AGP Executive Report

Product Safety: Consumer Reports urged parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers after reviewing more than 600 reports of skin reactions; no recall has been issued, and the company says its testing found no defect. Arla also recalled Protein Pudding over possible glass contamination, while Tonight We Ride recalled Ultimate Forza supplements for undeclared prescription drugs. Household Pressure: UK retail sales fell more than expected as shoppers cut spending, while US consumer sentiment sank amid inflation worries. Supply and Prices: An LPG dealers’ strike in Pakistan left consumers scrambling for cooking fuel. The US also adjusted tariffs on Canadian goods, exempting some products while adding others, with changes due to take effect October 30. Product Moves: Hershey is pitching protein powder to attract consumers using weight-loss drugs, who may be buying fewer snacks.

Trade: The U.S. is dropping 50% tariffs on some Canadian imports, including plywood, paper products and packaging materials, from Oct. 30. Food Safety: Arla recalled selected 200g Protein Puddings in chocolate, salted caramel and vanilla cookie over possible glass contamination; customers should check best-before dates and not eat affected packs. Product Claims: India’s consumer authority fined Britannia Rs 1 lakh over its “100% Whole Wheat Bread” claim, finding the loaf contained 62% whole wheat flour. Retail & Spending: UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September as warm weather curbed clothing sales, while consumer confidence plunged 11 points. U.S. sentiment also neared a record low at 48.0, with prices weighing on households. Company Results: Procter & Gamble reported 4% organic sales growth, but warned that rising costs will pressure results. Product Safety: A health visitor warned that a baby sleep pillow could raise risks of entrapment, suffocation and overheating.

Holiday Spending: Canadians expect to spend $911 this festive season, down 6.5% from last year, with shoppers prioritizing value; 82% still expect to buy everything they plan to. Consumer Mood: U.S. sentiment slipped to 48 in October, its second-lowest reading on record, as high prices and rising inflation expectations weigh on households. Retail Sales: Britain’s sales volumes fell 0.4% in September, despite 0.7% growth across the third quarter, as clothing and supermarket purchases weakened. New Products: General Mills’ Chex Party Mix starter kit bundles seasoning and mix-ins for holiday gatherings, while Hershey plans to launch protein powder in January as it adapts to changing snacking habits. Product Safety: A Maine nonprofit says Crayola failed to disclose formaldehyde in some markers and finger paints; state regulators have contacted the company for more information.

Retail Slowdown: UK retail sales fell 0.4% in September, as warm weather hurt clothing demand and shoppers pulled back. Consumer confidence plunged to -24, its steepest drop since the Brexit vote apart from the pandemic shock. Data Breach: Japan’s Sagawa Express says names, addresses and phone numbers linked to as many as 53.23 million shipments may have been exposed; payment details and tracking passwords were not affected. Product Safety: US officials urged owners of nearly 400,000 Power Quick Pot pressure cookers to stop using them after reports of lids opening under pressure and causing burns; the importer has not issued a recall. Retail Insights: Co-op extended its Circana partnership for five years, expanding data tools to help the retailer and suppliers track shopper behavior and identify sales opportunities.

Consumer Spending: UK confidence plunged 11 points to -24 in October, its steepest monthly drop since early in the pandemic, as inflation and household budget worries weigh ahead of the budget. Food Trends: Canadian shoppers are trading down in fresh seafood: tilapia sales rose 5% as prices fell, while several premium species lost volume. Retail and AI: Walmart is developing tools for AI agents to shop on customers’ behalf, as brands explore how automated shopping could reshape grocery and other consumer sales. Product Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC uncovered an illegal herbal-products factory in Lagos, where unregistered products were made in unhygienic conditions. Consumer Reports also urged parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers and called for a recall. Beauty: L’Oréal’s third-quarter sales beat forecasts, with consumers continuing to spend on premium products.

Product Safety: Afghanistan authorities destroyed 142 tonnes of expired or substandard medicines and food products. Elsewhere, a Listeria alert prompted recalls of fish products sold by SuperValu and Centra, while a US recall pulled 4.3 million toothpaste tubes, including children’s products; Ireland’s consumer watchdog also warned people to stop using certain Aldi hairdryers over shock and fire risks. Food Claims: India’s food regulator issued notices to Nestlé, Abbott and Zydus over product claims, including claims involving children’s nutrition. Consumer Costs: US steel and aluminum prices have climbed sharply since tariffs were imposed, adding pressure for businesses and shoppers. In the UK, eligible families can get an extra £3 a week for six weeks toward healthy food from November. Shopping & Brands: OnePlus is running Diwali discounts on phones, tablets and audio products in India, while a new campus shop in the Philippines will sell Mangyan-made crafts and support local artisans.

Retail Prices: Bulgarian regulators began joint warehouse inspections after reports of steep dairy markups; Kroger says it will invest $5 billion in lower prices as shoppers watch their budgets. Shopping Tech: Walmart is giving customers controls to authorize AI shopping agents, set spending limits and track or revoke purchases. Coles selected AI search tools to help online grocery shoppers find products. Product Safety: U.S. officials say to stop using nearly 400,000 Power Quick Pot pressure cookers after reports of lids opening under pressure and causing burns. SuperValu and Centra recalled salmon products over Listeria concerns. Privacy & Data: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion over misleading consumers about Facebook data privacy. Burger King Japan disclosed unauthorized access to records of more than 11 million app members. Consumer Confidence: UK confidence in the economy fell for a third consecutive month ahead of the Budget, though expectations for Christmas retail spending rose.

Data Security: SBI says 3,897 customer records containing personal details were found among data on the dark web. The bank is investigating; consumer group IFF says affected customers should be notified directly. Product Safety: Several SuperValu and Centra smoked fish products were recalled in Ireland over Listeria concerns. Aldi customers in Ireland are also urged to stop using certain Ambiano hairdryers over fire and electric-shock risks and return them for a refund. Household Costs: South Africa’s inflation rate edged up to 4.5% in September, with higher fuel and transport costs adding pressure. Holiday Shopping: US holiday retail sales are forecast to rise 4.2% in November and December to $1.013 trillion, as shoppers remain mindful of budgets. A separate survey found low prices and discounts weigh heavily on online buying decisions, though marketers often underestimate their importance.

Food Safety: A nationwide recall covers more than 1.5 million pounds of meat and poultry products over possible temperature abuse; Macau officials also warned shoppers to stop using two fermented bean curd brands after tests found excessive Bacillus cereus. Retail Experience: Skincare brand Torriden has added an AI kiosk to its Seoul flagship, offering skin assessments and personalized product recommendations. Consumer Spending: Halloween candy prices rose more than 15% over the past year, according to a new report, while U.S. consumer confidence weakened. Retail Trends: UK DIY chain Wickes reported 4.5% sales growth, led by stronger purchases of timber, flooring, roofing and garden products. Product Launches: Apple is set to unveil new MacBook Pro and iPad models on Oct. 28. Packaging Investment: Crown Holdings is building its first Indian beverage-can plant, with annual capacity of about 2.2 billion cans and production expected to start in late 2027.

Food Safety: Kayem Foods is recalling 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry after temperature-control failures at a warehouse. The products were distributed nationwide; no illnesses have been reported. Medicine Safety: A nationwide recall covers compounded tirzepatide injections over sterility concerns, with the FDA warning of possible temporary or reversible health effects. Retail: Wickes reported a 6% rise in third-quarter retail sales, led by strength in timber, flooring, roofing and garden products. Customer Service: Revolut’s service disruption left customers unable to access accounts or make card payments; the company said customer money and data were safe. Consumer Spending: Economists at an Asia business conference said the AI investment boom is lifting exports and growth, but its gains are not reaching consumers. Online Shopping: India’s online retail market is forecast to exceed $90 billion this year, with grocery, beauty and personal care among the fastest-growing categories. Customer Redress: Stax’s new owners plan to issue more than $1.7 million in store credit to nearly 13,000 customers whose orders went unfulfilled before the activewear brand’s collapse.

Food Safety: Kayem Foods is recalling nearly 1.6 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry, including hot dogs, bacon and deli meats, after a warehouse cooling failure led to improper storage. USDA classified the recall as highest risk; no illnesses have been reported. Data Privacy: California secured a $6 million settlement over 23andMe’s 2023 breach, which exposed the personal and genetic information of 6.9 million customers. Consumer Protection: Temu agreed to a $3 million Texas settlement and new data privacy and product safety standards. Household Budgets: Consumer confidence has fallen to a three-year low as inflation worries mount, adding pressure on shoppers and consumer brands. Restaurant Brands: KFC will switch its U.S. restaurants from Pepsi to Coca-Cola starting in January 2027, ending a nearly 40-year partnership.

Holiday Shopping: UK Christmas retail spending is forecast to hit a record £93.76 billion, up 2.9%, but the volume of goods bought is expected to dip as inflation lifts the total. Food Safety: Consumer Reports found heavy-metal levels lower in baby foods than in its 2018 tests, though two products raised arsenic concerns and microplastics appeared in all 15 products tested for them. Separately, a nationwide recall covers more than 1.5 million pounds of meat products; India’s food regulator has also questioned Nestlé and Unilever product claims and is investigating Zepto over allegedly expired besan. Pricing & Budgets: UK consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in more than three years, while shoppers and lawmakers are questioning retailers’ use of AI-assisted personalized pricing. Grocery Trends: Store visits rose 1% year over year through August, but value grocers are gaining ground among some shoppers as traditional supermarkets face continued pressure.

Food Safety: Kayem Foods is recalling about 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry after temperature problems in storage; Lidl also recalled a lot of coffee gelato after testing found possible Listeria contamination. Regulatory Scrutiny: India’s FSSAI issued notices to Nestlé India and Hindustan Unilever over product claims and labeling, and proposed banning added sucrose and fructose in nutrition products for infants up to six months. Counterfeit Products: Nigeria’s NAFDAC destroyed fake and substandard goods valued at ₦2.6 billion, while Lagos authorities warned retailers they could be sealed for selling expired or unsafe products. Consumer Spending: U.S. retail sales rose 0.8% in September, but much of the increase went to gasoline, as rising prices continue to pressure household budgets.

Food Safety: India’s FSSAI has tightened handling and temperature rules for perishable foods, including paneer, meat and fish, warning that poor storage can put consumers at risk. More than 1.5 million pounds of meat and poultry products were also recalled in the U.S. Online Shopping: Temu will pay Texas $3 million and face new data-security and product-testing requirements, including refunds and seller removals when products fail safety tests. Festive Spending: Rising costs for palm oil, sugar, packaging and crude-linked materials are squeezing FMCG makers’ margins, raising the prospect of price increases after Diwali. Home Appliances: Indian retailers report strong Navratri demand for premium televisions, air conditioners and other durables, despite inflation and price hikes. Pricing and Budgets: U.S. shoppers are wary of retailers’ AI-driven pricing tools and fear personal data could shape what different customers pay, while higher fuel and food costs continue to pressure household budgets.

Food Safety: Maharashtra suspended five warehouse licences after seizing nearly ₹48 lakh in expired, damaged or rejected food that investigators say may have been routed back to market. Separately, Delhi inspectors found expired goods, pests and poor storage at several delivery and retail facilities; 19 of 59 ghee samples tested were deemed unsafe. Food Claims and Standards: India’s FSSAI issued notices to Nestlé and HUL over alleged misleading nutrition claims, proposed restricting added sucrose and fructose in foods for infants up to six months, and set draft pesticide limits for tea. Packaging Confusion: Pepsi and other drinks from Seven-Up Bottling Co. appeared with new yellow caps, prompting fears of counterfeits; the company says it is an official packaging change and the drinks’ contents are unchanged. Retail Expansion: Watsons Malaysia opened its largest health and beauty store, offering more than 17,000 products alongside pharmacy and beauty services. Brand Challenge: Ghanaian FMCG spending rose in 2025, but only about half of leading brands grew their consumer reach, suggesting many are selling more to existing buyers rather than attracting new households.

Food Safety: Maharashtra police filed an FIR against 10 people linked to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure after regulators seized ₹48 lakh worth of expired food. Household Costs: Higher fuel prices tied to the U.S.-Iran war have added nearly $2,000 in costs per U.S. household, a Moody’s economist estimates; some businesses may pass on higher production and delivery costs. Product Alerts: Walmart recalls include more than 110,000 swing seats linked to falls and injuries, plus food containing undeclared sesame. Myanmar’s FDA also warned against 14 cosmetics after tests found contamination or prohibited substances. Retail Accountability: Dollar General will donate $1.875 million in goods after New York investigators found about 14% of items they checked rang up above the advertised price; shoppers won’t receive refunds. Retail Expansion: Watsons Malaysia opened its largest store, an 18,000-square-foot health and beauty outlet offering more than 17,000 products and in-store services. Pricing Watch: A new wave of data-driven personalized pricing could use shoppers’ browsing and purchase histories to estimate how much they’ll pay.