Consumer packaged goods companies have a number of challenges to face in the global marketplace, including managing higher costs of raw materials and labor, complying with global regulatory requirements, and capturing market share through mergers and acquisitions. They also need to determine how digitization and technology will affect consumer buying behavior and how to turn big data into actionable information.

Consumer packaged goods companies are also looking at how to expand on current product portfolios to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. Emerging markets are a key focus for every company with a global footprint. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ January 2014 Global Economy Watch, 13 economies will grow faster than China in the coming year, with eight of them located in Africa. By the year 2020, 95 percent of the world’s population growth will be in developing countries, and more than one billion households will be earning middle-class incomes.

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