Practice Overview

Currently, consolidation is the name of the game in the consumer packaged goods industry. The pressure to merge is being faced by small and large players alike. Slow earnings growth is forcing large industry players to seek acquisitions to achieve cost savings and scale that ultimately will accelerate earnings growth and drive up stock prices, while small players are feeling crunched on two fronts: the demands of large retailers and the deeper pockets of larger competitors. Changes in the competitive landscape have been most prevalent in the food and beverage industry, with numerous major acquisitions having occurred in the past year or two: Kraft Foods (Philip Morris) and Nabisco Foods, Unilever with Bestfoods, Kellogg with Keebler, General Mills and Pillsbury, PepsiCo with Quaker Oats, Nestlé with Ralston Purina and ConAgra Foods with International Home Foods. However, non-food acquisitions have been entertained, such as the failed P&G bids for Gillette, Warner Lambert and American Home Products, and even consummated, as is the case with Georgia-Pacific’s acquisition of Fort James Corp. in the paper towel and tissue business.

The pace of non-food company acquisitions is likely to accelerate as well since they face the same pressures (in terms of costs and retailer demands). This wave of consolidations presents a new set of challenges - new competitors and larger competitors with greater purchasing power and retailer clout. A new competitive landscape or the possibility of one, makes it ever more critical to develop actionable intelligence regarding current or emerging competitors, potential acquisition targets, customers and supplier to make more informed, thus better decisions that yield competitive advantage and stockholder satisfaction.

Fuld & Company’s Consumer Products/Retail Practice brings a depth of experience in addressing issues that consumer products and retail companies typically face. Our consumer products/retail understanding comes from corporate and consulting experience, as well years in providing actionable intelligence to a broad range of clients in the food and beverage, personal care and household products industries covering a broad range of issues. Companies turn to us most typically for intelligence to aid their strategic decision-making or for guidance in improving their operations and ultimately their costs so that they can compete more effectively and efficiently. Examples of the types of engagements we undertake and the benefits they provide:

For more information about how Fuld & Company's Consumer Products/Retail practice can support your intelligence needs, please contact Mark Chodnowsky at mchodnowsky@fuld.com or call (617) 492-5900.

Project Experience

New Product Rumor Confirmation Helps Determine Investment Timing

Positioning of Competitor's New Product Helps Determine Appropriate Marketing Strategy

Rival's Channel Expansion Plans Guides Client's Future Plans

Cost Improvement Opportunities Emerge Through Understanding Competitor's Processes

Understanding Competitor's New Product Innovation Initiatives Helps Determine Priorities for Resource Allocation

Understanding Competitor's Process Helps Explain Account Wins and Losses and Future Moves Required to Compete

Technical benefits and price structure of competitor's new product highlights need to emphasize performance advantages in marketing communications

Rationale Behind Competitor's Senior Management Changes Directs Food Company How to Compete in Short Term

Channel Expansion Rumor Confirmation Helps Guide Future Marketing Efforts

Best Practices in Mass Customization Demonstrates Need for New Business Paradigm and Helps Avoid Costly Mistakes

Understanding Competitor's Core Competencies Provides Guidance on Future Actions Necessary To Compete Successfully

Information Technology Differences Among Competitors Provide Direction on Productivity Improvements and Cost Savings Opportunities

E-Concept Evaluation Among Potential Customers Helps Formulate Business Proposition

Development of Competitive Framework for Industry Information Sharing Tool

Global Expansion Plans of Major Competitor Helps Guide Global Strategy and Staffing

Customer Service Competency of Competitor Provides Insights on How to Compete

Staff Bios
Mark Chodnowsky
Vice President, Technology & Manufacturing Practice

Mark Chodnowsky is Vice President and Director in Fuld’s Technology & Manufacturing Practice. He brings over 15 years experience as a strategy consultant for a broad range of leading global technology, manufacturing, and professional services companies.

In addition to his expertise in technical competitive intelligence and market strategy, Mr. Chodnowsky has conducted well over one hundred assignments advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, new product launches, technology roadmaps and licensing, pricing and distribution, and business development and diversification strategies.

In the technology sector, Mr. Chodnowsky has led assignments for firms such as IBM, JDS Uniphase, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, and Texas Instruments. His experience spans telecommunications equipment and services, semiconductor components, IT hardware and software, electronics contract manufacturing, test instrumentation, and optical components and systems.

Prior to joining Fuld & Co., Mr. Chodnowsky was a Director at Data and Strategies Group in Boston, a consulting firm specializing in technical marketing and business development. He has also held strategic planning and marketing positions at Analog Devices and Sulzer Industries, and was a senior research engineer at Becton Dickinson.

Mr. Chodnowsky holds a BE from Stevens Institute of Technology in Engineering Physics/Applied Optics and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, with a concentration in operations research and information systems.