Our Outlook Survey reveals where manufacturers and retailers converge, where they diverge, and what that means for your next 12 months.
Margin pressure, channel shift, AI, labor. Every retailer and brand is wrestling with the same four forces right now, just from different sides of the register. The 2026 Advantage360™ Outlook Survey asked manufacturers and retailers how they’re responding, and the gaps between their answers expose the opportunities.
Inside the full report:
- Why retailers are expecting trade support when suppliers raise prices, and what manufacturers are cutting instead
- The channel shift keeping retail executives up at night, and why manufacturers aren’t as worried
- Why retailers are more confident in AI than manufacturers, and what’s driving results for each
- Where labor gaps are costing retailers sales and weakening service
- Five recommended actions for aligning pricing, assortment and investment heading into 2027
You’ll want the full report
If you’re a brand, this report answers:
- How are retailers responding to our price increases, and what will it take for them to be accepted?
- Which pack and price moves will actually help you compete as shoppers trade down?
- Why are retailers so much further along with AI, and where your focus should be
- What’s driving margin pressure over the next 12 months, and how long it’s expected to last
If you’re a retailer, this report answers:
- How are brands planning to respond to tariffs, and where will that hit shelf pricing
- What are other retailers doing to win back shoppers moving to club, discount and dollar formats
- Where is AI actually delivering value for retailers today
- What’s the real cost of labor gaps, and where should fixes be prioritized first
Gain your momentum going into 2027. Get this report!
In case you missed it, the Advantage360™ State of the Industry report is key to your planning, too.
