Operations
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Permission granted by Saval Foodservice
Deep DiveFood distributors, restaurants reinvent business models in a scramble to survive
From wine bar to mini grocery store, from restaurant distribution to direct to consumer — food sector firms are pivoting operations to keep business flowing.
By Gary Wollenhaupt • Aug. 06, 2020 -
Cara Salpini/Supply Chain Dive
Fashion industry says purchase order cancellations will endure in Q3 and beyond
Despite reduced optimism about the industry's future, 90% of survey respondents plan to increase hiring over the next five years, particularly in production and supply chain roles.
By Morgan Forde • Aug. 05, 2020 -
Krishna Thakker
Ahold Delhaize's US digital sales soar 127% as consumers turn to online grocery delivery, pickup
To improve delivery profitability, the company is extending a micro-fulfillment center pilot program and ramping up its omnichannel investments to match consumer demand shifts.
By Jeff Wells • Aug. 05, 2020 -
Courtesy of Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat incurs $6M in repacking expense to handle pandemic demand shift
With restaurants, schools and offices closed, the plant-based supplier switched food service production lines over to retail products, which resulted in a mix of 88% retail and 12% food service.
By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 05, 2020 -
Wayfair reverses loss trend as pandemic volumes improve logistics network utilization
The "turning point" in profitability comes after years of investment to ramp up capacity in its middle- and last-mile networks.
By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 05, 2020 -
Permission granted by Tillamook
From visibility software to pallet picks: How Tillamook planned inventory as demand soared
The demand planning team credits software for its ability to adjust operations during the pandemic. Now the challenge is long range inventory planning, particularly for cheeses that require two years to age.
By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 04, 2020 -
New Clorox CEO tasked with increasing supply, staying in stock
Executives are "aggressively investing" to increase production capacity because, though sales are booming, stockouts are adversely affecting the company's share of the total market.
By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 04, 2020 -
Permission granted by Home Depot
Home Depot adds 3 warehouses as DIY demand grows
The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior and buying patterns, but it hasn't deterred Home Depot from its plan to invest in its distribution network.
By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 04, 2020 -
Courtesy of Ford
ISM: Manufacturing growth indicates 'we're coming out of recession'
The PMI climbed to 54.2% in July, with employees returning to work and growing consumer demand contributing to a healthy reading.
By Morgan Forde • Aug. 03, 2020 -
Courtesy of https://corporate.walmart.com/photos/walmart-store-exterior-at-night
Walmart cuts corporate jobs as it focuses on omnichannel push
In an internal memo, executives said the company would be "streamlining some roles" and creating new ones in supply chain, stores and other facilities.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 31, 2020 -
Amazon prioritizes capacity over speed with peak approaching
A 50% increase in fulfillment, delivery and sortation space is intended to relieve pressure from soaring demand, but it won't fix the e-tailer's lagging delivery speed, according to CFO Brian Olsavsky.
By Emma Cosgrove • July 31, 2020 -
XPO says tech, automation interest is leading shippers to outsource more of their supply chains
Executives said shippers need interim capacity to handle demand spikes during the pandemic.
By Matt Leonard • July 31, 2020 -
Demand for partitions and face shields is booming. How a plastic fabricator is adapting its supply chain
Imaginative Materials leaned on supplier relationships and started buying larger sheets of material as customer calls for partitions rolled in.
By Jen A. Miller • July 30, 2020 -
Thai Phi Le
Mondelez plans 25% SKU cut to sustain pandemic market share growth
As competitors' supply chains catch up from pandemic-related production slowdowns, CEO Dirk Van de Put said a SKU reduction would help the company maintain its gains.
By Emma Cosgrove • July 30, 2020 -
Harley-Davidson revamps inventory management, cuts production
The new plans are part of a broader restructuring strategy after Harley-Davidson's retail sales slid almost 27% compared to the same time last year.
By Matt Leonard • July 29, 2020 -
Permission granted by Home Depot
The pandemic has complicated the WMS procurement process
Vendors and warehouse managers typically use multi-day conferences and whiteboarding to buy and implement warehouse management systems. The pandemic has turned that process upside down.
By Matt Leonard • July 28, 2020 -
Courtesy of H-E-B
OpinionGrocery supply chains must invest in automation as delivery becomes the norm
As grocers cut costs, smaller staffs will be stretched by increasing delivery demands. Technology can fill the gap, writes Avery Dennison VP Ryan Yost.
By Ryan Yost • July 28, 2020 -
Courtesy of FujiFilm
US taps camera makers to manufacture drugs, coronavirus vaccines
The Trump administration will loan Kodak $765 million to produce drug ingredients, after enlisting Fujifilm to help make coronavirus vaccines, in an effort to reshore pharma supply chains.
By Ned Pagliarulo • July 28, 2020 -
Shippers eye struggling retail properties for conversion to last-mile, fulfillment centers
A shift to online shopping during the coronavirus outbreak has accelerated the trend of retailers retrofitting store properties for supply chain functions.
By Morgan Forde • July 28, 2020 -
Flickr
FreshDirect, Fabric to launch micro-fulfillment-powered grocery delivery in DC-area
Expanded service and a same-day offering will kick off later this year from a 10,000-square-foot setup inside a Maryland distribution facility.
By Jeff Wells • July 28, 2020 -
Photo by Getty; photo illustration by Michelle Rock / Medtech Dive
How COVID-19 is challenging and changing medtech supply chain management
Four experts share insights on the supply and demand hangups medtech companies have been working through during the pandemic, and a few early takeaways the industry can carry forward.
By Maria Rachal • July 27, 2020 -
DHL
DHL adds Foreign Trade Zone in Texas with plans for 3 more
The locations allow shippers to reduce the cost associated with tariffs on imported goods or component parts.
By Matt Leonard • July 24, 2020 -
Permission granted by Home Depot
Home Depot leans on efficiency analysis for sustainable transport plan
"As we try and improve the efficiency of our supply chain, it actually results in massively better sustainability measures," the VP of transportation told Supply Chain Dive.
By Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2020 -
Getty Images
Gartner: 17% of CSCOs are women but talent pipeline, development remain stagnant
According to the survey, "not a single respondent" listed employee resource groups as the best step toward preparing and elevating women in senior supply chain roles.
By Morgan Forde • July 22, 2020 -
Christopher Doering
Coca-Cola expands 'ruthless' SKU rationalization strategy to cut entire product lines
The beverage giant is in the process of discontinuing the Odwalla juice brand — a decision stemming from the SKU rationalization work the company has undertaken due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions.
By Emma Cosgrove • July 22, 2020
