Technology

CPG and Retail Leaders Are Bullish on AI, yet Most Haven’t Scaled It Where It Matters Most

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Report from BCG and The Consumer Goods Forum Finds Roughly 75% of CPG Companies Remain in Pilot Mode45% of Retailers Are Scaling AI, While a Similar Number Have Barely BegunMore Than Half of Surveyed Companies Do Not Formally Measure AI ROILeaders Are Pulling Ahead by Concentrating AI on Core Commercial Processes That Drive Growth

BOSTON, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Many CPG and retail companies have yet to deploy AI broadly across the demand-generating processes that they consider most strategic. In a new survey, nearly half of CPG executives identified idea to market as the most strategic process for AI, yet only 11% have scaled AI in this space. Retailers exhibit a similar pattern: 46% named offer to assortment as their top priority, but only 34% have scaled AI significantly in that area.

These are among the findings of AI in CPG and Retail: How Winners Are Pulling Ahead, a new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). Based on a survey of 39 senior CPG and retail executives worldwide, the report examines how companies are applying AI across the commercial processes that drive demand—from innovation and pricing to assortment, forecasting, and customer engagement.

“The reason that some CPG companies and retailers are pulling ahead isn’t necessarily that they started from a stronger position,” said Nicolas De Bellefonds, BCG’s global AI lead and a coauthor of the report. “They set higher ambitions, mobilize their organizations around a few focused priorities with discipline, and effectively manage their data and technology ecosystems.”

Real but Uneven Progress

Roughly 75% of CPG respondents remain in pilot mode or exploration mode, while only 18% are scaling impact.Retailers represent a two-speed world in which 45% are scaling impact but another 40% have barely begun.Across both sectors, more than half of companies do not formally measure the ROI of their AI investments.The most frequently cited barrier to scaling is that pilot economics did not translate into full-scale business results.

What Leading Companies Are Doing Differently

Although there are opportunities to deploy AI in support functions and to reset cost structures, the greatest potential for consumer companies lies in using AI to drive growth.

The value at stake is substantial. Scaling AI initiatives throughout the demand value chain could deliver 220 to 350 basis points of cumulative EBIT for CPGs and 180 to 360 basis points for retailers. Agentic capabilities could expand the opportunity nearly twofold over the next two to three years—up to 1.7x for CPG and retailers.

Six Questions for CEOs

The report identifies six questions that leaders should ask as they assess their AI readiness and transformation efforts:

Are we aligning AI investments with strategic priorities?Are we ambitious enough, and how do we measure impact?How do we improve the odds of successful and sustainable transformation?What are the broader impacts on the workforce and operating model?How should we think about our data assets and tech partnerships?How do we move quickly without losing control of risks and costs?

“For CEOs, the honeymoon phase with AI is officially over. It cannot be a tech experiment anymore; it is a direct lever for your bottom line,” said Wai-Chan Chan, managing director at CGF. “The next two years will separate the leaders who are actually scaling these systems from the ones who are just talking about them.”

Download the publication here:
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/how-cpg-retail-leaders-maximize-ai-roi

Media Contacts:
Eric Gregoire, gregoire.eric@bcg.com
Cesar Valadares-Colomb, c.valadares@theconsumergoodsforum.com

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group bridges the gap between ambition and outcomes for the world’s leading companies and organizations. We are built for this era of unprecedented change — bringing strategic clarity rooted in over 60 years of deep domain knowledge, combined with applied AI shaped by our practitioners. BCG works shoulder-to-shoulder with CEOs across industries and geographies to deliver transformative impact at scale: stronger returns, transferred capabilities, and change that sticks. For more information, visit bcg.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum
The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 countries and reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Technology

BIWATT Expands Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Portfolio with UL-Certified NFPP-Based R5 and I3 Batteries

Published

40 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

MUNICH, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BIWATT today unveiled its new PowerNest R5 residential storage battery and PowerLake I3 commercial and industrial storage battery at Intersolar Europe 2026, expanding its sodium-ion energy storage portfolio for residential and commercial applications.

Unlike conventional battery integration approaches, BIWATT has taken an active role in cell-level development, defining the performance, safety, and reliability requirements of energy storage applications from the earliest stages of product design. This approach has enabled the company to develop a dedicated sodium-ion battery platform optimized specifically for energy storage.

The launch of R5 and I3 builds on BIWATT’s ongoing advancement of sodium-ion energy storage commercialization. The company previously introduced its rack-mounted PowerNest R2 and stackable PowerNest R3 sodium-ion batteries, both of which have entered commercial delivery across international markets.

Built on the same technology platform, the new PowerNest R5 delivers modular scalability, intelligent battery optimization, and active balancing technology for residential energy storage applications. The PowerLake I3 extends the platform into commercial and industrial markets, offering flexible deployment options and intelligent maintenance capabilities for solar-plus-storage, backup power, and distributed energy projects.

To support future international market expansion, BIWATT is also progressing UL1973 certification and UL9540A testing for its sodium-ion battery products, reinforcing its commitment to high safety standards.

“Energy storage requires more than simply selecting a battery chemistry,” Owen, CEO of BIWATT, emphasized in his remarks at the launch event. “Our focus has been to participate deeply in cell-level innovation and develop sodium-ion batteries specifically engineered for energy storage applications. The launch of R5 and I3 reflects that long-term commitment.”

Today, BIWATT sodium-ion products are deployed across more than 20 countries, primarily in Europe, demonstrating the growing commercial adoption of sodium-ion energy storage.

About BIWATT
BIWATT is a digital green power innovator and sodium-ion technology pioneer. Focused on energy storage and system integration, BIWATT delivers a complete sodium-ion ecosystem for residential, mobility, and commercial applications, including battery systems, sodium-ion-optimized inverters, and in-house BMS, cloud platform, and intelligent APP solutions.

For more details, please contact:
Rita Ouyang
Phone: +86-755-86961716
E-mail: Biz@biwattpower.com

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Technology

Stegra announces closing of €1.4 billion financing round

Published

41 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

STOCKHOLM, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stegra today announces the closing of its €1.4 billion financing round. The round is led by a Wallenberg Investments-consortium and has strong support from existing investors as well as the original lender group.

In April, 2026 Stegra announced that the new financing round had been agreed in principle, subject to certain approvals, including customary regulatory approvals. The financing round is now completed.

The Wallenberg Investments-led consortium consists of existing investors IMAS and Temasek as well as new investors Bolero and SEB-Stiftelsen. In addition, a large group of Stegra’s existing shareholders continue to invest in the company. These investors include Altor, that will become the second largest shareholder, Hy24 and Just Climate, as well as AMF, AP2, Climate Infrastructure Fund**, Kallskär, Kobe Steel, Lingotto Innovation, Scania, Schaeffler, Security Trading* Stena Metall Finans and Swedbank Robur. Also, a group of Stegra’s second lien lenders, led by AIP Management, have decided to support the project as direct equity investors.

“We are grateful for the support for the work we are doing in bringing near zero emissions steel to the market from both new and existing investors, as well as from lenders. It’s a strong sign of confidence in our business case and the project,” says Henrik Henriksson, CEO Stegra.

The financing has also received 100% approval from the Stegra lender group. All banks participating in Stegra’s financing package continue to support the project and the company will have access to the undrawn debt facilities established as part of the company’s 2024 financing.

“We are pleased that this transaction is now closed. Together with Bolero, IMAS, SEB-Stiftelsen and Temasek, as well as Altor and other new and existing investors, we will now work closely with the Stegra team to complete and commission the plant in Boden. This large-scale green project represents an important step in Sweden’s competitiveness and the EU’s security of supply,” says Håkan Buskhe, Head of Special Investments at Wallenberg Investments and incoming board member of Stegra.

“We close this financing round with a higher equity ratio and a stronger and more resilient financial position for the company. We welcome the increased Swedish ownership through the Wallenberg Investments-led consortium and the continued support from the Swedish National Debt Office and SEK which remain committed to previously agreed facilities and have worked constructively with different stakeholders during the funding process,” says Henriksson.

Stegra is in the process of ramping up construction activities in Boden. During this period, the project timeline is under review.

* the investment company of Antti Herlin’s family
** managed by Demea Sustainable Investment

For more information, contact: Karin Hallstan, Head of Communications, Stegra at press@stegra.com or +46 76 842 81 04

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/stegra/r/stegra-announces-closing-of–1-4-billion-financing-round,c4366881

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Stegra announces closing of â‚¬1.4 billion financing round

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Technology

JustMarkets to Launch SpaceX Stocks CFDs Trading for Clients

Published

41 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JustMarkets, one of the leading international brokerages, is pleased to inform its clients about the upcoming launch of the trading in SpaceX (SPCX) CFD shares. Starting from 17 June 2026, traders will be able to trade on one of the most watched private aerospace enterprises on the JustMarkets trading platform, thus gaining access to trading in the innovative sphere that may affect the development of the global economy in the future.

SpaceX IPO is seen by many experts as a landmark moment in global financial markets. With SpaceX being one of the leading private enterprises in the aerospace field, satellite manufacturing and private space explorations, its entry to the public market may draw significant attention to the company from traders, investors, institutions and financial analysts.

A representative of JustMarkets commented on the upcoming launch:

“Financial markets continue to grow, and traders are increasingly interested in companies that are driving innovation across industries. SpaceX is one of the most recognized names in modern aerospace and technology. By adding SpaceX stocks CFDs to our product lineup, we are providing our clients with access to new market opportunities while continuing to expand the range of instruments available for trading.”

Including SpaceX stocks CFDs in the trading portfolio, JustMarkets will allow its clients to track the dynamics of price movement, study the situation on the market and perform transactions with the instrument, utilizing all the trading instruments offered by the company.

This instrument will complete the existing portfolio of the CFDs products offered by the brokerage firm including forex, raw materials, precious metals, indices, crypto-currencies and stocks. The arrival of SpaceX CFDs demonstrates the commitment of the company to providing its clients with relevant, popular and internationally discussed market instruments.

Starting from 17 June 2026, JustMarkets clients will be able to trade SpaceX (SPCX) stocks CFDs and take part in one of the most significant stock market launches of history.

About JustMarkets

JustMarkets is a global financial trading platform designed to eliminate technical “noise,” enabling investors to focus on what matters most: making accurate decisions. With modern infrastructure and professional services, JustMarkets stands as a reliable partner for those seeking to master the financial markets.

JustMarkets has earned the trust of millions of clients across 160+ countries. Recognized as one of the world’s most popular brokers, the company continues to provide reliable services and build lasting relationships with traders and partners.

Risk Warning: Trading Forex and CFDs involves significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capital. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

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SOURCE JustMarkets