Poland's FMCG market grew in value by PLN 14.5 billion last year. That figure has circulated widely in trade media, prompting more than a few international suppliers to take a serious look at Poland as an export destination. But place a second number next to it: over the same period, actual FMCG sales volumes fell by 1.8%. The logic becomes clear immediately. Value growth was driven by inflation and promotional price competition — not by consumers buying more. Real purchasing

A Bridge Across Continents: Zhengzhou, May 10th, 2026 — The hum of international commerce filled the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center last May 10th as industry leaders from across the globe gathered for the annual Qiri-E Event, a premier cross-border trade and supply chain forum. Amid the bustling exhibition halls and bilingual negotiations, a quiet yet significant handshake marked the beginning of what many hope will be a transformative partnership fo

Private-label products reached a historic unit share across major European markets, driven by inflation, digital shopping, and AI-led purchasing behaviour. For the first time, retailer's own private branded labels have reached 50% of units sold across Europe’s leading FMCG markets — France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom — marking a structural turning point for the sector. According to the latest analysis by Circana, growth has been steady sinc

The 2026 Longshang and Qiyang Zhengzhou Expos, held for the first time this year, serve as the leading venue for retail transformation, connecting global manufacturers and buyers throughout the entire value chain. Scheduled for May 8th–10th in Zhengzhou, known as China's food production capital, the event will host 800 exhibitors and anticipates 60,000 visitors, establishing itself as the ultimate center for private label brands and modern retail strategy. Strategic Insights:

Discount Retail Consulting GmbH (DRC) recently had the privilege of organizing and navigating a high-impact sourcing tour under the esteemed auspices of Dr. Mohamed Althaf , Group Director of Global Operations and CSO of LuLu Group International. Navigated alongside Simon Alexander , Regional Director of LuLu Qatar, and LuLu’s dedicated international buying leads Mohammed Shabab (Y International Italia) and Mohamed Sanij (Y International UK), the tour marked a significant m

Discount Retail Chain Aldi is keeping the frequency high: The discounter reports seven price reductions in the first six weeks of the new year and thus sees itself confirmed as the price leader in Germany. And the retailer also lets the consumer know this mantra-like, be it in radio and TV commercials or on billboards and in online advertisements. Because Aldi feels attacked and challenged. And in fact, competitor Lidl has been trying to adopt the price leader image for some

Numerator, a consumer data and technology firm, has unveiled its 'Brands to Watch for 2026', spotlighting the fastest-growing CPG and private-label brands. Protein emerged as a key factor among both the rapidly expanding and well-established brands. This year's list of fastest-growing brands underscores the increasing demand for protein. Two protein bar brands, Built Bar and Barebells, secured spots in the top 10, along with four healthier alternatives to traditional favorite

Discount Retail Consulting (DRC) was also present in the media in China as a journalist followed us on our discount food and non-food private label trip to Shanghai, Yiwu, Luohe, Zhengzhou and Hangzhou. Read more: Weixin Official Accounts Platform #smartdiscount #weixin #trip #china #fmcg #nonfood #privatelabel #pl #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google #yiwu #luohe #shanghai #aldi

Discount Retail Consulting's management continued their journey as part of its business development trip to China (see our previous post on Yiwu). DRC was invited by the management of Luohe City Investment Industry-Finance Technology Company Ltd., which is part of the Central-Southern Henan Digital Industry-Finance Platform, located in Luohe, in south-central Henan Province, about 150 km south of Zhengzhou (population 12 million). Luohe is renowned for its over 7,000 food man

All groceries have become more expensive in the past three and a half years. The shelf prices of A-brand products rose slightly more than...

Falling sales, frugal consumers and shops that promote their private labels are keeping the manufacturers of A-brands awake. According to...

Discount Retail Chain Lidl U.S. are all equipped with a floor-to-ceiling display of fresh baked goods. Look a little closer, and you’ll...

One thing is clear: the price increase is not solely due to increased production costs, crop failures, or energy prices. The four major food retailers control 80 percent of the market, half of which is accounted for by Rewe, Edeka and the discounters. What pricing power do they have vis-à-vis food manufacturers or consumers? The report follows the journey of food from the producer to the supermarket shelf. Conversations with farmers and a look behind the scenes of industrial

Among the big five European markets, two distinct patterns stand out: 🔹 Southern Europe: highly fragmented, with a mix of strong...

Germany: Lidl continues to expand its Bioland range and focuses on regional products