Page 2

Ever Given and the Suez Canal: A list of affected ships and what delays mean for shippers

Carriers with hundreds of thousands of TEUs of cargo capacity are stuck, and when they move, port congestion will worsen.

UPDATED: March 30, 2021 at 2:03 p.m.

Opinion

Avoiding supplier fraud requires shipment analysis and an educated workforce

Agility is important for survival, now more than ever, but agility without risk management for procurement will not be enough.

Procurement leaders upgrade supplier data as agility trumps cutting costs: survey

The pandemic showed how important real-time data is to procurement, yet respondents to a Wakefield Research report said data remains "inadequate." 

Utz resumes converting direct-store-delivery routes to independent operators

The company expects to convert 200-250 routes this year, after pausing the work last year to accommodate for the pandemic and an ERP implementation, the CFO said.

Bashas' turns to online platform to expand selection of locally sourced foods

The Arizona grocery chain plans to eventually roll out Forager's online procurement system across its fleet of more than 100 stores.

Schneider's plan to reduce carbon with focus on intermodal

Intermodal offers a road to sustainability, but it's a challenge for the speedy delivery consumers want and expect.

Nike's imports drop 39% amid port congestion, straining inventory

The YoY drop in February came after the retailer faced weeks-long delays, affecting the timing of wholesale shipments.

Dollar General to curb logistics costs by expanding private truck fleet

The company's existing fleet accounted for more than 20% of outbound logistics at the end of last year, the COO said.

Column

Why procurement leaders must put supplier trust back into perspective

Trust has been weaponized. How do we restore the balance?

E-commerce boom keeps rents high in undersupplied warehouse market: CBRE

Dedicated e-commerce facilities made up more than 27% of the industrial real estate market share — more than any other industry, the firm found.

Inventory levels tumble, threatening retailers' spring and summer sales

Retail inventories fell nearly 6% YoY in January, as port congestion made it difficult for imports to make it to their final desinations.

Opinion

5 steps supply chains should have taken for effective vaccine distribution

Perhaps most disappointing has been the failure to use one of the most common tools for supply chain logistics: the barcode, according to Karen Conway, vice president of Healthcare Value at Global Healthcare Exchange.

Starbucks to improve sustainable coffee sourcing, reducing its largest carbon culprit

In a show of priorities, the company said it would take actions that make green coffee carbon neutral instead of tackling emissions from transportation, packaging and roasting operations.

AutoStore builds Innovation Hub to stress test micro-fulfillment robots

The company says automated micro-fullment technology is vital to enabling retailers to meet demand from customers who are likely to turn elsewhere if they cannot get purchases quickly.

Williams-Sonoma to expand manufacturing, distribution capacity by up to 30%

The company's expansion will add about 2 million square feet to its distribution network.

6 charts show how a pandemic upended retail supply chains

Consumers moved online and retailers pivoted to move inventory locked in brick-and-mortar locations.

Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific agree to $29B deal

The combined rail networks will create the first such service to stretch across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Chobani reaches distribution deal with PepsiCo

Finding ways to tap into existing supply chains instead of having to create ones from scratch offers an expedited approach to scaling up.

Deep Dive

The US has a new trade chief. What supply chains can expect on tariffs and China.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai recognizes China as "simultaneously a rival, a trade partner and an outsized player," in the global trade landscape.

Data and analytics to become 'core business function' in 2021: Gartner

The importance of real-time information has risen during the pandemic, as visibility helps supply chains react and adjust to volatility.

FedEx Express rates expected to remain elevated for next 12 months

The logistics company plans to increase the capacity of its Express network over the next year, putting seven parked planes back into operation and launching new services. 

Honda, Toyota limit production amid Port of LA congestion, supply shortages

Semiconductor and plastic shortages are challenging automakers' lean and just-in-time operations.

Buyers opt for digital, remote interactions with suppliers

Buyers are choosing a mix of channels to facilitate their procurement needs. And it's proving more than just a pandemic-driven trend. 

Danone debuts Honest to Goodness creamer with locally sourced ingredients

The offering prioritizes transparent farming and supports the communities that provide its organic sugar, coconuts, fava bean protein and salt.

HelloFresh to adjust packaging, shipping as it scales sustainable operations

The company is working on a tool to help avoid shipping boxes with unused space by calculating the levels of secondary packaging each kit needs.