Key Takeaways from the Consumer & Retail Leadership Roundtable in Bucharest
January 2026
As part of the Consumer & Retail Leadership Roundtables series organized by Pedersen & Partners, senior CPG and Retail CEOs gathered in Bucharest for a closed-door discussion on how leaders are navigating a more cautious and price-sensitive market environment, with contributions from industry leaders such as Natasha Gelshteyn-Kiss, Cornel Caramizaru, Laurentiu Dumitrescu, Andrey Yekimov, Dragos Militaru, Nicoleta Eftimiu, Radu Berevoescu, Marius Grigore and Anca Pasca as well as the Pedersen & Partners team including Kristian Pedersen, Tomasz Maczynski, Domagoj Bedenikovic, Ulrik Rasmussen and Cristina Staiculescu.
With inflation, tax increases, and ongoing uncertainty weighing on consumer confidence, the conversation centered on margin discipline, execution quality, and where sustainable growth can still be unlocked.
Key takeaways:
- Consumers are increasingly value-driven and promotion-aware, forcing brands to rethink pricing and trade strategies.
- Heavy reliance on promotions is compressing margins and creating structural challenges across categories.
- Private label has evolved into a credible, high-quality competitor rather than a fallback option.
- Local players consistently outperform on speed, agility, and proximity to consumer needs.
- Future growth is expected to come from convenience formats, e-commerce, and smarter channel innovation.
We thank all participants for the openness of the discussion and for sharing practical perspectives that made the exchange highly relevant and actionable.