Ecommerce Reversing Slowdown in CPG Sales: Nielsen

Ecommerce is reversing the slowdown in sales of CPGs, contributing to topline growth in select categories, including groceries, according to new data from Schaumburg, Ill.-based market research firm Nielsen.

In the grocery category, ecommerce sales drove 1 percent of total growth during the 52 weeks ending Dec. 31, 2016. The growth will continue to add up over time: Nielsen noted that grocery consumers are migrating online, and according to the 2017 "Nielsen FMI Digitally Engaged Food Shopper" report, the share of online grocery could reach $100 billion in sales by 2025.

Beauty and personal care saw healthy growth from online retail during the same period, according to the data. While in-store growth was 0.6 percent in beauty and 1.3 percent in personal care, ecommerce retail for both categories drove more than a combined 10 percent of sales.

Pet care, too, saw strong growth online, with ecommerce pushing 16 percent of pet care sales during the period. More than 80 percent of the category's growth came from online channels.