proving that “consumers love it” without a realistic volumetric assessment simply isn’t enough.

Understanding customers, their needs and their path to purchase is essential from a brand and retail engagement perspective in the luxury segment. In a tighter retail environment, these considerations become even more critical.

With global sponsorship spend forecast to reach over $62 billion in 2017 and global media rights spend expected to hit $45 billion, the top-line metrics remain positive. This report detail what we regard as the 10 major commercial trends in sports.

After experiencing three consecutive quarters of stability, the Chinese Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose from 106 in the third quarter of 2016 to 108 in the fourth, according to the latest Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index survey.

Global consumer confidence increased modestly in 2016, a time of great political and economic change around the world, rising three points between the first and fourth quarters to 101. Confidence scores finished the year more strongly than they began in every region except Africa/Middle East.

Already brimming with its own dense population, Hong Kong is also a rich travel destination for many people from around the world. But despite its global appeal, almost 80% of the territory’s visitors come from mainland China—and those travelers are significant contributors to Hong Kong’s economy.

Unconstrained by physical walls, e-commerce retailers offer a huge inventory of products in endless aisles. Unfortunately, our physical world product coding processes can’t scale to e-commerce: they’re too costly and too slow.

Amid great political and economic change around the world, global consumer confidence moved modestly in 2016, rising three points between the first and fourth quarter to 101.

56% of Chinese say they buy premium products in order to feel successful or show their success to others. 48% of consumers say they’re willing to pay a premium for electronics, followed by clothing (38%) and cosmetics (38%)

In addition to being hyper connected and digitally driven, Millennials are focused on personal experiences. And for many, those experiences happen away from home. Notably, Millennials are very interested in travel—and shopping along their journeys.

In addition to being hyper connected and digitally driven, Millennials are focused on personal experiences. And for many, those experiences happen away from home. Notably, Millennials are very interested in travel. In fact, they travel more than any other generation, including Baby Boomers.

Without data integration, the only thing cool technology can do is stare helplessly at a pile of bricks it can’t assemble into anything useful.

86% of Chinese respondents agree that all other factors equal, they will buy from a retailer with a loyalty program over one without; 84% respondents in China prefer use loyalty program mobile apps

Digital has disrupted a whole host of interactions, including the way we watch video content and the ways we communicate with friends and family. The way we shop is no exception.

Not surprisingly, online shopping is pervasive among the growing online population. But when it comes to buying online, category dynamics are fluid and evolving.

47% Chinese respondents say that housework is either a shared responsibility (33%) or the domain of men (14%) Insights explore the underlying macro-economic forces impacting the home care industry.

The premium sector is growing globally, and as it turns out, it isn’t ritzy categories like diamonds and champagne that are topping the charts. Rather, global consumers are most often willing to trade up for everyday consumables.

Global sport's top-line metrics, notably global sponsorship and media rights spend, continued to point in the right direction in 2016 but it was also a year of rapid change across the industry.

In the coming decades, machine learning will transform work as we know it. And unlike previous revolutions, which primarily affected blue-collar workers, the smart machine revolution has white-collar workers in its sights.

Around the world, consumers are looking for a taste of the good life. And it’s not just those who are wealthy. Sales of products in the “premium” tier are growing at a rapid pace. In fact, the growth of the premium sector in many markets is outpacing total growth for many fast-moving consumer goods categories.

This study identifies the attributes consumers are looking for in premium product offerings, and reveals the underlying sentiment behind the reasons for purchase. We explore what “premium” means to consumers, and we identify the categories for which they’re most willing to pay a higher price.

Consumers are faced with a dizzying array of retailers vying for their attention, and a retail loyalty program can be a determining factor for where they decide to shop. In fact, 72% of global respondents agree that, all other factors equal, they’ll buy from a retailer with a loyalty program over one without.

When it comes to the most-valued loyalty-program benefits, monetary incentives top the list in every region. However, creating meaningful differentiation requires offering more than generic deals, and thinking beyond monetary perks can help brands stand out.

According to Nielsen's TV advertisement real-time tracking tool, only 10% of auto advertisements had both their content and the brand been remembered by consumers who had access to them; innovative ideas and media investment strategy are the key to the promotion of both the auto advertisement and the brand.

Most new product launches are “small” or “sustaining” innovations, which include the many, many brand extensions that large companies launch year after year. These launches are absolutely essential for growing existing brands and defending shelf space.

Global consumers, by and large, have more shopping choices at their disposal than ever before. For retailers, differentiating your brand in such a crowded space is critical. A retail loyalty program can be an effective way to create competitive advantage by reducing customers’ likelihood to switch stores.

Done well, loyalty programs can help drive more frequent visits and heavier purchasing. More than seven in 10 global respondents (72%) agree that, all other factors equal, they’ll buy from a retailer with a loyalty program over one without.

Chinese Consumer Confidence stable at 106 in third quarter, 7 points higher than global average; Consumer confidence and willingness to spend soared in West and East China

A social responsibility strategy isn’t the only way to manage corporate reputation, but it is increasingly becoming a critical piece of the puzzle.

While the third quarter of 2016 saw considerable economic diversity across the markets measured by Nielsen’s Global Survey, consumer confidence in the U.S. remained on solid footing with a score of 106, despite a decline of seven points from the second quarter.

Retail players have long believed that large-format stores will eventually take over the landscape, but today’s reality disproves the “bigger is always better” myth. Although large stores still account for 51% of global sales, smaller channels are growing sales up to eight times as fast their larger counterparts.

Third-quarter 2016 global consumer confidence remained stable at 99, up one point from the second quarter and unchanged from third-quarter 2015. Country-level scores, however, varied dramatically throughout the regions, reflecting considerable economic diversity around the world.

Third-quarter global consumer confidence increased one point from the second quarter to 99. Country-level scores, however, varied dramatically throughout the regions, reflecting considerable economic diversity around the world.

The sheer volume and variety of data can seem overwhelming, and the retail industry is wrestling with how to harness it, find insights and drive action. So how do we do that?

While paying bills, checking account balances and transferring funds from a mobile device may be convenient and easy, security is an ever-increasing consideration—and a critical barrier to success.

Most of the customer data companies gather about innovation is structured to show correlations rather than causations. Yet after decades of watching great companies do poorly at innovation, we’ve come to the conclusion that the focus on correlation is taking firms in the wrong direction.

Though mobile shopping habits are on the rise, there’s certainly a method to the madness, as global consumers are also using digital tools to monitor their spending and manage their finances.

Interest in football in China has increased by more than 4% in the last three years, growth which is being driven by strategies developed at national government level and investment in sports properties around the world.

What causes a consumer to pull a product into their lives? Simply put, we bring a product into our lives because it meets a need or desire. That’s the crux of Jobs Theory: doing a job that needs to be done.

Among global respondents, 74% say they appreciate the freedom of being connected anywhere, anytime, and 70% strongly or somewhat agree that their mobile device has made their life better. This constant connectivity has not only changed the way we keep in touch, but also the way we shop, bank and pay for goods and services.

Mobile devices may not be critical to survival, but a majority of consumers around the world can’t imagine life without them. And now, they’re transforming the world of commerce.

Grabbing a bite to eat outside of the house is a weekly occurrence for almost half of global respondents, but are we stopping to savor our entrees or eating grub on the go? As it turns out, we’re doing quite a bit of both.

We’ve become so accustomed to our fast-paced lifestyles that it’s even crept its way into how we consume food. This is especially the case when you look at breakfast. So what does the future of the most important meal of the day look like?

From promoting fitness to encouraging foreign investment, China set forth in 2014 to create a $813 billion sports industry by 2025.

This report looks the Chinese consumer, the country’s media landscape, China’s major investments across European football and how global sports teams and leagues plan to tackle the Chinese market.

While today’s consumers certainly scrutinize the foods that fill their pantries, they aren’t just eating at home. In fact, eating out isn’t just for special occasions; it’s a way of life for nearly half of global respondents.

Brands armed with new products have always rushed to be first to market, as first movers often establish a stronghold that can be difficult for later entrants to break into. But being “first mover” at the expense of being “best mover” can often lead brands to competitive disadvantage.

The ins-and-outs of what a healthy diet looks like may vary somewhat around the world, but simplicity resonates globally. While there is some variation across regions, the story stays the same: Artificial is out, many of us avoid food with long lists of ingredients and consumers are intent on removing the bad and adding the good.

As consumer spending increased by the trillions over the next years because of increased access to cashless technologies, payments will evolve from linear transactions to opportunities for engagement.

In addition to representing their countries and competing for medals, para-sports athletes participating in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games this month will be challenging stereotypes, increasing inclusion and breaking down social barriers—something these competitors have been doing since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy in 1960.

Nielsen Sports' latest report examines not only the rising interest in para-sports and the Paralympics, its growing status as a media product and how the Games already works for partners, but also notes the opportunity it provides to change attitudes – and, critically, what that might mean for current and future para-sports sponsors.

As a consumer group, Millennials are just starting to flex their spending power, which will grow significantly in the coming years. While they’re years from fully establishing themselves, they’re already having a marked impact on the global consumer landscape.

Nearly two-thirds of global respondents say they follow a diet that limits or prohibits consumption of some foods or ingredients. Taking a closer look, a majority of global respondents say that when it comes to ingredient trends, a back-to-basics mind-set, focused on simple ingredients and fewer artificial or processed foods, is a priority.

Growing a brand isn’t easy, especially for those in in crowded categories. But even the most established categories change over time, and even categories that appear stable may be one critical innovation away from awarding one brand a significant long-term advantage.

Consumers around the world are increasingly focused on clean eating and the benefits of eating more healthfully, with 70% of global respondents saying they actively make dietary choices to help prevent health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Almost anyone you ask will tell you that eating a healthful diet is important—a sentiment that isn’t new. So why is there a seemingly heightened focus on clean eating?

The penetration rates of convenience stores and online shopping increased to 32% and 38% from 19% and 35% over the past year, respectively, growing faster than that of traditional hyper/supermarkets, forcing the latter to transform.

For many companies, cost reduction efforts become an endless downward spiral. As soon as one cost reduction program is completed, it’s followed by another. It’s a dangerous cycle, but it’s one we know how to break.

Global consumer confidence held steady in the second quarter of 2016 at 98, an index score that was flat from the first quarter and two points higher than a year earlier. North America was the only region to sustain growth momentum in the second quarter, demonstrating a three-point increase in confidence to 111.

Global consumer confidence remained stable in the first quarter and below the optimism baseline score of 100, edging up one index point to 98. The score reflected mixed confidence levels reported in every region.

Today, the enterprise needs a big data warehouse that combines on-premise and in-the-cloud datasets into a comprehensive view of its business and the environment in which it operates.

As the world collaborates on the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, good data are critical to the world’s ability to set goals, generate plans and measure our collective progress.

Consumers’ demand for new energy vehicle is shifting from policy driven to individual needs driven; gasoline-electric hybrid cars have more demands and large potential in the future five years; New energy vehicle owners are young, highly educated, middle-class

Advertisers spend almost 60% of their marketing budget on improving their branding efforts Almost all advertisers said they are most concerned of if their marketing campaigns successfully reached target audience

In modern retail, the use of promotions has slowly escalated to become a now-standard practice that has resulted in a shared reliance among retailers and manufacturers, but decent returns are increasingly hard to generate. So knowing which categories are more or less sensitive to pricing changes is essential for driving growth.

Today, the enterprise needs a big data warehouse that combines on-premise and in-the-cloud datasets into a comprehensive view of its business and the environment in which it operates.

A core element in increasing share of wallet is understanding and responding to local consumer needs. It makes sense then, that differentiation from your competition could be an important way to build a competitive advantage. So what are consumers looking for?

Modern retail has long been guided by a powerful premise: the bigger, the better. But the retail landscape is shifting, and this mantra no longer holds true in all cases. This report explores the pain and pleasure points in global consumers' shopping experiences.

Modern retail has long been guided by a powerful premise: the bigger, the better. Retailers, consumers and suppliers all benefited from economies of scale, but over the past 10 to 15 years, the retail store model has evolved. So how can retailers stay ahead in the rapidly changing landscape?

Marketers often think of “earned” media as asymmetric marketing opportunities—they’re cheap and fast, which make them quite easy for smaller brands to exploit. But the power of earned media as an asymmetric strategy is more appearance than reality.

Chinese Consumer Confidence Decreased 2 Points, but maintains one of the world’s highest CCI scores. Consumer confidence soared in East China Willingness to spend keeps climbing in West and South China.

It’s now 2016, and gaming has firmly moved out of the basement and into the living room–and beyond. In fact, more than half of the population in the world’s industrialized countries now identifies as gamers, which has brought a tidal wave of change across the way many of us spend our free time.

Mature brands will find themselves in a broader range of situations than new ones. When it becomes clear that your established brand needs investment to grow your circle of buyers, how do you know which path will work best for you?

Though global consumer confidence remained stable in the first quarter, there was notable variation on a country-by-country basis, and many markets noted a growing recessionary sentiment. In fact, six in 10 global respondents believed their nation’s economy was in recession in the first quarter.

Global consumer confidence edged up one index point to 98 in the first quarter of 2016, remaining relatively stable in the first quarter and slightly below the optimism baseline score of 100.

Global consumer confidence remained stable in the first quarter and below the optimism baseline score of 100, edging up one index point to 98. The score reflected mixed confidence levels reported in every region.

In the digital world, IT is everyone’s job, and the democratization of IT is an unstoppable force.

How did business intelligence break free of its centralized command-and-control heritage to meet the challenge of the agile, democratic, digital world?

Combination of consumer data from Tencent and Sina Weibo to give Nielsen unmatched view of digital campaign audiences

When asked to pick the attributes they seek when purchasing all-purpose cleaners, 40% around the world say they want environmentally friendly benefits and nearly as many (36%) say they don’t want harsh chemicals.