As consumers continue to demand more from retailers, the grocery industry should adapt and provide targeted shopping experiences tailored to specific consumer needs and changing demographics, according to PwC’s report titled, Front of the Line: how grocers can get ahead for the future. Based on a survey of more than 1,000 shoppers, the report shares insights on changing consumer segments, what they'll want for the future and what can be done today to keep them happy tomorrow.

As businesses increasingly rely on external parties for critical services, they become more vulnerable to business interruptions. This is especially true when such businesses know little about their third-party vendors' resiliency and recovery capabilities, according to PwC US, which examined the effects that vendor resiliency, or lack thereof, can have on an organization's business continuity strategy.

U.S. retail and consumer (R&C) total transaction value for 2013 surpassed $100bn for the first time since 2008, according to PwC's US retail and consumer deals insights 2013 Year in Review and 2014 Outlook report. Deals in the food and beverage sector and private equity investment in the apparel, footwear and accessories sector continued to drive activity in the R&C industry.

Despite a slowdown in U.S. retail and consumer merger + acquisition (M+A) activity in the second quarter of 2013, consumer sentiment and retail sales trends remain positive, along with strong corporate balance sheets and availability of private equity "dry powder," which should help trigger M+A activity during the second half of 2013, according to PwC's U.S. retail and consumer deals insights Q2 2013 report.