Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail

What Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail does

A&M Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) is the dedicated consumer and retail consulting practice of Alvarez & Marsal Holdings, LLC, a global professional services firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in New York. A&M CRG delivers strategic and operational advisory services to U.S.-based consumer products companies and retailers, with work spanning topline growth strategy, supply chain optimization, store operations transformation, sourcing and vendor management, private brand development, inventory productivity, and financial restructuring. The practice is positioned to serve enterprises navigating structural disruption — channel fragmentation, margin erosion, tariff and sourcing volatility, omnichannel integration, and post-pandemic operational reset.

The practice does not build or sell proprietary technology platforms. Its core "product" is senior-led advisory delivery, packaged through a portfolio of service lines including Consumer Products Consulting, Retail Consulting, Supply Chain Optimization, Store Operations Transformation, Sourcing Transformation, Private Brand Strategy, and Restructuring Services. Differentiated intellectual capital is produced through proprietary research outputs, most notably a bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Survey polling 2,100+ U.S. consumers and category-specific studies such as the China Sourcing Index, Retail Shrink Analysis, and QSR Consumer Crave Study. Thought leadership is distributed through the firm's website, the Omni Talk Retail Fast Five podcast, and earned media in outlets including The Washington Post, CNN, and Business of Fashion.

A&M CRG earns revenue through professional services fees billed on custom-scoped, project-based engagements negotiated directly with C-suite and VP-level buyers. The go-to-market model is sales-led and relationship-driven, with managing directors and senior directors originating and leading engagements. The practice serves enterprise-tier consumer products and retail clients across apparel & footwear, grocery, food & beverage, and home goods, with case-study evidence of multi-tens-of-millions in client cost savings, debt restructuring outcomes, and EBITDA improvement delivered across engagements.

Name

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail

Legal name

Alvarez & Marsal Holdings, LLC

Website

https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

A&M Consumer and Retail Group is a U.S.-based management consulting practice within Alvarez & Marsal Holdings, delivering strategic and operational advisory services to enterprise consumer products companies and retailers across transformation, supply chain, sourcing, store operations, and restructuring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

Keywords

• Management consulting services
• Consumer retail advisory
• Supply chain optimization
• Private brand strategy
• Operational transformation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Consulting Advisory: CRG generates revenue by providing strategic and operational consulting services to consumer products and retail companies. Engagements are custom, typically scoped by senior leaders and involve direct advisory work across strategy, transformation, supply chain, merchandising, store operations, and organizational redesign. Revenue is earned through professional services fees on retainer or project engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) provides strategic and operational management consulting to consumer products companies and retailers in the United States. Engagements are custom-scoped and cover omni-channel strategy, supply chain optimization, store operations transformation, sourcing and private brand strategy, full-scale business performance transformation, and financial restructuring. The firm supplements advisory work with proprietary research, including a bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Survey of 2,100+ U.S. consumers.

Product overview

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) is a consulting firm offering strategic advisory services to consumer products companies and retailers. The firm provides a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services including operational transformation, supply chain optimization, store operations improvement, private brand strategy, and consumer sentiment research. The core offerings consist of Consumer Products Consulting and Retail Consulting services, supplemented by proprietary research products such as the bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Survey and specialized studies on topics like supply chain sourcing (China Sourcing Index), retail shrink analysis, and QSR dining trends. A&M CRG's approach combines deep industry experience with hands-on operational support, helping clients drive both topline growth and cost optimization across various retail and consumer goods segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consumer Products Consulting Strategic consulting services helping consumer products companies navigate changing consumer needs, new market entrants, pricing pressures, and adapt to current and future market demands. Focus areas include supply chain, sourcing, growth strategy, and organizational transformation.
• Retail Consulting Strategic consulting services developing winning strategies for retail transformation, working alongside clients in supply chain, stores, and with customers across omni-channel environments.
• Supply Chain Optimization Consulting services focused on improving supply chain productivity, reducing costs, and addressing distribution center operations, inbound/outbound transportation, and workflow improvements for consumer and retail clients.
• Full-Scale Business Performance Transformation Comprehensive retail transformation through cost reduction and operational improvements, including full cost takeout across sourcing, supply chain, store operations, and indirect procurement, along with omni-channel capabilities enhancement.
• Store Operations Transformation Retail transformation services including customer insights, behavioral analysis, store observations, sales analytics, and pilot-driven execution focusing on consumer experience, topline growth, and profit optimization.
• Inventory Productivity Services Services focused on improving inventory productivity, store operations, store investment planning, supply chain network strategy and design, and inventory planning and execution for retailers.
• Sourcing Transformation Sourcing process redesign, vendor partner onboarding, cost-focused product planning tools, and COGS savings identification for specialty retailers and consumer products companies.
• Private Brand Strategy Consulting services helping grocers and retailers accelerate their private brand journey, including private brand strategy development, new product development, vendor partnerships, and go-to-market strategy.
• Restructuring Services Financial restructuring services including working capital reduction, SG&A cost reduction, debt restructuring, and operational improvements for retail and wholesale companies in distress.
• COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan Emergency consulting services for retailers during the pandemic, including cost takeout, sourcing, supply chain optimization, inventory management, warranty, pricing, and debt restructuring.
• Consumer Sentiment Survey Bi-annual survey of 2,100+ U.S. consumers tracking optimism levels, shopping intentions, desired purchases, and preferred shopping channels. Published as downloadable Spring and Fall reports with category-level spending and trade-down behavior analysis.
• QSR Consumer Crave Study Survey-based research on QSR dining habits identifying emerging trends around value definition, taste preferences, modular meals, and flavor innovation for quick-service restaurant clients.
• China Sourcing Index / Supply Chain Strategy Research Analysis of US manufacturing offshoring trends, China Sourcing Index tracking, and supply chain diversification strategy recommendations for US consumer and retail companies.
• Kroger-Albertsons Merger Advisory Strategic analysis and advisory content regarding the Kroger-Albertsons merger implications for regional grocers, including competitive positioning recommendations.
• Retail Shrink Analysis Analysis of retail shrink trends, internal versus external theft patterns, and strategies for combating inventory loss through awareness, technology, and operational improvements.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1Bn in debt restructured; 30% EBITDA improvement over 2 years (Food and Beverage Retailer)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kearney: Global management consultancy with a strong consumer goods and retail practice. Several A&M CRG senior leaders (Luis De Lencquesaing, Jeremy Levine, Cory Painter) were recruited from Kearney, indicating directly comparable capability and serving similar enterprise consumer/retail clients on transformation engagements.
• L.E.K. Consulting: Strategy consulting firm with a deep consumer and retail practice focused on commercial due diligence, growth strategy, and value creation. Jen Wu (former Partner and MD) and Cassie Ryding joined A&M CRG from L.E.K., underscoring close competition for PE-sponsored consumer engagements.
• Kurt Salmon: Specialty retail and consumer consulting firm (now part of Accenture Strategy). Joanna Rangarajan joined A&M CRG from Kurt Salmon, reflecting directly comparable retail strategy and operations advisory expertise historically focused on apparel and specialty retail.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global strategy consultancy with a Consumer and Retail practice led historically by figures such as Bharat Khandelwal (now at A&M CRG). Competes for the largest enterprise transformation and growth strategy mandates across apparel, grocery, and consumer products.
• McKinsey & Company: Largest global strategy consultancy with a Consumer Goods & Retail practice offering operations transformation, marketing, and organization work. Chad Lusk joined A&M CRG from McKinsey; both firms compete for large enterprise CPG and retail clients.
• Bain & Company: Global strategy consultancy with a Consumer Products and Retail practice. Cassie Ryding held an associate role in Bain Capital's Private Equity Investor Relations before L.E.K., and Bain regularly competes with A&M CRG for PE value-creation work in retail.
• Deloitte Consumer & Retail Practice: Big Four advisory practice offering strategy, operations, and technology transformation to consumer and retail clients. Competes with A&M CRG for enterprise cost transformation, supply chain, and digital commerce mandates, often with deeper technology delivery capability.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large consulting firm with consumer and commercial capabilities. Brandon Pezely joined A&M CRG from Booz Allen as a Senior Consultant, indicating overlap in retail and consumer advisory engagements.
• Accenture Consumer Goods & Retail: Global consulting and technology services practice serving consumer goods and retail clients with strategy plus large-scale technology implementation. Competes for omni-channel, supply chain, and digital transformation mandates and has a structurally different cost base due to offshore delivery.

Others

• Alvarez & Marsal PEPI (Private Equity Performance Improvement): Sister A&M practice focused on PE portfolio company value creation across industries. Overlaps with CRG when PE sponsors own consumer/retail assets and can be both a collaborator (cross-referral) and an internal competitor for the same sponsor relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alvarezandmarsal-crg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail