We keep our ear to the ground for the interesting stats, insights and discussion points you need to feel in the know and shape the future with confidence.

1. Big brand, big problem

For years, scale was the secret sauce for consumer packaged goods (also known as CPG) giants — until it stopped working. Now, 35% of consumers don’t care about brands, 42% think “innovation” just means cost-cutting, and 78% of retailers expect only one mass-market brand per shelf to survive. Playing defense won’t fix that. The companies still in the game are leaning into Disruptive Optimism  simplifying portfolios, modernizing with tech, and rebuilding trust across consumers, retailers and investors. Because when pricing levers are maxed out and belief in big brands is fading, relevance becomes the only real strategy. In this market, legacy isn’t a safety net — it’s dead weight. The brands that win will be the ones bold enough to let go of the past and build what’s next.

EY State of Consumer Products 2025 report

2. Trade chaos, meet strategy

Trade’s no longer playing by the old rules — it’s moving fast, breaking things, and changing the game daily. Tariffs are spiking higher than some tax bills, ESG mandates won’t stop morphing, and the IMF just cut its growth forecast to 2.8% for 2025. In this climate, waiting it out is less “strategic pause,” more missed opportunity. But the smartest tax and trade leaders aren’t sweating the chaos — they’re using it. With AI, data tools, and sharp cross-functional playbooks, they’re spotting risks early, chasing capital while it’s moving, and turning disruption into a competitive edge. If trade is a rollercoaster, now’s not the time to close your eyes — it’s time to lean in, grab the front seat, and enjoy the ride (with a solid scenario model in your back pocket).

Why tax leaders shouldn’t “wait and see” on tariffs and trade

3. Cash is king, but culture is queen

Revenue might turn heads, but cash flow keeps the lights on. Too many startups chase sales while cash quietly slips out the back door. The real secret? Building a cash culture — one where every team member, from the C-suite to the sales floor, sees cash not as a finance issue, but a business lifeline. Forget being an interest-free ATM for your clients or mistaking profit for liquidity. A strong balance sheet doesn’t just pay the bills — it powers growth, protects your valuation, and puts your company in the driver’s seat. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about making money. It’s about keeping it…

5 steps to building a cash culture

4. Breaking the bank rules

With politics creeping into policy, banks are dealing with a regulatory mess. Every country wants to make its own rules. It’s turning into a game of fiefdoms, little power zones where each regulator calls the shots. The EU’s tightening rules on foreign banks, cracking down on money laundering, and keeping a close eye on digital risks. Meanwhile, banks have to juggle all these different demands while also prepping for geopolitical curveballs. Long story short: if you want to stay in the game, you’ve got to build resilience, stay alert, and be ready to adapt quickly…

EU banking supervision adapting to geopolitical challenges

5. AI, but make it trashy

Plastic waste is everywhere, and it’s piling up fast. India now produces nearly 20% of the world’s plastic waste and has become one of the top ocean polluters. But here’s where AI swoops in like the recycling superhero we didn’t know we needed. With machine learning, computer vision, and hyperspectral imaging (fancy science for “really smart sorting”), AI is turning the messy business of plastic waste into a streamlined, data-driven process. We’re talking robots that sort trash better than humans, satellites that track ocean junk, and algorithms that help design plastics that actually break down. AI is helping us clean up our act by making plastic management smarter, cleaner, and way more efficient.

How AI can help reverse the plastic waste crisis

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