Organisations that we have worked with in this sector include:

From food safety scares to product defects, ethical sourcing to regulatory failure, health concerns to sustainability, this is a sector with a diverse range of issues that can impact consumer trust and brand reputation.

Traditionally, reputation management in this sector was predicated on an ability to respond rapidly to product failures and having an efficient recall process.

Two additional skills are now essential to maintain trust and reputation.

The first is an ability to identify and respond to emerging macro issues. Consumer attitudes can change rapidly - overnight a product that was yesterday's 'must have' can become tomorrow's reputational liability.

Failure to respond quickly and communicate effectively, both internally and externally, can result in consumer backlash or tough, costly regulation.

Secondly, it is vital to have a robust process for analysing the potential risks of a new product or venture - not just the benefits.

Vast sums are spent on research, yet examples abound of brand damage caused when companies don't identify and evaluate the potential risks of their latest promotion or product. Perception is reality, so it is imperative that potentially negative stakeholder reactions are assessed.

To learn about how Regester Larkin can help with all aspects of reputation management, from recalls to risk assessments, crisis exercises to media spokesperson training - please contact Eddie Bensilum on +44 (0) 20 7029 3980 or via email at eddie.bensilum@regesterlarkin.com.