How Sephora flexed its warehouse network to prep for an e-commerce onslaught

The beauty retailer's annual spring promotion led SVP for Supply Chain Mike Racer to elevate throughput as a measure of readiness years before the coronavirus pandemic hit. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 25, 2020

Kind will exclusively source almonds from bee-friendly farms by 2025

The brand is asking its suppliers to reserve 3% to 5% of their farms for pollinator habitat in hopes of curbing the high levels of honey bees that die each year.

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 25, 2020

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

What behavioral psychologists know that you should too

Making an effort to show employees how truly valuable they are is critical to your company's success.

Aug. 25, 2020

DHL to hire 7K associates, increase automation in prep for peak

The carrier expects this to be one of the "most unpredictable fourth quarter ever" as the pandemic increases uncertainty for many of its customers. 

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 24, 2020

Stocked out: Why cleaning product supply chains struggle to meet demand

The disinfectant and cleaning product supply chain relies on a just-in-time approach, making it difficult to radically move the output meter in a short timeframe.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 20, 2020

Split shipments hit Kohl's profitability in Q2

Store closures locked inventory in locations optimized for pre-pandemic store demand and not e-commerce, which grew 60% year over year in the quarter. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 20, 2020

What's at stake for supply chains if postal service slows down?

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy says his intention is not to slow down the mail. But postal workers, shippers and small parcel experts contend that's exactly what his policies will do.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 19, 2020

Target cuts digital fulfillment cost per order 30% as same-day demand skyrockets

The growth and maturation of same-day services, along with updates to the e-commerce order fulfillment process, led to increased efficiency, according to COO John Mulligan.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 19, 2020

Reopening draws down inventory, but volatility expected for remainder of year

The total business inventories-to-sales ratio echoes trends seen throughout the pandemic: Apparel retailers are struggling to bring customers in while grocers are having a difficult time staying stocked.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 18, 2020

The strategy behind turning department stores into warehouses

Rumors are circulating about Amazon converting vacant department store space into fulfillment centers — a move experts say would round out its omnichannel approach.

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 18, 2020

Stockouts hold Walmart back as e-commerce booms

CEO Doug McMillon said consumers briefly returned to the stock-up behaviors they displayed early in the pandemic, as COVID-19 cases spiked in pockets of the country.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 18, 2020

Production planning use case: Reducing order-to-delivery date by 7 days

Order-to-delivery time reduced by seven days through made-to-order balancing.

Aug. 18, 2020

JD Logistics opens automated warehouse for bulky items, launches 1-hour delivery

Roughly one year after JD Logistics broke even, executives reported record sales volumes have improved efficiency and the service is now turning a profit. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 17, 2020

Analyst: Target's investments in store-centric fulfillment pay off

Retailers that invested in omnichannel strategies and inventory visibility were in the best position to quickly pivot to curbside pickup, ship from store and other methods to capture sales with stores closed, according to D.A Davidson.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 17, 2020

How can managers make their supply chains more agile? 4 experts weigh in.

The ability to remain nimble and react to unforeseen changes across the value chain has proven more beneficial than scenario planning or forecasting for many businesses.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 13, 2020

DHL rolls out AI-based pick routing tool that integrates with WMS, ERP

In its first deployments, the software has reduced the distance traveled by warehouse employees up to 50% and increased productivity up to 30%. 

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 13, 2020

3 technologies FedEx's CIO geeks out on

One challenge of leading enterprise technology for an organization the size of FedEx is the shift away from legacy technology, CIO Rob Carter said.

By Roberto Torres • Aug. 13, 2020

Lineage Logistics finalizes 10 acquisitions as cold storage demand grows

The acquisitions, which encompass 5.5 million square feet and 153 million cubic feet of capacity, focus on adding "capacity and services in key markets," according to CEO Greg Lehmkuhl.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 12, 2020

Lowe's plans to add 50 cross docks, 4 fulfillment centers in pursuit of omnichannel supply chain

The addition of warehouses moves Lowe's away from a store-based home delivery model, which EVP of Supply Chain Don Frieson acknowledged is inefficient. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 12, 2020

Diageo falls short on packaging weight reduction goal

More than 85% of the alcoholic beverage company's packaging is glass — a material that presents a dilemma because it's highly recyclable yet heavier than plastic.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 11, 2020

Stores went dark. Online orders tripled. How Joann used its OMS to cope.

The retailer de-stressed its technology, and employees, as online traffic tripled typical holiday volumes. 

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 11, 2020

Is digital agility a post-pandemic savior? Research shows half of execs say so.

The pandemic caught companies off-guard, evidenced by the 39% of respondents who said "more informed strategic planning, beyond growth" is an opportunity for the future, according to a survey by The Economist.

By Samantha Schwartz • Aug. 10, 2020

Social distancing and the supply chain

COVID has forever altered how warehouse staff and truck drivers interact at check-in and departure. New technologies are replacing face-to-face interactions.

Aug. 10, 2020

Food 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. 6, 2020

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. 5, 2020