Retail & Consumer Products Consulting

Australia’s retail environment continues to be challenging. Consumers are increasingly seeking value and personalisation, with demand switching away from discretionary goods to staple items. Combine these challenges with tighter economic conditions, preferences for sustainable innovations and the increasing role of artificial intelligence and we have a rapidly transforming retail industry.

For many retail leaders, talking about the bigger, more fundamental changes required to evolve and/or revolutionise their business can be a daunting step. We understand. We, too, think about the issues and challenges facing retailers today, how to drive growth, manage expenses, mitigate risks and enhance return on investment in an environment where the accelerating pace of change is the only true constant.

Our Focus: Transformation and Performance Improvement

To compete successfully in an omni-channel environment and create a competitive edge among a crowded field of capable competitors, companies must be creative in finding ways to blend store-based and online productivity for performance improvement. Key to managing performance improvement is understanding the economic model of the business, how it makes money and how it loses it. Our retail consultants work with retailers to help them bridge the capability gap, address unforeseen events and realise value from their strategic initiatives.

How We Support Retail & Consumer Products Companies

Kate Warwick provides an update on the Australian retail sector and how FTI Consulting supports retail companies to evolve and thrive.

How We Help

Financial Transformation

We work alongside finance teams to develop and execute strategies that leverage data and new technologies...

We work alongside finance teams to develop and execute strategies that leverage data and new technologies to deliver sustainable business transformation, in an accelerated timeframe, always striking a balance between short-term and long-term goals.

Our services include:

Performance improvement
Cash flow optimisation
Cash liquidity and working capital management
Margin improvement and ‘cost out’ programs
Commercial modelling including strategic, operational, options analysis and financial forecasts
Systems and process improvement
Interim management

Operational Risk and Efficiency

We help retailers to assess their risks and vulnerabilities, put plans in place to better manage through disruptions...

We help retailers to assess their risks and vulnerabilities, put plans in place to better manage through disruptions and recover faster and prepare senior management for its role in incident response, crisis communications, media management and governance oversight.

Our services include:

Dispute resolution, i.e., franchising and shareholder disputes
Wage underpayments
Privacy and data governance program development and implementation
Cybersecurity incident preparedness and response planning
AI governance
Data retention remediation
Data intelligence and analytics
Organisational strategy and corporate governance
Market analysis, policy review and evaluation
Program evaluation and performance measurement
Cost-benefit analysis
Business cases and feasibility studies
Supply chain analysis and efficiency
Modern slavery
Financial, fraud and whistleblower allegations
Stock loss investigations

Transactions

Our extensive experience across the deal life cycle gives us a unique perspective on where value exists and...

Our extensive experience across the deal life cycle gives us a unique perspective on where value exists and how it can be realised. We help retail clients at all stages of a transaction, from quality of earnings and pre-deal assessment to post-deal integration, leveraging FTI Consulting’s industry and Australian expertise to guarantee the best possible outcomes.

Our services include:

IPO readiness and support
Buy and sell-side due diligence (financial, operational and ESG-related)
Preparation for business sale
Valuations of businesses, equity, intangible assets, debt and hybrid financial instruments
Independent expert report
Capital markets transaction support
Merger integration and carve-out support
Interim management

Brand and Reputation

Retailers today operate within a multi-faceted political, regulatory and investor landscape where information...

Retailers today operate within a multi-faceted political, regulatory and investor landscape where information is difficult to control, perceptions develop quickly and issues move rapidly. Our retail and consumer products consultants harness data-driven strategies to help leaders define and promote their narratives, elevate their brand values and protect those values when threatened by challenges.

Our strategic communications services include:

Reputation audits and advisory
Media and digital communications strategy
Crisis communications management
Board advisory
Stakeholder management
Investor relations advisory
Transaction support
Industrial Relations support
ESG strategy development
Materiality assessments
Sustainability reporting (ISSB Standards, CSRD, GRI Standards, climate reporting) and communications
Economic and social impact assessments

Turnaround & Restructuring

In stressed and distressed situations, our team brings an unprecedented depth of knowledge, experience and...

In stressed and distressed situations, our team brings an unprecedented depth of knowledge, experience and technical capabilities in turnaround and restructuring. We provide tailored advice based on the situation and challenges facing a business. Our primary focus is always to provide the best outcome possible for stakeholders.

Our services include:

Independent business reviews
Safe harbour advisory
Turnaround management
Performance and profitability improvement
Secured creditor advisory
Informal restructuring
Formal insolvency appointments

Real Estate Optimisation

Our proprietary methodologies ensure retailer’s real estate strategies align with and support their...

Our proprietary methodologies ensure retailer’s real estate strategies align with and support their business plan. We evaluate store performance by identifying attributes contributing to success and underperformance and assess the liquidity impact of store openings, relocations, remodels, and closings.

Our real estate consulting services include: