OC&C Strategy Consultants

From GLP-1 adoption to clean label, demand for functional ingredients is often viewed as individual trends. Together, they represent a structural shift in consumer demand that is reshaping innovation priorities and changing where long-term value will be created. The ingredients businesses creating competitive advantage are investing in differentiated capabilities that help customers reformulate, innovate and meet evolving consumer expectations.

Improving commercial performance remains essential, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. Growth is becoming more selective, and the strongest ingredients businesses are pairing operational excellence with portfolio reshaping. Our latest research explores why tomorrow’s winners will be defined not only by how efficiently they operate, but by where they choose to compete.

Growth in the ingredients sector is taking a new shape. End markets are becoming more selective, pricing tailwinds are fading and changing consumer expectations are redefining where value is created across food, beverage, beauty and consumer health. The businesses outperforming are making deliberate choices about where to compete, investing behind differentiated capabilities and reshaping their portfolios towards structurally attractive growth opportunities.

Retailers are redefining the marketplace model, launching in-house platforms to expand assortment, attract new customers, and create capital-light growth. But success requires more than adding third-party sellers. Retailers must carefully balance 1P and 3P models, protect the customer experience, and integrate marketplace operations without diluting brand trust. OC&C’s Retail Proposition Index 2025 reveals how leading retailers are approaching this challenge - and what it takes to win in the next era of Marketplaces 2.0. Download the full report to explore how retailers are using marketplaces as a strategic growth engine.

Discover the transformative insights of OC&C Strategy Consultants' "Retail Proposition Index 2025." This comprehensive report offers unparalleled guidance on adapting to market dynamics, understanding consumer behavior, and seizing emerging opportunities. Empower your retail strategy with data-driven intelligence designed for sustainable growth in an evolving marketplace.