Financial Journalism

Welcome to my page, showcasing some of my finance-related articles.

As an experienced finance journalist, I cover a broad range of topics from budgeting and savings, to pensions and personal investments. I have produced both long-form feature pieces for print magazines, as well as shorter web content for online news sites. My articles are always written to the highest standard and designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Below you will find articles I have written for a variety of print and digital publications, including magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs.

If you are looking for well-researched, expertly-written content that is both accurate and engaging, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to working with you!

You can email me at natasha@natashaspencer.co.uk or find out more information about me on my website natashaspencerjolliffe.co.uk

Shifting trends: Analysing the impact of high inflation in India

Shifting trends: Analysing the impact of high inflation in India Despite food and beverage categories in India feeling the pinch of increasing inflation, the overall outlook remains upbeat as governmental support steps in and evolving consumer purchasing patterns shape the sector. In April 2022, India’s retail inflation rate reached 7.8%, the highest it has hit in eight years. Yet, despite this alarming inflation statistic, data analytics and brand consulting company Kantar reports positive le

The Grain Drain: Ukraine war disrupts US grain and oilseed market

The Grain Drain: Ukraine war disrupts US grain and oilseed market “The war in Ukraine has seemingly changed everything,” says RaboResearch in a report that explores the grain and oilseed outlook in the US over the next ten years and the expected impact on fertilisers, production, exports and pricing. The intelligence arm of Rabobank, RaboResearch, was finalising its grain and oilseed outlook for the US when the war in Ukraine broke out. As a result, as part of its report, the company examined

EU exports evolve in face of burgeoning bioeconomy

Delivering food and drink via a robust supply chain, accessing global trade routes, and investing in research and development (R&D) lead food and drink investment and market evolution in the European Union. The food and drink industry plays a pivotal role in the European market. The European Union (EU) food and drink industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Europe and the largest exporter of food and drink products in the world, with €145 billion in exports, FoodDrinkEurope revea
nutraingredients.com •

Spanish company Vitae Naturals joins Kensing

In a bid to become an international leader in plant sterol esters and natural vitamin E, US company Kensing acquires Spanish company Vitae Naturals and its product range, comprising proprietary formulations. Kensing, a portfolio company of the investment business, One Rock Capital Partners, announced on 28 June 2022 that it has completed its latest purchase. By acquiring the leading European plant sterols, natural vitamin E and high-purity surfactants company, Kensing hopes to expand its presen
cosmeticsdesign-europe.com •

Unilever and Genomatica enter €114 million initiative to develop plant-based feedstocks

Unilever and Geno have teamed up on the multi-million-pound deal to develop and launch plant-based alternatives to feedstocks such as palm oil or fossil fuels to produce core ingredients for everyday personal care products. The duo behind the new initiative, of which Unilever is the first to support through investment, is expecting additional investors to join its goal of establishing sustainably-sourced palm oil in the personal care market. In addition, as part of the initiative, the companies
Accountancy Age •

“Still work to be done” on diversity in accountancy, industry leaders say

The accounting industry must work harder to reduce inequality and create more opportunities for people from minority and lower socio-economic groups, according to market participants. “We know there is still work to be done on inclusion and diversity—the existence of pay gaps, primarily driven by a lack of fair representation at senior levels, shows us this,” said Sarah Churchman, chief inclusion, communities and wellbeing officer at PwC UK. “It’s important to take a long-term view of the pipe
Accountancy Age •

“Still work to be done” on diversity in accountancy, industry leaders say

The accounting industry must work harder to reduce inequality and create more opportunities for people from minority and lower socio-economic groups, according to market participants. “We know there is still work to be done on inclusion and diversity—the existence of pay gaps, primarily driven by a lack of fair representation at senior levels, shows us this,” said Sarah Churchman, chief inclusion, communities and wellbeing officer at PwC UK. “It’s important to take a long-term view of the pipe
Accountancy Age •

Audit committees must take climate change "a lot more seriously"

The recognition of climate-related matters among audit committees has not been strong enough despite a spate of recent events highlighting the significance of the issue for organisations, market participants have said. “Boards and audit committees need to start taking the risks associated with climate change a lot more seriously, accelerate their mitigation plans and discuss what action they are taking on a more regular basis,” said Anthony Carey, head of board practice at Mazars. Carey went o
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Debunking value myths part 5: “It’s not about being cheap or expensive”

'Myth#4: Customers must experience new products before they can say how much they’ll pay for it'​ Sampling is big in beauty and personal care. • Can brands garner attention, build sales, trust and loyalty, both with or without this approach, and what impact does it have on a brand’s value?​ Critically, it can be argued that if we only create items where there is a demand, then radical innovation will not flourish as consumers do not desire or require these game-changing products and services a
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Gouda strikes deal with Walgreens Boots Alliance

On 6th December 2017, the large retail pharmacy, health and “daily living destination”​ announced it had reached an agreement with China National Accord Medicines to enter into an investment deal with its subsidiary enterprise, Sinopharm Holding Guoda Drugstores. The subsidiary operates throughout China and also boasts franchising retail pharmacies across the country. The alliance was made after a public tender process. The accepted bid will see Walgreens Boots Alliance take a 40% minority sta
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Gouda strikes deal with Walgreens Boots Alliance

On 6th December 2017, the large retail pharmacy, health and “daily living destination”​ announced it had reached an agreement with China National Accord Medicines to enter into an investment deal with its subsidiary enterprise, Sinopharm Holding Guoda Drugstores. The subsidiary operates throughout China and also boasts franchising retail pharmacies across the country. The alliance was made after a public tender process. The accepted bid will see Walgreens Boots Alliance take a 40% minority sta
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Creso Pharma and Zhejiang enter Chinese cosmetics market

A subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed group, Kingdom Group, the company specialises in hemp and flax-based linen production and is now turning its attention to promoting health care, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and body care items. This new collaboration with the HK $623.38 mn (€67.2 mn) capped company provides Creso with the opportunity to access and gain a foothold in the Chinese health, personal care and cosmetics sectors. The duo has struck up a mutually-beneficial agreement as this partnership w
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Skin care trends in 2018

Sunny Um, Beauty & Fashion Analyst at Euromonitor International delivered a speech at the recent in-cosmetics Asia event on the main drivers pushing Asia’s leading position in the global skin care industry. We delve into the research company’s report to explore how this prominent sector is expected to develop. Asia remains the dominant player in global skin care sales​, amassing 51% of the world’s value sales and 6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2012-2017. Current dominating trend
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Amorepacific’s Aestura sells Cleviel

Medical beauty business, Aestura, is selling off its filler brand Cleviel to Pharma Research Products. The move comes as Amorepacific develops its inroads in the anti-ageing and regenerative medicine sectors. Headed up by Lim Woonsup, CEO, the Amorepacific Group affiliate has entered into an MOU with Pharma Research Products, led by CEOs Jung Sangsoo and Ahn Wonjun. Signed on 11th January 2018, the recent agreement will see the two Asia heavyweights formally conclude the transfer of Clevial by
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Online spending in China is at its peak

Commenting on why online spending is currently so high, Matthew Crabbe, Regional Trends Director, Asia Pacific, at Mintel held that it is a combination of factors including a rapid surge in economic growth, rises in spending power and choice along with greater urbanisation, the large-scale shift of labour from manufacturing to services, the investment and development of logistics, growth in an online (and especially mobile online) population, uptake in online/cashless payments, and growth in tra
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Asianification strengthens multicultural beauty market

Multi-generational beauty buyers, emerging innovations from APAC markets, the competition between niche indie brands and multinationals, along with increasing disposable incomes are all helping brands to explore possibilities in the multicultural beauty sector. Far from experiencing exclusion from the multicultural beauty market due to the preferences for skin whitening in the West compared with skin tanning in the East, the skin care sector is seeing growth through adopting natural, sustainabl
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

CITIC Capital finalises Trilogy International acquisition

Hong Kong-based private equity firm, CITIC Capital China Partners, has now completed its acquisition of Trilogy International (TIL Group). New Zealand company, Trilogy International, is well-known for its numerous and far-reaching Oceanic and global brands including essential natural products and home fragrance names: Trilogy, ECOYA, Goodness, Lanocreme and By Nature. It also owns leading distribution platform, CS&Co, for beauty products in the New Zealand market. Prior to the acquisition comp
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Genomatica on building its brand in Asia-Pacific

Following the launch of its bio-based butylene glycol for cosmetics and personal care​, we caught up with Damien Perriman, Senior Vice President at Specialty Chemicals at Genomatica on how the beauty and biotechnology conversation is evolving in 2018​. 1. What has been Genomatica’s stand out moment to date in APAC?​ Our partnership with Japanese chemical company, Daicel, has been a key development and we are very excited to have formed a collaboration with an existing innovator in the bio-base
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Retail environment: Online in China hits “critical mass”

Global intelligence company, Mintel, has revealed that “China’s online retail market has reached a critical mass”. ​ Business-to-consumer (B2C) online retail was tipped to reach 60%+ of total e-commerce sales generated throughout 2017. Of this B2C retail category, mobile online retail is expected to make up 80%+ of ecommerce sales. Mintel estimated that “per capita online retail spend will rise to 45.7% of total per capita retail spend by the end of 2017; however, per capita online retail spen
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com •

Asia Clean Capital and Nivea launch Solar PV project

On 12th April in Beijing, Asia Clean Capital (ACC) stated it had entered into a solar power supply agreement with Nivea Shanghai. The green energy creator has collaborated with the Shanghai arm of the German personal care name to build a solar system. ACC will build the new system on the rooftop, carport and open space in NIVEA's factory in Qingpu, Shanghai. As part of the terms of the agreement, the duo agrees that ACC will invest 100% of the system cost and undertake the design, construction
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