Consumer Goods Industry Outlook 2025: Key Data & Innovation Insights

David R. Prasser

June 28, 2025

The 2025 Consumer Goods Industry Outlook explores how brands are responding to growing demands for circularity, hyper-personalized experiences, and digital-first operations. This report highlights key shifts in product design, supply chains, and consumer engagement, driven by circular economy models, personalization, and end-to-end digitalization.

Accelerate Productivity in 2025

Reignite Growth Despite the Global Slowdown

The Consumer Goods Industry Outlook 2025 highlights how circular economy principles, digital innovation, and rising demand for personalized experiences are improving the sector.

As companies shift toward resource-efficient models and data-driven strategies, personalization and digitalization are changing the way products are designed, delivered, and consumed.

This consumer goods market report offers a concise view into the sector’s evolving dynamics, guiding business leaders, investors, and policymakers through its growth trajectory and innovation landscape.

Executive Summary: Consumer Goods Market Outlook 2025

  • Industry Growth Overview: The consumer goods market has more than 32 860 companies and 9260+ startups. The consumer product and retail market is expected to increase by USD 24.28 trillion in 2025 and is expected to reach up to 39.5 trillion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% between 2025 and 2032. On a granular level, the market has experienced a growth rate of 2.18% over the past year, as per the platform’s latest data.
  • Manpower & Employment Growth: The consumer goods market employs 6.6 million individuals globally, with an increase of 352K new jobs added in the last year.
  • Patents & Grants: The consumer goods market features more than 420 470+ patents and 2160+ grants. The patent growth rate is 3.91% yearly, with China and the US leading in patent issuance.
  • Global Footprint: Key hubs for consumer goods include the US, India, the UK, Germany, and China, showcasing a diverse global infrastructure supporting market growth. Major city hubs encompass New York City, London, Mumbai, Dubai, and Bangalore.
  • Investment Landscape: The average investment value per funding round exceeds USD 55.9 million, with over 14 030 funding rounds closed. More than 12.2K investors are actively engaged in the consumer goods market.
  • Top Investors: Major investors include Elliott Management, KKR, Bain Capital, GIC, Goldman Sachs, and more, who are collectively investing over USD 17.4 billion across numerous companies.
  • Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups, ZIRI Dynamics (NFC-enabled digital labels), eyva (AI-driven product portfolio platform), VisvaDi (smart dashboard for real-time monitoring), Chari (mobile platform with embedded fintech), and Additive Appliance (additive manufacturing for personalized consumer appliances) showcase the consumer goods market’s global reach and entrepreneurial spirit.

 

Methodology: How we created this Consumer Goods Industry Report

This report is based on proprietary data from our AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which tracks 7 million global companies, 20K+ technologies and trends as well as 150M patents, news articles, and market reports. This data includes detailed firmographic insights into approximately 7 million startups, scaleups, and tech companies. Leveraging this exhaustive database, we provide actionable insights for startup scouting, trend discovery, and technology landscaping.

For this report, we focused on the evolution of consumer goods over the past 5 years, utilizing our platform’s trend intelligence feature. Key data points analyzed include:

  • Total Companies working in the sector
  • News Coverage and Annual Growth
  • Market Maturity and Patents
  • Global Search Volume & Growth
  • Funding Activity and Top Countries
  • Subtrends within consumer goods

Our data is refreshed regularly, enabling trend comparisons for deeper insights into their relative impact and importance.

Additionally, we reviewed trusted external resources to supplement our findings with broader market data and predictions, ensuring a reliable and comprehensive overview of the consumer goods market.

What Data is used to create this Consumer Goods Market Report?

Based on data provided by the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, we observe that the consumer goods market stands out in the following categories relative to the 20K+ technologies and trends we track.

These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the market’s key metrics and inform the future direction of the market.

  • News Coverage & Publications: The consumer goods industry generated over 11 540 publications in the last year that reflect strong media and research interest.
  • Funding Rounds: It recorded more than 14 030 funding rounds, which makes it one of the most actively funded sectors.
  • Manpower: With 6.6 million+ workers and 352 000+ new jobs added in the past year, the consumer goods industry demonstrates major employment impact.
  • Patents: The consumer goods sector holds a vast patent portfolio of over 420 470.
  • Grants: It secured 2160+ grants, which showcase strong support for R&D and new consumer product development.

Explore the Data-driven Consumer Goods Industry Outlook for 2025

As per Coherent Market Insights, the consumer product and retail market is expected to increase by USD 24.28 trillion in 2025 and is expected to reach up to 39.5 trillion at a CAGR of 7.2% between 2025 and 2032.

 

 

Moreover, the consumer goods packaging market is anticipated to grow from USD 25.01 billion in 2025 to USD 40.29 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 5.44% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034.

 

 

This heatmap section visualizes the global footprint and momentum of the consumer goods industry, backed by detailed data from 32 860+ companies and 9260+ startups. Over the past year, the sector has recorded 2.18% growth, with 352 000 new employees added to a global workforce of 6.6 million.

Innovation remains a key driver, with 420 470+ patents and 2160+ grants pushing the boundaries of product and process development. The consumer goods industry’s activity is concentrated across leading country hubs such as the US, India, the UK, Germany, and China, with high-density startup activity in New York City, London, Mumbai, Dubai, and Bangalore.

A Snapshot of the Global Consumer Goods Market

The consumer goods industry is experiencing steady progress, with an annual growth rate of 2.18% and a vibrant startup ecosystem comprising 9260+ startups. Of these, more than 1390 are in the early stages, which indicates a strong pipeline of emerging innovation.

The sector also shows signs of consolidation, with over 1480 M&A activities recorded to date. On the innovation front, the industry holds a robust portfolio of 420 470+ patents filed by 180 980+ unique applicants, growing at an annual rate of 3.91%.

 

Company Distribution Across Various Funding Stages

 

Additionally, China leads global patent filings with 185 380+ patents, followed by the US with 77 420+, which highlights key innovation centers in the global market.

Explore the Funding Landscape of the Consumer Goods Market

The consumer goods sector continues to attract strong investor interest, with over 14 030 funding rounds closed to date. More than 12 200 investors have backed 4010+ companies.

On average, each funding round in this industry commands an investment of USD 55.9 million. This reflects both high growth potential and confidence in emerging technologies and business models within the consumer goods space.

Who is Investing in the Consumer Goods Market?

The combined value invested by the top investors in the consumer goods market exceeds USD 17.4 billion, which reflects institutional confidence in the sector’s growth and innovation potential. Below is a breakdown of the top investors, their number of portfolio companies, and total capital deployed:

 

Top 10 Consumer Goods Investors (All time)

 

  • Elliott Management has invested USD 2.7 billion in 2 companies. It agreed to acquire a majority stake in American Greetings, which is a global greetings-card and celebration products company.
  • KKR has supported 10 companies with USD 2.1 billion. KKR reinforced its presence in consumer healthcare with the EUR 2.65 billion Karo Healthcare purchase.
  • Bain Capital has invested USD 2.1 billion in 6 companies.
  • GIC has backed 5 companies with USD 1.9 billion. It acquired a minority stake in the pharmaceutical and consumer products company Cimed.
  • Goldman Sachs has invested USD 1.9 billion in 17 companies.
  • Oaktree Capital Management has supported 5 companies with USD 1.6 billion.
  • SK Group has invested in at least 1 company with USD 1.4 billion.
  • Blackstone has invested in 4 companies with USD 1.3 billion.
  • Perrigo has supported at least 1 company with USD 1.2 billion.
  • Mubadala has backed 2 companies with USD 1.2 billion. It acquired a majority stake in Bugaboo, a Dutch premium stroller and infant products brand, from Bain Capital.

Top Consumer Goods Innovations & Trends

Discover the emerging trends in the consumer goods market along with their firmographic details:

 

Trends-and-CAGR-Template-Industry-Reports

 

  • Circular Economy: More than 31 110 consumer goods companies are embedding circular economy principles into how products are made, used, and reused. Employing over 3.2 million people, with 1.84 million new hires in the past year, this domain is gaining ground at a 6.99% annual growth rate. From recyclable packaging and refillable products to repairable appliances and closed-loop logistics, companies are reducing waste while aligning with sustainability mandates. This shift is reducing costs and enabling brands to meet rising consumer demand for eco-conscious alternatives.
  • Personalization: With 282 410+ companies involved and 11.8 million employees, personalization is becoming a competitive necessity. Nearly 9.7 million new hires last year reflect how the consumer goods industry is scaling artificial intelligence (AI) tools and data analytics to offer personalized product recommendations, custom packaging, and even made-to-order goods. Although the annual growth rate sits at 4.9%, the high employment signals how deeply personalization is influencing consumer product development.
  • Digitalization: A rise of 660 220 companies are leading digital transformation in the consumer goods space, supported by 33.9 million employees. While employment rose by only 300 000 last year, the 6.97% growth reflects the depth of digital adoption. Consumer goods brands are integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time inventory tracking, leveraging digital twins for manufacturing agility, and using e-commerce data to optimize consumer product launches.

5 Top Examples from 9200+ Innovative Consumer Goods Startups

The five innovative startups showcased below are picked based on data including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.

ZIRI Dynamics specializes in NFC-enabled Digital Labels

Swiss startup ZIRI Dynamics provides digital labels that drive circular economy practices in the consumer goods sector. It connects physical products to digital identities by enabling consumers to access sustainability data, product origins, and recycling options directly on their smartphones.

Additionally, the startup integrates tamper detection, blockchain-based product birth certificates, and digital twins to authenticate products and track their journey from production to disposal. It also delivers personalized content such as offers and usage tips based on real-time consumer behavior.

 

 

Moreover, the startup facilitates resale, reuse, and returns while supplying businesses with analytics through its product cloud and intelligence tools.

By embedding transparency, traceability, and consumer engagement into each product, the startup reduces waste and builds brand trust.

eyva offers an AI-driven Product Portfolio Platform

German startup eyva delivers an AI-powered platform that allows consumer goods companies, particularly in the beauty and personal care sector, to manage and optimize their product portfolios.

It connects market, product, and consumer data to identify gaps, improve existing products, and remove underperforming ones. Next, the platform benchmarks each product against competitors and industry standards to assess performance across the lifecycle.

The platform also scans millions of products to detect trends linked to consumer needs, ingredients, social buzz, and new launches.

Additionally, it generates instant, shareable reports and product concepts to align internal teams around data-driven decisions.

eyva sends automated insights on competitor activity and evolving customer preferences.

By structuring analytics into one connected platform, the startup further streamlines portfolio management, improves responsiveness to market changes, and strengthens product relevance.

VisvaDi delivers a Smart Dashboard for Real-time Monitoring

US-based startup VisvaDi develops an IoT-powered asset tracking platform that supports real-time monitoring of consumer goods throughout the supply chain.

The startup integrates smart sensors with a web-based dashboard to track location, temperature, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) light, and shock exposure from storage to delivery.

It also incorporates radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for automated inventory updates and smooth package tracking. This reduces manual errors and improves logistics accuracy.

 

visvadi

Credit: VisvaDi

 

Additionally, the platform enables geofencing, sends alerts for condition deviations or delays, and generates historical reports to support operational decisions.

Through its integration with onboard diagnostics II (OBDII), VisvaDi monitors vehicle performance and driver behavior to increase transport safety and efficiency.

Chari offers a Mobile Platform with Embedded Fintech

Moroccan startup Chari provides a mobile application that streamlines product ordering and delivery for consumer goods retailers.

It enables local businesses to browse consumer products, place orders at competitive prices, and receive deliveries within hours at no additional cost.

 

 

Additionally, the platform integrates financial services through a license from the Central Bank of Morocco. This allows businesses to access payment options and micro-insurance directly within the app.

Further, it establishes a direct communication channel between merchants and the company, enhancing service coordination and responsiveness.

Additive Appliance provides Additive Manufacturing for Personalized Consumer Appliances

Italian startup Additive Appliance develops additive manufacturing technologies that produce advanced consumer goods focused on performance, sustainability, and personalization.

It applies a material-by-design approach rooted in metamaterials that are engineered structures shaped by topology, material distribution, and constituent behavior. The metamaterials create systems with precise thermal, structural, and flow characteristics.

Specifically, it designs thermal metamaterials for efficient heat transfer, structural metamaterials for strength and weight optimization, and flow metamaterials for fluid control. It also develops next-generation metamaterials that integrate multiple functions across different scales.

By advancing additive manufacturing techniques, the startup creates compact and efficient components for appliances and personal care products.

Further, it integrates digital tools to increase prototyping, enhance user functionality, and reduce environmental impact.

Gain Comprehensive Insights into Consumer Goods Trends, Startups, and Technologies

The consumer goods market is set to expand steadily through 2025, driven by next-gen technologies and shifting market dynamics.

Innovations in generative AI for product development, autonomous retail formats, and edge computing for in-store analytics are reshaping how brands operate and engage with consumers.

With the rise of voice commerce, digital product passports, and embedded finance, the industry is moving toward connected, automated, and immersive consumer experiences.

Get in touch to explore 9200+ startups and scaleups, as well as all market trends impacting consumer goods companies.