Is consolidation good or bad? Clearly, for suppliers, mergers and acquisitions mean improvements in scale and scope, exposure to innovation and overall efficiency benefits. For customers, on the one hand, it means reduced competition. But it also means more stable and sustainable supply. Potentially, consolidation means improved products and services - and even the prospect of reduced prices. At worst, it means more profitable supply lines and if suppliers can't make a buck, they certainly won't be around for long.
Consolidation is inevitable, but the more giants we see in the market, the more notice we take of those small, nimble niche players who can prosper from their points of difference.