The fast-moving consumer goods industry is unquestionably the area where GEA has had its greatest successes over the years, due to the diversity and renown of our clients, the variety of the product categories that we've dealt with (food, grocery, personal care, food service and more), and the industry-wide projects and initiatives that we've carried out for important clients (for example, ECR for the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Group Europe) or promoted (for example, Italia del Gusto, Future Taste). We've worked with manufacturing companies on projects focused on strategic repositioning, the commercial development of new channels and the reorganization of sales forces, production, logistics, business administration and IT systems. We've partnered with new businesses in innovative sales channels (for example, food service) and assisted major retailers and catering groups in Italy, gaining an in-depth understanding of the industry and its operational and competitive dynamics.

GEA has worked for manufacturers and retailers in this industry for more than forty years. With some of these companies, now international groups, we pride ourselves on the fact that their success was based in part on the merit of our ideas, insights and assistance. Our focus in this industry has always been on the home and everything that revolves around it: electrical systems, air conditioning and heating systems, household appliances, lighting systems, furnishings, design components, bathroom furnishings and accessories – product categories that have much in common in terms of operational dynamics, channel strategies, and market approaches. Our clients have involved us in important projects for manufacturing relocation, product platform redesign and planning, and the strategic use of embedded electronics, as well as for improving purchasing efficiency and managing and reducing product range complexity.
GEA has also been part of important industry-wide projects such as order management systems for the association of manufacturers and wholesale distributors of electrotechnical and electronic materials (ANIE and FNGDME).

GEA's decades-long experience in the sectors of fast-moving consumer goods, apparel textiles, accessories, and industrial and consumer durable and semi-durable goods has sharpened our expertise in every area of distribution, both retail and wholesale.
The projects we've carried out have involved all of the functional areas and problems typical of distribution companies. But the most significant assignments that we've undertaken, in terms of both innovation and impact, have undoubtedly been those dealing with repositioning brands/storefront signs and reconceptualizing store concepts and formats; developing franchising networks, including (re)definition of operating models/processes for managing store networks; defining and implementing innovative supply and replenishment processes; developing product category management tools; and redesigning administrative processes for the headquarters/store network, in order to improve productivity.

GEA has worked for years in a range of product categories within this key "made in Italy" industry. We are highly sensitive both to its particularities and to its many yet-to-be-seized opportunities for improving performance, through collaborations with the industry's main players: yarn/textiles/apparel manufacturers and retailers.
Today we've undertaken more than 50 projects to strengthen our clients' competitive advantage and positioning, develop products and collections, improve service, develop global sourcing and identify and develop retail chains (direct or franchising), as well as to expand to foreign markets.
In step with the industry's most innovative branding practices, we've also assisted many clients in related product categories, including eyewear, leather goods, watches, accessories and yachts.

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is undoubtedly one of the most complex and particular, due to its strict regulatory environment, the uniqueness of its channels, and the complexity of some of its operational dynamics.
We've undertaken assignments both for pharmaceutical multinationals and for Italian companies specialized in the production of raw materials and semi-finished products for the industry. More recently, we've also worked with pharmaceutical product distributors and import/export companies.
Our assignments have focused in particular on evaluating the strategic and competitive positioning of companies and the end market/pharmaceutical technology matrix, as well as improving service effectiveness and business process efficiency.

Even while GEA has always had a strong inclination for working with manufacturing and distribution companies, in our 46 years of activity we've also carried out important assignments in the sectors of publishing, advertising, media and entertainment, finance, third-party logistics, luxury hospitality and, more recently, games and betting. Taking full advantage of our deep familiarity with Italian business and entrepreneurialism, GEA has set itself apart from other consulting firms in all these areas thanks to our understanding of industry dynamics, strategic insight and concrete approach.

GEA has worked in the field of energy since the Italian market was liberalized in 1999. Since then, we've dealt with both traditional and renewable energy sources. We've carried out assignments for various groups that produce, import and/or sell electricity and gas, including researching and evaluating assets and defining agreements for their use; and transforming companies to enable them to compete in the open market with new products, services, and customer relation management skills.
With regard to renewable energy sources, GEA works with companies operating in the photovoltaic technology, biofuel and cogeneration markets as well as taking part in the activities of the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT)'s Centre for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR) in Boston, in order to deepen our own expertise in this sector and better understand its true potential.
Furthermore, GEA assists manufacturing companies to cut down on their energy costs, analyzing their energy drivers, foreseeing possible energy market evolutions, moving towards the most modern technologies (including renewable ones), and assisting them in the design and integration phases with their new energy suppliers.