Insights and highlights from CAGNY 2025

In this webcast, three EY leaders experienced in consumer products strategy discuss their takeaways from the recent CAGNY 2025 conference.

The recent CAGNY (Consumer Analyst Group of New York) 2025 conference, as in the past, offered a compelling glimpse into the portfolio strategies, commercial endeavors and operational efficiency efforts of ~30 of the top consumer products companies. CEOs, CFOs and other leaders are contending with substantial headwinds that include geopolitical tensions, rising input costs of key ingredients, foreign exchange volatility and increased price sensitivity among consumers that is putting pressure on demand and margins. 

The overarching message of this year’s conference suggests a bifurcation among companies: Many companies shared that they are seeing successes from transformational investments in operating assets they made in recent years. Others have underinvested in their operations and internal workings and are now trying to play catchup amid those challenging headwinds.  

Watch as Rob Holston, EY Global and Americas Consumer Products Leader, joins Strategy and Transactions leaders Ashley Costa and Don Johnson to share their takeaways from CAGNY 2025.   

Key themes that emerged from the many presentations were:

• Conveying confidence in your business model:
  Companies are doubling down on categories with enduring potential and exiting categories where the ability to differentiate themselves is limited.
• Achieving consumer-centricity:
  Price and package your goods with the aim of maximizing consumer satisfaction and market reach.
• Optimizing a cost-efficient operating model:
  Incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability across business processes. Automate and modernize your supply chain for agility and efficiency.
• Creating value at scale for long-term durability:
  Accelerate productivity programs that fund increased capital expenditures and marketing investment. Drive efficiencies to maximize balance sheet flexibility.

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