What Unilever's New CEO Isn't Saying About Retail Media

Retail Media Breakfast Club

In this episode, we analyze Unilever’s new CEO Fernandez's first major speech, where he surprisingly omits any mention of e-commerce or retail media. This deviation is unusual compared to industry norms, but it may indicate these elements are now considered standard. Fernandez outlines a significant increase in brand and marketing investment (BMI), notably higher than industry averages. He emphasizes a shift towards influencer marketing, targeting hyper-local and authentic brand representation, seen as more effective among younger audiences. Fernandez also underscores cost leadership, including a rigorous approach to marketing ROI through Unilever's UBS system. The implications for retail media networks and consumer brands are substantial, given the expected increase in spending and a premium product focus. Fernandez's approach suggests a transformative strategy for Unilever, blending cost-effective manufacturing and innovative marketing to adapt to evolving consumer expectations.

Link to Fernandez' interview with Barclays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCh7KubuZdo
Link to Keen Decision Systems' report: https://4277189.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4277189/MARKETING%20CONTENT/11.%20Reports/Keen%20Marketing%20Insights%20Report.pdf?utm_campaign=6657089-MADTECH.AI%20Webinar&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GnSBZzL_TDXg0TzZ92qpH61pwvWyWR363joPHo8HvgtYRi-BSA1mJ5k-_ZF6VSIMTnd4G5P60vDnQY5E881_rW-HAdw&_hsmi=344733623&utm_content=344733623&utm_source=hs_automation

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CHAPTERS:
(00:00) About Today's Topic
(00:54) About the Show
(01:16) Introduction and Initial Observations
(02:58) Marketing Investment Insights
(05:18) Influencer Marketing Strategy
(07:11) Cost Leadership and Retail Media
(08:58) Implications for Retailers and Consumer Brands
(12:19) Conclusion and Future Outlook
(12:45) Outro

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