PE BROADCAST: Is sustainability in consumer products sustainable?

Over the last few months, as we've slowly begun to emerge from the grip of the pandemic, we've seen Private Equity M&A activity accelerate. As dealmaking emerges from its enforced hibernation, has it awoken into a different world? 

Our recent 'Changing Consumer Priorities' research highlighted not only the health and financial concerns driving consumer behaviour, but also a rapidly increasing consumer conscience. The provenance and sustainability of products is very much front of mind for the modern 'self-centric' consumer. Add to that increasing focus on health and wellbeing, as our soon-to-be-launched Health and Wellness study shows and it's clear sustainability, in all its forms, is high on the agenda.

What does this mean for Private Equity deals? We've already seen some activity in 'safer stocks' with PE buying assets that previously held more limited appeal. And, in the UK, there is growing attention in the grocery sector as demonstrated in the sale of Asda and recent interest in Morrisons.

In our most recent PE Broadcast, we explore these issues and whether this is a temporary trend or here to stay: Is sustainability sustainable?