FMCG Report 2025: Key Data & Innovations

The FMCG Report 2025 highlights how digital transformation, evolving consumer behavior, and environmental responsibility are reshaping the sector. Ecommerce, sustainability, and digitalization are driving change across product development, supply chains, and customer engagement. This FMCG industry outlook offers stakeholders, investors, policymakers, and analysts a detailed snapshot of the industry’s direction, innovation pace, and growth outlook.

Executive Summary: FMCG Market Outlook 2025

• Industry Growth Overview: The FMCG market has more than 49 030+ companies and 1540+ startups. It is expected to increase by USD 456.9 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% between 2024 and 2029. On a granular level, the market experienced a growth rate of 6.09% over the past year, as per our Discovery Platform‘s latest data.
• Manpower & Employment Growth: The FMCG market employs over 14.1 million individuals globally, with an increase of 625.1K new jobs added in the last year.
• Patents & Grants: The market features more than 1900 patents and 3330 grants. The patent growth rate is 4.65% yearly, with China and the USA leading in patent issuance.
• Global Footprint: Key hubs for FMCG include the USA, India, the UK, Germany, and Canada. Major city hubs encompass London, New York City, Mumbai, Dubai, and Bangalore.
• Investment Landscape: The average investment value per funding round exceeds USD 77.6 million, with over 23 830 funding rounds closed. More than 18.6K investors are actively engaged in the FMCG market.
• Top Investors: Major investors include KKR, Bain Capital, Elliott Management, Goldman Sachs, UBS, and more, who collectively invested over USD 22.2 billion across numerous companies.
• Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups, Fraqtion Labs (real-time demand forecasting and inventory optimization), iRefill (refill dispenser systems), HiQ Africa (ERP platform for FMCG retail management), Sokoflow (mobile-based platform), and SQB Robotics (AI-powered robotic system), showcase the FMCG market’s global reach and entrepreneurial spirit.

Methodology: How we created this FMCG 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 FMCG 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 FMCG

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 FMCG market.

What Data is used to create this FMCG Market Report?

Based on data provided by the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, we observe that the FMCG 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 FMCG industry received coverage in over 720 news publications in the past year.
• Funding Rounds: The industry recorded more than 23 830 funding rounds in our database.
• Manpower: The FMCG market employs over 14.1 million workers, with more than 625 100 new employees added in the last year alone.
• Patents: Companies in the FMCG sector filed over 1900 patents.
• Grants: The industry received 3330 grants across various initiatives.
• Yearly Global Search Growth: The global online search interest in the FMCG sector has grown by 43.95% year-over-year.

Explore the Data-driven FMCG Market Report for 2025

This heatmap visualizes key indicators shaping the global FMCG landscape. The database captures insights from over 49 030+ companies, including 1540+ startups. Over the past year, the industry expanded by 6.09%, supported by an addition of 625 100 employees, bringing the total global workforce to over 14.1 million.

As per​​ Infiniti Research, ​​the FMCG market size is forecast to increase by USD 456.9 billion at a CAGR of 3.2% between 2024 and 2029.

Credit: Infiniti Research

Moreover, the global FMCG industry is projected to reach up to EUR 19 trillion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.7%.

Credit: Market Research Future

Innovation remains a central driver, with 1900+ patents filed and 3330+ grants awarded. This signals ongoing investments in product development and process optimization.

Geographically, the FMCG industry is concentrated across five leading countries like the USA, India, the UK, Germany, and Canada. Moreover, major urban centers such as London, New York City, Mumbai, Dubai, and Bangalore are emerging as FMCG innovation hotspots.

A Snapshot of the Global FMCG Market

The FMCG sector demonstrates steady expansion, with an annual growth rate of 6.09%. The startup ecosystem remains active, comprising 1540+ identified startups and more than 2180 companies in early-stage development.

In parallel, the FMCG industry shows strong consolidation activity with over 2430 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) recorded. On the innovation front, FMCG companies filed over 1900 patents through more than 1360 applicants with a yearly patent growth rate of 4.65%.

China leads in patent issuance with more than 650 filings, followed closely by the USA with over 530 filings.

Explore the Funding Landscape of the FMCG Market

The FMCG sector continues to attract major investor interest, with more than 23 830 funding rounds closed to date. Over 18 600 investors participated in these rounds, backing more than 6700 companies globally. The average investment value stands at approximately USD 77.6 million per round.

Who is Investing in the FMCG Market?

The top investors in the industry collectively deployed over USD 22.2 billion. Here is a breakdown of the leading investors by total invested value and the number of companies they have supported:

• KKR invested USD 4.1 billion across 13 companies.
• Bain Capital backed USD 2.3 billion in 9 companies.
• Elliott Management invested USD 2.3 billion in 4 companies.
• Goldman Sachs supported USD 2.2 billion across 25 companies.
• UBS invested USD 2.1 billion in 5 companies.
• GIC supported USD 1.9 billion across 9 companies
• Alibaba Group backed USD 1.9 billion in 9 companies.
• Imperial Brands invested USD 1.8 billion in 4 companies
• Amazon invested USD 1.8 billion across 6 companies.
• Permira invested USD 1.8 billion in 3 companies.

Top FMCG Innovations & Trends

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

• Ecommerce segment is growing at a 6.3% annual rate. It includes 443 020+ companies and 33.7 million employees. Over 2.1 million people were added in the past year. This sector comprises areas like digital storefronts, direct-to-consumer channels, and mobile shopping. FMCG brands invest in logistics, last-mile delivery, and data-driven marketing to meet demand for speed, convenience, and personalization.
• Sustainability comprises 632 130+ companies and 85.7 million employees. Despite a modest 1.81% growth rate, the 4.2 million new employees added in the last year signal how environmental and social impact initiatives are embedded into corporate strategies. FMCG firms adopt circular packaging, implement energy-efficient production methods, and source materials ethically. They also ensure transparent supply chains to meet consumer expectations and comply with regulatory pressures.
• Digitalization includes 650 490 companies and a workforce of 34.3 million. The addition of 2.9 million new employees over the past year and a 6.95% annual growth rate signal growing investments in automation, AI-powered analytics, and intelligent supply chains. Digital tools enable FMCG firms to streamline operations and respond faster to shifting consumer behaviors. This shift increases agility and allows brands to deliver personalized experiences and real-time decision-making.

5 Top Examples from 1540+ Innovative FMCG 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.

Fraqtion Labs specializes in Real-time Demand Forecasting and Inventory Optimization

Canadian startup Fraqtion Labs develops FRAQTION, an AI-powered analytics platform that enables FMCG retailers to optimize inventory, purchasing, and sales decisions in real-time.

FRAQTION processes data from point-of-sale systems, e-commerce platforms, and supplier inputs. The solution generates precise demand forecasts, monitors product life cycles, and tracks customer behavior.

Additionally, the platform offers features like inventory risk alerts, margin contribution analysis, and executive dashboards. These features minimize stockouts, reduce waste from perishables, and align purchasing with seasonal trends.

iRefill offers Refill Dispenser Systems

Indian startup iRefill builds refillable and reusable dispensing systems for the FMCG sector. It offers single-unit and multi-unit dispensers for grains, edible oils, and personal care products. These dispensers operate through a contactless phone interface.

Additionally, the dispensers occupy minimal space, consume little electricity, and include safety features like emergency stops.

Each unit handles high-speed dispensing of up to 30 liters per minute.

Further, iRefill embeds zero-waste retail into daily operations and drives the shift toward circular consumption models.

HiQ Africa provides an ERP Platform for Retail Management

Rwanda-based startup HiQ Africa develops digital tools that streamline operations for FMCG micro-businesses.

It builds Zata Point, a smart point-of-sale application that enables small retailers to manage sales, inventory, and performance through a simple interface.

It also offers Zata API, a certified platform for automated sales tax compliance with the Rwanda Revenue Authority.

The products support accurate transaction tracking and reduce the manual burden of regulatory reporting.

HiQ Africa further equips FMCG retailers with essential digital infrastructure to increase business transparency, financial control, and operational efficiency.

Sokoflow delivers a Mobile-based Platform

Kenyan startup Sokoflow builds a mobile-based platform that streamlines demand and supply chain execution for FMCG companies.

It connects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers through a unified system that tracks orders, monitors shelf availability, and manages merchandising in real-time.

The platform uses geo-tagged customer data and historical sales trends to plan optimized delivery routes. It also generates a daily sales schedule and ensures the right brand, variant, and size reach the right shelf.

Additionally, Sokoflow supports van sales, stock reconciliation, and pre-order management while enabling offline functionality for remote operations.

SQB Robotics creates AI-powered Robotic Systems

Romanian startup SQB Robotics builds SQB Container, an AI-powered automated retail unit that streamlines the distribution of FMCG.

The startup equips the container with Squirrel Bot, a mobile robot that navigates the store using computer vision and embedded software. It identifies selected items, picks them from shelves, and delivers them to a pickup point without human assistance.

Moreover, the SQB Container operates continuously as it offers 24/7 access to FMCG products across locations such as residential areas, transit points, and retail hubs. It lowers labor and rental costs by removing the need for on-site staff. The container also tracks inventory in real time and triggers automated restocking alerts to maintain availability.

Additionally, the climate-controlled interior and modular shelving support a variety of goods, including packaged foods, beverages, cosmetics, and over-the-counter medications.

To extend its offering, the company further deploys SQB Lite. It is a compact indoor version that enables secure access, controlled transactions, and automated inventory handling.

Gain Comprehensive Insights into FMCG Trends, Startups, and Technologies

The FMCG industry is driven by digital transformation, sustainability demands, and changing consumer preferences. By 2025, brands will prioritize data-driven personalization, ethical sourcing, and agile supply chains to stay competitive.

With AI, automation, and eco-conscious innovation, the sector will become more responsive, transparent, and resilient. This FMCG Report 2025 highlights how forward-thinking companies are using emerging technologies and consumer insights to shape fast-moving consumer goods.

Get in touch to explore 1540+ startups and scaleups, as well as all market trends impacting FMCG companies.