Winning in a Margin-Squeezed Market: How the Right Talent Can Protect Your Bottom Line

For many consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, profitability is under pressure like never before. Rising commodity costs, shifting tariffs, and evolving tax policies — from U.S. trade measures to India’s GST adjustments — are making it harder to maintain healthy margins.

At the same time, consumers are increasingly price-sensitive, pushing brands to deliver more value without raising prices. This combination of cost pressure and pricing sensitivity has created one of the toughest operating environments the CPG industry has ever faced.

The Cost-Competitiveness Balancing Act

Balancing competitive pricing with sustainable margins is no longer just a finance challenge — it’s a strategic business imperative.

Companies must rethink their:

Procurement strategies to manage commodity volatility

Supply chain networks to reduce costs without compromising speed or quality

Pricing architecture to respond to market shifts and protect brand positioning

These challenges demand leaders who can see across functions, understand global markets, and build resilient cost structures that stand up to disruption.

Why a CPG Search Firm Is Your Advantage

At Consumer Connection (ccinc.org), we specialize in recruiting top-tier finance, supply chain, and procurement talent for the CPG industry. Our team of Consumer Products Recruiters, CPG Recruiters, and Consumer Packaged Goods Recruiters know how to identify professionals who:

Bring big-company financial discipline and data-driven decision-making skills

Offer hands-on experience from lean, high-growth environments

Optimize cost structures without sacrificing product quality, brand equity, or speed to market

This rare blend of expertise enables leaders to drive profitability while keeping products competitively priced — a critical advantage in today’s margin-squeezed market.

Building a Future-Proof Team

Cost pressures will continue to shift with global economic changes, but your ability to respond quickly and strategically depends on the strength of your leadership team.

Working with a specialized recruiter gives you access to talent that understands the unique operational, financial, and strategic challenges of this industry — and knows how to solve them. Our network spans Supply Chain & Operations Recruiters, Food & Beverage Recruiters, Natural Foods Recruiters, Category Management Recruiters, and Shopper Marketing Recruiters who support companies facing these exact challenges. For emerging and innovative sectors, our Natural Products Recruiters, Beauty Industry Recruiters, and eCommerce Recruiters connect brands with leaders who can adapt to disruption while maintaining growth.

Let’s Protect Your Margins — Together

If you’re ready to strengthen your team with leaders who can safeguard profitability and drive sustainable growth, Consumer Connection is here to help.

Visit ccinc.org to learn how we can help you recruit the talent you need to thrive in a rapidly changing global market.