Circana Unpacked

#3 - Navigating the Seismic Shifts in TV Viewing

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Television is entering one of its most consequential moments, as marketers face more choices, faster innovation, and higher expectations for accountab...

#2 - How 7 Generations are Shaping Demand – and What that Means for Brands and Retailers

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s Global EVP & Chief Advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insights, joins the podcast to explore the fascinating...

#1 - Why Success in 2026 Will Go to Organizations Grounded in Truth

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Circana’s President and CEO, Stuart Aitken, joins the podcast and unpacks: The ways in which AI is becoming embedded in everyday decisions, trans...

#179 - Harnessing the Power of Social Media: Launching New CPG Products with Impact

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are more stories to share from Circana’s New Product Pacesetters, our annual roundup of the top-selling CPG new products. In this special epis...

#178 - Sustainability: What the U.S. Can Learn From EMEA

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the past six years, Circana has collaborated with NYU's Stern Center for Sustainable Business to produce a report on sustainability in the consume...

#177 - The Convenience Channel: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are more than 150,000 convenience stores across the U.S., and while multiple chains make up the majority, these typically small-format stores ca...

#176 - Navigating Consumer Uncertainty: The Role of CPG and Retail

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Household spending has shifted due to high inflation and economic uncertainty. Consumers are prioritizing essential items like groceries while often f...

#175 - Exploring Winning Strategies of CPG Growth Leaders

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While they differ in size of revenue, U.S. CPG Growth Leaders all found innovative ways to connect with fragmented consumer communities using a range ...

#174 - Licensing’s Growth Opportunity

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Globally, licensing is a $365 billion business. The U.S. comprises about 60% of the market. Kristen McLean, senior executive director, The Circana Ent...

#173 - Global Insights: The Rise of CPG Private Brands Across Regions

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a share of the total CPG/FMCG market, private brands vary across major global regions. In the EU, private labels account for nearly 39% of total ma...

#172 - Time to Refresh Fresh Grocery: Identifying Opportunities for Growth

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by their recent Top Trends in Fresh webinar, Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods group, and Kelly Krumholz, perimeter client in...

#171 - Innovation is Back at CES 2025, and It’s More than AI

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into the cutting-edge innovations and trends from CES 2025 with Circana’s tech analysts Paul Gagnon, Ben Arnold, and Mike Crosby. This episode ...

#170 - Revolutionizing Weight Loss: The Impact of GLP-1 Medications on Consumer Behavior

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The impact of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) usage for weight loss on the CPG food and beverage, nonfood, and other industries is just beginning. It’...

#169 - Discover the Nuances of Beverage Consumers

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carbonated soft drinks and bottled water are the universally preferred beverages across generations. From there, nuances emerge that shed light on the...

#168 - Sipping Success: Total Beverage Trends and Opportunities

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While hydration is still key, consumers want more from their beverages. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s global executive vice president and chief advis...

#167 - Consumer Optimism Brightens the Holiday Outlook

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite inflation, consumers are optimistic about their ability to spend a little more on gifts, foods, and beverages for upcoming holiday occasions. ...

#166 - An Audit of America’s Kitchen Reveals a Shift to “Just-In-Time” Inventories

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For more than 30 years, Circana has conducted extensive audits of the food items found in America’s kitchens, from spice cabinets and pantries to re...

#165 - Spice Up Q4 2024 Holidays with CPG Inspiration

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The outlook for fall and winter holidays is bright, even for CPG items experiencing persistent inflation. Consumers are willing to spend a little more...

#164 - Social Media Is Driving Demand for Fresh

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cottage cheese. Grapes. Cucumbers. Each of these categories — among others — has seen tremendous sales lifts based on inspiration from social medi...

#163 - Expanding the Lens on Well-Being for New Opportunities

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Retailers, brands, and services can support consumers around the world on their physical, mental, and social health journeys. Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circa...

#162 - Younger Shoppers Are Upending Traditional Grocery. Think of It as an Opportunity.

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

U.S. consumers under the age of 35 will experience similar life stages as previous generations, but they will never mirror the grocery shopping patter...

#161 - How Industry Should Adapt to Changing Approaches to Meals

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to meals, U.S. consumers are having a 2020 moment, believes Darren Seifer, our industry advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insigh...

#160 - The Food and Beverage Chronicles: Learning from Eating Patterns in America

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Circana has been chronicling changing consumption behaviors in its Eating Patterns in America research for 39 years. David Portalatin, Circana’s sen...

#159 - Innovation and Inspiration: Takeaways from the IDDBA Show

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can you use the biggest takeaways from the 2024 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show in June to help your business succeed? Jo...

#158 - What’s the Deal with Dupes?

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dupes, or replicas, of premium products are having a moment. Fueled by high inflation and turbocharged by social media, dupes are being purchased and ...

#157 - Lean Into Consumers’ Desire to Escape

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nostalgia, inspiration, and self-care are trends driving consumer escapism. Inspired by her report, The Great Escape: Exploring the Rise of the Joy Ec...

#156 - Strategies to Maintain New Product Momentum

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are four key principles fueling successful innovation beyond launch: distribution growth, trial, marketing support, and product expansion. None ...

#155 - Emotions and Inflation Impact Consumer Choices

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Consumers continue to feel the pinch of inflation. While food remains a priority, consumers face tough choices when making any purchases, but emotions...

#154 - Beverage Alcohol Consumption Reveals a Generational Divide

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Beverage alcohol consumption has changed dramatically in recent years. The pandemic impacted the way people consumed adult beverages, and younger cons...

#153 - CPG Growth Leaders: Learn From the Best

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our distribution, velocity, and penetration data, along with other metrics, shows us the top CPG Growth Leaders. But by listening to and observing t...

#152 - How Private Brands Are Gaining Share

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2023, CPG private labels grew dollar and unit sales thanks to the unique confluence of retailers investing in their own brands and consumers facing...

#151 - CPG Retail Is Rethinking the Competition

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our expansion of multi-outlet data, MULO+, increases point-of-sale (POS) coverage 15%, providing 90% accuracy of CPG dollar sales sourced from census...

#150 - The Diversity Advantage

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in business has positive benefits for workers, for business results, and for people and communities engaging with the...

#149 - Leaning into Generational Differences at CPG Retail

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some 93% of Gen Z and younger millennials are changing their behavior based on higher prices, a much higher percentage than previous generations. Step...

#148 - Retailers Recognize the Value of SNAP Shoppers

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 13% of Americans, or 17% of U.S. households, receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits, yet they represent nearly a third of total sto...

#147 - How To Win the Trip in Grocery Retail

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Moving from full-service to self-service in meat and deli departments, increasing value-added offerings in produce and deli, these are just a few exam...

#146 - Improvements Outnumber New Consumer Tech Products at CES 2024

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most of the consumer tech innovation at the Consumer Electronics Show 2024 are enhancements to existing technology; think better quality audio and new...

#145 - Opting for Linear or Connected TV? The Answer Might be Both

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Within the complex arena of marketing mix, linear TV and connected TV are viewed separately. Currently, CTV is having its moment, surpassing linear TV...

#144 - Pre-CES 2024: Looking for What’s Possible with Tech

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic put the breaks on a lot of consumer tech innovation, so anticipation is building for CES 2024, when many companies will display their lat...

#143 - Black Friday Week Sales: Naughty or Nice?

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Traditionally in the U.S., the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, which moves holiday shopping into high gear. While doorbusters have dwindled, b...

#142 - Strengthening Retailer Differentiation

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As middle-of-the-road grocery retail continues to get squeezed, reaching consumers before they make decisions becomes critical. In this Fresh Pulse ep...

#141 - Small Appliances Reflect Our Need for Speed

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Despite a forecasted sales decline of 4% - 5% through 2024, sales of small appliances remain elevated from pre-pandemic levels. To buck the negative t...

#140 - Consumer Tech Industry Pulse and Outlook

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Both the economy and the replenishment cycle of products are negatively impacting the consumer technology industry. Paul Gagnon, Circana’s consumer ...

Talking Turkey and the Reality of a Challenging Economy

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, talks turkey – and economic pressures – with Circana’s Joan Driggs. Times are tough and while it...

Causal and Consumer Factors Fuel Demand Forecasting

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To achieve growth, companies strive to predict what the consumer is likely to do in both the near term and long term. Optimal forecasting, according t...

Frozen Foods Accelerate the Speed to Table

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The unique value proposition of frozen foods is not getting the attention it deserves. Based on her webinar, Icy Hot Insights: Frozen Trends, Sally Ly...

How Digital is Defining Grocery’s Long Game

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this Fresh Pulse episode, Jonna Parker, team lead, Circana’s Fresh Foods Group, highlights consumer purchasing behavior in the meat department. P...

Busting the Myth that We’re Consuming Less

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As inflation continues to press consumers, volume sales are down across food and beverage. Amid economic headwinds and a return to pre-pandemic activi...

A Sneak Peek into “Inside America’s Kitchen”

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Circana has undertaken an extensive audit of America’s kitchens, recording what’s in our pantries and refrigerators, and inventorying appliances, ...

Redefining Discovery for Cash-strapped Consumers

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation may be easing, but consumers are still paying dramatically higher prices than two years ago, and face increasing pressure resulting from the...

What Books Tell Us About the New Normal

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kristen McClean, executive director, industry analyst, Circana Books & Entertainment, describes books as “ideas wrapped up for sale.” When we ...

The Value of the Plus-one Purchase

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Easing inflation is making headlines, but consumers remain challenged by high prices. In this Fresh Pulse episode, Jonna Parker, principal of Circana’...

Turning the Tide of Tech

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Consumer tech purchases for school, work, and entertainment were high during the pandemic. Tech items also have a long lifecycle, with replacements oc...

How CPG Retailers Can Rewrite Their Summer Playbook

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is high, which might limit discretionary spending and travel for many. Still, it’s summer and consumers are making the most of pandemic in...

Bold, Healthy Options Lead the Sweets & Snacks Innovation Awards

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Innovation is a foundational attribute of Circana, so its sponsorship of The Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards makes perfect...

Complete Wallet’s Total Omni Shopper View

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The merger of IRI and NPD ― now Circana ― brings together data and expertise from 20 industries, including CPG, general merchandise, and foodservi...

CPG Retail’s Role in Lifting Consumer Confidence

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CPG retail is feeling the impact of tumbling consumer confidence. Ongoing inflation and anticipation of a recession have consumers pulling back on sto...

Consumer Insights from Mobility and Transportation

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why, where, and when people drive changed dramatically during the pandemic. Many of those shifts are proving sticky — with big implications for the ...

Leveraging the Complete View of the Beauty Market

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Insights that are anything but skin deep. Circana’s Larissa Jensen, vice president and beauty industry advisor, describes the power of Circana’s C...

Observations and Insights Across the Retail Landscape

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Circana’s Don Unser, president of thought leadership and Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor for the retail industry, share observations and insig...

Food and Beverage Consumer Trends — Frugal Fatigue

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As consumers wrestle with inflation and resume busy lifestyles, it’s critical to stay ahead of their shifting consumption trends. Circana now provid...

Fresh Pulse: Strategies Amid Declining Volume

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Volume is down more than 4% across the store in February, but a little less so in fresh departments. Despite the dim outlook, Jonna Parker, principal ...

The Future of Snacking

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Snacking is a consumer barometer for mood, behavior or even how busy we are. While snacking helped us cope or stay entertained during the pandemic, no...

Fresh Pulse: Addressing the Challenges of 2023

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Retailers and their CPG partners need to pull out all the stops in 2023 to acknowledge and support shoppers as they work to balance health, time and b...

Consumer Demand Revealed in Book Sales

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

According to Kristen McLean, Executive Director, Industry Analyst, NPD Books & Entertainment, books are “the idea market.” And given her view acro...

CES Podcast No. 4: How Tech is Enhancing the Consumer Experience

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the final CES podcast episode, NPD colleagues Ben Arnold, consumer technology industry analyst and Joe Derochowski, home and home improvement indus...

CES Podcast No. 3: IT and TV Highlights from CES

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

NPD’s consumer technology industry advisor Paul Gagnon and retail IT and B2B technology industry analyst Mike Crosby share highlights from CES in La...

CES Podcast No. 2: Technology for a Better Life

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Recapping their Consumer Electronics Show presentation, “7 Ways the Consumer Electronics Consumer Has Changed,” NPD colleagues Ben Arnold and Paul...

C-Suite Conversations: Creating a Sustainable Industry to Nurture Future Generations

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IRI's Growth Insights C-Suite Conversations feature notable leaders talking about the future of CPG, retail and media. Our newest installment focuses ...

CES #1: Where Consumer Products Meet Their Future

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The 2023 Consumer Electronics Show will showcase changes to the industry that put consumer needs and challenges at the forefront of technology and sol...

Dairy Discovery

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Like many departments, inflation is driving growth in the dairy case. But some categories are going strong on their own might, including frozen novelt...

Innovation Brightens the Outlook for Frozen Foods

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Buoyed by the uptick in sales of frozen foods throughout the pandemic, retailers and CPGs are doubling down on the department’s expansion and availa...

In-store Bakery Is Back

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While the bakery aisle performed well throughout the pandemic, in-store bakeries took a major hit. But now they’re back. To fight inflation, consume...

Fresh Pulse: Meal Making and Mood Lifting

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is driving us back to CPG retail for food-at-home solutions. But even as shoppers seek to save, they’re still finding ways to elevate thei...

Forecasting with Confidence

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gone are the days of forecasting for the year ahead. Spurred by the chaos of the pandemic and ongoing market uncertainty, CPG manufacturers and retail...

A Thanksgiving Outlook

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Will high food inflation take the stuffing out of Thanksgiving celebrations? Darren Seifer, executive director and industry analyst for food and bever...

The Shifting Protein Landscape

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation, animal welfare issues and new generational preferences are all affecting the sales of various fresh meat and poultry products. Chris Dubois...

The Sustainability Growth Opportunity

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sustainability-marketed products are driving outsized growth. They represent just 17% of CPG products but are driving a 32% share of market growth. Fe...

The Customer is Key in Multicultural Marketing

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Intersectionality acknowledges our personal experiences, from race and sexual orientation to where we live, our interests and our abilities. Gregory C...

Private Brands in an Inflationary Period

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Consumers haven’t turned to private label as a cost savings measure in our current inflationary period to the degree they did during the Great Reces...

Beverage Alcohol Trends and Outlook

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Compared to other categories, beverage alcohol has been more insulated from inflationary pressures, so while value options will do well during periods...

The Silver Lining of CPG Inflation

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Look no further than the four Ps – price, promotions, positioning, pack architecture – plus innovation to fight back against inflation in the shor...

C-Suite Conversations: Operating in a Purpose-driven Culture

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IRI’s Growth Insights C-Suite Conversations feature notable leaders talking about the future of CPG, retail and media. Our newest installment featur...

Fresh Perspectives with Jonna and Sally: Leverage Fresh to Fight the Split Trip

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With inflation increasing, consumers are spending more time finding deals and shopping across multiple stores to get what they want at the best prices...

Fresh Perspectives with Jonna and Sally: Inspire Consumers with Their Definition of Value

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is adding complexity to our relationship with fresh foods, but retailers, take note, people don't always run to the lowest-priced option. Sa...

Fresh Produce in an Era of Inflation

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Produce isn’t immune to inflation, but consumers are willing to pay higher prices for their go-to items and value-added produce that enable easy mea...

Mine the Private Label and National Brand Gap

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While private label products were able to gain share during the Great Recession, they have yet to make notable gains against national brands in our cu...

Retailers Are Dialing Up Innovation and Curation

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With inflation high, home meals and home entertaining are winning out over foodservice. Retailers are stepping up, showing a greater understanding of ...

C-Suite Conversations: Nurturing Happy and Healthy Homes

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IRI’s Growth Insights C-Suite Conversations feature notable leaders talking about the future of CPG, retail and media. Our newest installment featur...

Achieving and Winning with Accurate Portrayals of Women and Girls in Media

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The 2021 GEM® Lift Study, produced in partnership between IRI and the Association of National Advertisers’ SeeHer movement, reveals the positive sa...

More on Meats the Eye

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even with high inflation, meat sales remain strong. Still, the industry is taking steps to meet cash-strapped consumers at the meat case. From value c...

March 2022’s Fresh Pulse

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation is rising and shopper behavior is changing. Jonna Parker, principal of IRI's Fresh Center of Excellence, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president o...

The Dairy Case: Our Recovery Barometer

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Increasing mobility, product versatility, innovation and a balance of health and indulgence are all reflected in the dairy case. John Crawford, IRI’...

Cannabis Outlook 2022 and Beyond

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Despite regulatory hurdles, the cannabis market continues to grow, especially in the $45 billion U.S. market. BDSA’s chief commercial officer, Jessi...

February 2022’s Fresh Pulse

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A confluence of inflation, supply challenges, bad weather and the omicron variant drove at-home food sales in January 2022. In this monthly outlook of...

CPG Demand, Supply and Inflation Outlook

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wavering demand, insufficient supply and rising inflation negatively impact the CPG industry and consumers. KK Davey, president of client engagement a...

Private Brand Landscape

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IRI’s private brand expert, MaryEllen Lynch, Principal, Center Store Solutions, shares findings and insights from IRI research into private brands. ...

C-Suite Conversations: Directing Digital Transformation

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

IRI’s special C-Suite Conversations series features notable leaders talking about the future of consumer packaged goods and retail. This episode fea...

January 2022’s Fresh Pulse

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Growth in 2022 will be driven by long-term trends of convenience, exploration and health, but look for more flexibility as shoppers adjust to the chal...

C-Store: A Story of Resiliency to Drive CPG

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. convenience channel has rebounded from the 2020 lockdown, recently delivering 7% dollar growth compared to less than 2% growth for total CPG ...