Adweek, May 12, 2010

CPG Sales Set For More Online Growth

Online sales of consumer packaged goods are projected to rise from $12 billion to $16 billion by 2012, a 25 percent increase.

"We think the segment will grow at above-average rates and then settle in to be a small part of the overall market," said the New England Consulting Group's Gary Stibel.

Pet products, food and beverage, over-the-counter medicines and personal care items are leading the online charge in CPG. After years of limited online activity, these categories grew at faster rates last year than all other e-commerce segments, according to Forrester Research and Barclays Capital's "Internet Data Book." Growth in online pet products was 20 percent, and the food/beverage and OTC medicines/personal care sectors grew 18 percent each. These areas outperformed established online categories such as apparel, auto parts and consumer electronics.