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Tight capacity, high rates leave Joann looking for cargo space

The crafts company is among retailers paying higher prices to guarantee space on ocean vessels. 

Kellogg investing $45M to revamp North American supply chain

The cereal giant is shifting production to more efficient facilities as it looks to combat capacity constraints.

Inventory levels jump as manufacturers hold onto work-in-progress products

Manufacturers of transportation equipment, computers and electronics need chips, which are in short supply, and some products are being held until critical components arrive.

Vietnam closures push retailers to shift tactics, suppliers ahead of the holidays

Big Lots expects $60 million in lost sales due to lockdowns in Vietnam, which may last until the end of the month.

UPS wades into same-day delivery with Roadie acquisition

The deal puts UPS ahead of FedEx when it comes to same-day delivery, according to one consultant.

Long Beach port offers drivers traffic alerts via text to fight congestion

The free Truck Alert system aims to assuage some frustrations resulting from a deluge of imports.

FMC picks 24 shippers to advise it on container issues

With Daniel Maffei as chairman, the agency will seek advice from importers and exporters while also looking to modernize the Shipping Act.

UPDATED: Sept. 10, 2021 at 8:37 a.m.

Chewy plans 3 automated fulfillment centers to ease supply chain challenges

More automated facilities will reduce Chewy's exposure to employee shortages, which can slow fulfillment times.

Biden to require large employers mandate vaccines

The ruling will especially impact warehouse workers, as many large companies had avoided requiring vaccines for frontline staff amid an acute labor shortage.

Column

Make HUB suppliers a key part of your domestic-oriented supply chain

Don't treat a HUB sourcing strategy as a burden. Here are 5 ways to incorporate historically underutilized businesses into critical spend and operations.

Kraft Heinz fined $62M after SEC says procurement team misled finance

Employees allegedly negotiated almost 60 transactions with suppliers that were presented to the company’s controller group in misleading ways.

Deep Dive

Aircraft emissions present a roadblock to supply chain sustainability goals

FedEx's Chief Sustainability Officer says true aviation sustainability "is an intractable problem." Will environmentally conscious shippers move away from airfreight?

LA, Long Beach port congestion could disrupt $90B in trade: Russell

Solutions for a congested freight environment include shippers booking in advance even it means paying extra, carriers doubling orders for container ships and 3PLs adding drayage surcharges.

RFID and sensor tech get cheaper, faster and more pervasive

Advancements in identification technology help retail supply chains track inventory and shrink. Are visioning robots the next evolution?

Supply chain managers ramp up hiring, raise wages ahead of peak

A survey found nearly half of supply chain managers plan to increase pay as companies continue to report lost sales and productivity due to labor shortages.

CIOs vs. the supply chain: Laptop shortages threaten enterprise efficiency

Semiconductor shortages have become the bane of IT organizations' existence, forcing them to add flexibility to previously rigid procurement practices.

Target's CIO retires after years of facilitating supply chain innovation

McNamara encouraged in-house innovation that enabled automation along the supply chain. A new CIO at Target needs to focus on three key pillars.

For perishable shippers, final few feet of the last mile can spoil deliveries

Mountain Dairy, Shatto Milk Company and perishable-goods providers had to innovate to make the final leg of their supply chain work.

CH Robinson introduces drayage congestion surcharge for major US ports

Ports and the drayage providers that serve them have been walloped by a spike in volume and a lack of labor and equipment to quickly handle it.

Truck makers struggle to fill backlog of orders as supply chain issues continue

Unproduced orders are getting pushed into next year, potentially creating "even more headaches for the industry," according to one freight analyst. 

Locust bean gum's newfound success in food stymied by supply shortages

As demand for the versatile ingredient found in everything from ice cream to plant-based foods has increased, soaring prices have prompted some companies to look for cheaper substitutes.

Carriers double container ship orders in 2021 as freight demand shows no signs of slowing

The orders still do not solve the immediate problem of current supply chain congestion as it will take years for the final delivery of the new vessels.

Burlington's sourcing costs are up 78% over 2 years due to pandemic supply chain disruptions

Company executives laid out three reasons why supply chain costs are leading to high prices — and why they think price hikes won't last.

Geodis leases freighter to secure capacity in tight air cargo market

The forwarder said the A330-300 aircraft, which is leased for a minimum of five years, will also fly between China and Europe during peak season.

Walmart aims to hire 20K supply chain workers ahead of holiday season

The retailer is looking to fill permanent full-time and part-time roles amid shipping constraints as businesses compete for labor.