It's game on for packaging procurement as lead times lengthen

Stadiums and concessions anticipate surging demand as events resume. Can supplies keep up?

By Jen A. Miller • April 22, 2021

54% of companies plan to up spending on inventory planning: MHI

Inventory and network optimization tools saw the largest YoY jump in companies reporting the technology as "in-use today" with 45% of companies falling into that category, up from 40% last year.

By Matt Leonard • April 20, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Supply Chains

Retailers are making operational investments and adjustments to maintain supply chain resilience. Here’s how.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Bed Bath & Beyond revamps supply chain with a tech stack and 4 warehouses

Regional distribution centers are the first step in cutting down store replenishment time from a "noncompetitive" 35 days to under 10 days, the COO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 20, 2021

Retail supply chains and consumers are at a crossroads with returns

Do retailers need a C-suite position to manage reverse logistics?

By Kaarin Moore • April 19, 2021

TSMC plans $100B investment to battle semiconductor shortages

The semiconductor shortage should be "greatly reduced" by the next quarter, though it could still last until 2022 if demand remains high, CEO C.C. Wei said.

By Matt Leonard • April 16, 2021

9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1

By the end of March 2021, supply chains had spent more than a year fighting the fires of the pandemic.

By Shefali Kapadia , Matt Leonard • April 14, 2021

How the pandemic impacted demand at FedEx, Clorox and C&S Wholesale

Companies across industries began to shift operations in early 2020, as signs pointed to changes in demand and consumer habits.

By Matt Leonard • April 14, 2021

The pandemic brings supply chains out of the shadows and CSCOs into the spotlight

C-suites and boardrooms recognize how crucial the supply chain function is, which provides an opportunity for CSCOs to push for strategic value in their roles.

By Jen A. Miller • April 13, 2021

GreyOrange, Tompkins Robotics team up on 'zero walk' fulfillment

The system eliminates the need to release orders in waves, as in a typical goods-to-person system, instead allowing real-time order fulfillment.

By Matt Leonard • April 13, 2021

Conagra incurs $15M in supply chain costs to keep up with demand

The company bypassed the distribution network it normally relies on and instead shipped directly from the plant or a single distribution center to the customers.

By Matt Leonard • April 13, 2021

Amazon unionization effort fails in Alabama

By many accounts, Amazon treated the possibility of the unionized fulfillment center as a major threat to its business.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 13, 2021

How the pandemic drove retailers to on-demand warehousing

Supply chains had a front-row seat to volatility over the last year, and a need for more flexible operations.

By Matt Leonard • April 12, 2021

Tyson adds processing plant to package chicken for retail

Meat sales skyrocketed during the pandemic thanks to at-home cooking and many consumers plan to keep up their purchasing patterns, prompting the company to ramp up production capabilities.

By Lauren Manning • April 12, 2021

Supply chains do the math on reshoring's pros and cons

COVID-19 exposed risks and spurred conversations about moving manufacturing, but the pandemic is far from the only factor to consider.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 8, 2021

Auto industry calls on government to fund semiconductor capacity

An industry group warns the shortage could cause a production shortfall of nearly 1.28 million vehicles in 2021.

By Matt Leonard • April 7, 2021

4 tools to fight fraud, counterfeits and cyberattacks in the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain

Visibility technologies and real-time data provide one version of the truth in a rapidly-built supply chain.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 7, 2021

Cardboard prices reach record high amid e-commerce demand

Box producers are running on lean inventories, as online buying booms and creates greater demand for packaging materials.

By Matt Leonard • April 6, 2021

The omnichannel age is here — and it's expensive

Profit margins are often lower for pickup than delivering from a warehouse, as retailers consider store costs, shipping expenses and channel-specific overhead.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 6, 2021

Gap designs fulfillment system to prioritize 'most valuable' customers

Delivery speeds will be tiered as gold, silver and bronze, which the CEO said would help manage costs.

By A.B. Brown • April 6, 2021

Chewy boosts automated fulfillment network through new warehouses and retrofits

The e-commerce company plans to open its second automated fulfillment center in Q2 and a "limited catalog facility" in Q3.

By Matt Leonard • April 5, 2021

Walmart, H&M among retailers in US most exposed to Suez Canal disruptions

Construction and chemical companies are also expected to feel the impact, as more than 300 vessels wait to pass through the canal.

By Matt Leonard • March 31, 2021

Cyberattack against Molson Coors pushes production, shipments later into 2021

Plant operations often run 24/7, which makes it difficult to patch technology on a regular basis, one expert said.

By David Jones • March 31, 2021

Boston Dynamics stretches into warehouse game with material-handling robot

The bot, named Stretch, automates the truck unloading process at an expected rate of 800 cases per hour.

By Matt Leonard • March 30, 2021

Meet the vertical automated grocery store

Boston-based startup Urbx aims to build its futuristic stores in cities across the country and provide micro-fulfillment technology to retailers.

By Jeff Wells • March 30, 2021

Home Depot, Lowe's build on supply chain foundations to make quick work of omnichannel

When the pandemic arrived around the same time as the home improvement retailers' busy spring season, they had to pivot to meet demand.

By Shefali Kapadia • March 29, 2021