Consumer & CPG Insights That Win Distribution and Drive Revenue

We help CPG brands unlock growth by turning household panel, POS, and ecommerce data into retailer-ready selling narratives that expand distribution, strengthen assortments, and accelerate revenue.

16+
Years in CPG
10+
Data Platforms
$1B
Revenue Influenced
James presenting consumer insights
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Retailer-Ready Insights From data to the buyer's table
James Schariest
James Schariest
Founder, CPG Insights Consulting

Where Consumer Understanding Meets Sales Execution

With 16+ years in CPG, most recently leading Consumer & Business Insights at a leading national beverage company, I work at the intersection of consumer behavior, sales analytics, and retail strategy. My work is designed to support one thing: sales wins.

Built for Growth-Stage CPG Brands

I partner with growth-stage CPG brands that need to:

  • Win new distribution or protect existing shelf space
  • Expand assortments with confidence
  • Translate consumer demand into retailer language
  • Elevate ecommerce and omnichannel performance
  • Modernize how insights support Sales and Account teams
Whether you're preparing for a major line review, rebuilding your analytics foundation, or sharpening your selling story for a priority retailer — I step in where clarity and credibility matter most.
Presenting insights to a team

Insights That Work at the Account Level

I specialize in translating consumer, retail, and ecommerce data into strategies that sales teams can actually use — at the account level, in buyer meetings, and during line reviews.

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Distribution Expansion Strategies

Grounded in household panel and POS insights to build compelling arguments for shelf placement and new door wins.

Assortment & SKU Optimization

Tailored frameworks for specific retailers that identify the right product mix to defend and grow your footprint.

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Account-Specific Selling Narratives

Built for buyer conversations and internal decks — stories that resonate at Target, Walmart, and beyond.

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Opportunity Sizing & Forecasting

Models that stand up to scrutiny in front of buyers, boards, and leadership teams.

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Promotional & Pricing Analytics

Analytics that inform smarter trade decisions and defend premium price points with credible evidence.

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Executive-Ready Growth Strategies

Aligning Sales, Marketing, and Leadership around a single, coherent path to growth.

Winning on More Than Velocity

Better-for-you categories don't win on velocity alone. They win on who the consumer is, why they buy, and how that demand shows up differently by retailer and channel.

My background in beverage and adjacent categories means I understand:

  • How household penetration and buyer frequency unlock distribution arguments
  • How lifestyle and occasion-based insights support assortment expansion
  • How ecommerce and digital shelf performance reinforce brick-and-mortar stories
  • How to defend premium price points with credible consumer evidence

This is where panel data, POS, and category strategy come together.

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Fluent Across the CPG Data Landscape

I've led analytics strategy, vendor governance, and hands-on analysis across the platforms most retailers and brands rely on — including:

Point of Sale Data Warehouse

Nielsen, SPINS, IRI

Household Panel Data

Numerator, Spectra, Statista

eCommerce Item Infrastructure

Nielsen Brand Bank, Syndigo

Retailer Specific Portals

Target POL, Walmart Retail Link

Trusted by CPG Leaders

"

Starting from scratch, James' work enabled us to scale Target, Walmart, and Sam's, as we pioneered and then more-than-doubled their categories, year after year. He is a trusted consultant to guide business decisions, present to board of directors, and third-party entities with polish and expertise.

Vanessa Walker
Vanessa Walker
VP of Marketing, LaCroix
National Beverage Corporation
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James excels at reading consumers and identifying market trends. He translates data into actionable insights effectively, making him a valuable asset in the CPG space. I confidently recommend James to anyone looking for an insightful consultant.

Tugce Durular
Tugce Durular
Director, Account Development
The Nielsen Company
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During the annual category reviews with customers, Jim partnered with the sales team to develop clear, actionable recommendations through two types of analytics: a rigorous SKU-level quadrant analysis and a review of sales over time. He translated the data into straightforward, fact-based selling stories that the buyers trusted. The results provided meaningful wins for both the category and our brand.

James Click
James Click
Senior Regional Sales Manager, LaCroix
National Beverage Corporation

Let's Build a Selling Story That Wins

If your brand needs clearer retailer narratives, stronger distribution arguments, or sharper assortment recommendations, let's talk. I help CPG teams turn consumer and POS data into sales results that hold up in buyer meetings.