Recently, we shared how Unilever has turned to 3D printing to speed up the time-consuming and expensive process of packaging development for products like dish soap—but that’s not the only operation it’s working to accelerate.

Along with a slew of home and personal care brands, the CPG giant produces food brands like Hellmann’s and Knorr, and as the company looks to add new food products—whether they be more sustainable or better-for-you formulations, vegan varieties, or just new flavors—Unilever has been looking to AI to make the product development process more efficient.

Manfred Aben, global VP of science and technology for nutrition and ice cream at Unilever, who oversees the company’s “longer-term breakthrough technology,” is leading the effort. Aben has been with the company for nearly 30 years, and was hired for his experience in AI, which looked a little different back then. The first AI models were used to assess products’ shelf lives. The AI of late is a bit more intricate, and has meant less IRL experiments and tests in the lab or pilot plants, he said.

“At that time, AI was very much about rule-based systems. So you have a number of rules and the system checks those rules for you,” he said. “Nowadays, if we talk about AI, we talk a lot about more data-driven models and data-driven analysis.”

Keep reading here.—EC

Do you sell or market your biz online? Uh, it’s 2024, so of course you do. These days, digital success looks like increasing revenue, tapping into new opportunities quickly, and maintaining a consistent brand identity. Oh, and efficiency. You need that, too.

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• product listing
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Come and get it.

Inflation accelerated in March, though CPG price increases across many categories cooled during the month and the first quarter of the year.

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in March, the same rate as in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. Prices increased 3.5% YoY, an uptick from last month’s 3.2% rise.

Food inflation remained up 2.2% YoY, consistent with last month’s rate, while it increased 0.1% from February. Food at home inflation remained unchanged from the previous month. Four of the six major grocery categories—cereals and bakery products, dairy and related products, fruits and vegetables, and other food at home, saw inflation cool. Notably, butter prices fell 5%.

Keep reading here.—EC

Welcome back, people. We know you’re responsible citizens, but just in case it slipped your mind, your taxes are due today. That really doesn’t have anything to do with the retail happenings of the world, but we figured a heads-up would be appreciated. Let’s dive into those happenings, all of which coincidentally are on Friday.

In closings: 99 Cents Only has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will wind down its operations. The close of business this Friday is the last day the chain will accept merchandise credits and gift cards.

In earnings: Procter & Gamble will report its Q3 earnings on Friday. The CPG behemoth had a so-so Q2, during which revenue increased 3% YoY. Consumers have pulled back on purchasing P&G products in response to price hikes.

In openings: REI is opening a new location in Beaverton, Oregon, on Friday after closing a store in Portland’s Pearl District in February.

Keep reading here.—KM

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