Procurement

  • A row of king-sized Hershey chocolate bars sit on the shelf in a store.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Hershey invests $500M to improve cocoa farming struggles

    The confectionery giant is working with cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire to help improve sustainability for growers and the environment.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Nov. 7, 2024
  • A promotional image for Chipotle's smoked brisket menu item. Text on the image reads, "Limited time only Smoked Brisket Chipotle"The image shows a burrito bowl with rice, beans, meat and peppers on the left. On the right is sliced beef with a cup of dipping sauce and sliced peppers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    ‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket

    The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”

    By • Nov. 6, 2024
  • FedEx worker sort through a pile of boxes at the FedEx sort facility at the Oakland International Airport December 18, 2006 in Oakland, California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Retail Supply Chains

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

    By Supply Chain Dive staff
  • Black and yellow Stanley Black & Decker sign on green grass, and trees and a white building in the background on a sunny day.
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    Courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

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    Tariff hikes could be coming. Stanley Black & Decker says it’s ready.

    The toolmaker has been formulating a mitigation strategy since the spring, with the company planning to shift production away from China.

    By • Nov. 4, 2024
  • Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Robot, Futuristic, Data Science, Data Analytics, A.I.
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    Just_Super via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Navigating the challenges of AI adoption in procurement

    Incorporating AI into procurement is a technical endeavor that must consider the human impact to be successful, 4C Associates’ director of digital innovation writes.

    By Joe Gibson • Nov. 4, 2024
  • A group of eight people holding red and white picket signs in front of a blue and white Boeing sign.
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    Stephen Brashear via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing production down ahead of presidential election: PMI

    Demand rose slightly during the month as manufacturers hope for a rebound next year. 

    By • Nov. 1, 2024
  • A Gulfstream aircraft flies in the sky over a body of water. with mountains in the background.
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    Courtesy of General Dynamics
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    General Dynamics Q3 aircraft deliveries hampered by supplier issue

    The aerospace company said G700 deliveries fell far short of expectations last quarter due to component exchanges and late engine shipments.

    By • Oct. 31, 2024
  • A worker at the new Mercedes-Benz battery facility in Germany prepares a battery module for recycling.
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    Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
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    Mercedes-Benz seeks circularity with new battery recycling plant

    With a targeted recovery rate of up to 96%, the facility will process and recycle enough materials to produce more than 50,000 new battery modules per year.

    By Eric Walz • Oct. 31, 2024
  • A farmer holds a coffee plant bearing fruit
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks ramps up supply chain investments for climate resilience

    The company is buying two innovation farms in Central America to advance research to protect its coffee supply.

    By • Oct. 31, 2024
  • Doughnuts are displayed on a tray.
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    Cindy Ord via Getty Images
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    Dawn Foods names new supply chain SVP

    Ahmet Hepdogan will oversee procurement, distribution services and supply chain for the bakery ingredients distributor.

    By • Oct. 29, 2024
  • halloween candy
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Candy producers using less chocolate this Halloween amid record cocoa prices: Wells Fargo

    Hershey and other big chocolate producers are turning to gummies and other candy to offset supply issues with the crop.

    By Chris Casey • Oct. 28, 2024
  • A map of the Smackover Formation region in the U.S., including the area sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey.
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    Retrieved from U.S. Geological Survey.
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    Arkansas could be a lithium treasure trove

    The state’s Smackover Formation region may contain up to 19 million tons of the critical mineral, more than enough to meet projected global demand in 2030.

    By • Oct. 24, 2024
  • A farmer points to chickens on a cage-free farm
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Cal-Maine plans $40M investment to expand cage-free egg production

    The U.S.' largest egg producer also said it's working with growers to add more free-range hens as it converts a former Tyson facility in Missouri.

    By • Oct. 23, 2024
  • A 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV driving on a two-lane road with green hills in the background.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford inks battery supply deal with LG Energy Solution

    Under the agreement, the companies will move battery production for the Mustang Mach-E from Poland to Michigan.

    By Eric Walz • Oct. 22, 2024
  • Photo of Hershey chocolate bars and flakes of chocolate beneath the packages
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Unwrapping Hershey’s $250M supply chain upgrade

    The chocolate maker's Advancing Agility and Automation Initiative leans on digitization to boost visibility and optimize manufacturing and procurement.

    By • Oct. 21, 2024
  • packages of beef steak are seen in a grocery store
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s sues Tyson, JBS and other beef producers for allegedly fixing prices

    The fast food giant, which is the world's largest buyer of beef, alleges major meat companies conducted illegal acts to drive down supplies.

    By Nathan Owens • Oct. 21, 2024
  • A landscape photo of the Thacker Pass land being developed by Lithium Americas in Nevada.
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    Courtesy of Lithium Americas
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    GM invests $625M in lithium production capacity

    The automaker is partnering with Lithium Americas to develop the Thacker Pass Mine in Nevada, where GM agreed to buy up to 100% of lithium produced for 20 years.

    By • Oct. 18, 2024
  • 2013 Honda Accords coming off the assembly line at the Marysville Auto Plant Nov. 1, 2012, exactly 30 years after the first Accord was produced in the U.S. at the Marysville, Ohio plant on Nov. 1, 198
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    Courtesy of Honda
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    Honda supply chain woes had little impact on September sales

    While the disruptions from Hurricane Helene have subsided, retooling efforts for Ohio EV production are still hampering its manufacturing activity.

    By • Oct. 18, 2024
  • A factory with rows of Bangladeshi garment workers behind their sewing machines working on fashion garments
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    Allison Joyce / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Why apparel companies embrace supplier scorecards

    The tool can help build more transparent sourcing relationships and better measure supply chain metrics.

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • A cotton plant emerges from dry, cracked earth
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Drought shrivels cotton, delays wheat planting in US Plains

    At least 44% of winter wheat production is currently affected by the dry conditions, per the Department of Agriculture.

    By • Oct. 16, 2024
  • Export freight containers with Mexican produced goods are seen ready to be shipped to the U.S. in the Pantaco customs complex on June 7, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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    Hector Vivas via Getty Images
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    More US-based companies to shift supply chain operations into Americas: report

    Reducing touch points and increasing proximity to manufacturing and procurement locations is a priority for firms, according to KPMG.

    By Maura Webber Sadovi • Oct. 15, 2024
  • A pharmacy technician grabs a bottle of drugs off a shelve at the central pharmacy of Intermountain Heathcare.
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    George Frey via Getty Images
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    FDA outlines new Drug Supply Chain Security Act exemptions

    Several groups have been granted additional time to comply with the more than 10-year-old legislation. 

    By • Oct. 14, 2024
  • Close up of a model wearing an orange dress with feathered sleeves.
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    Courtesy of H&M
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    H&M to cease sourcing new down fibers

    The fast fashion company said it will only procure feathers from post-consumer recycled sources.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 11, 2024
  • The white and gray interior of one of Shinhwa's manufacturing facilities in Auburn, Alabama.
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    Courtesy of Shinhwa Auto USA Corp.

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    Automotive supply chains can benefit from sourcing alliances. Here’s why.

    Collaborations can lower procurement costs and drive operational change, but experts say aligning objectives and cost structures are key to success.

    By • Oct. 10, 2024
  • A pile of textile waste.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    California passes Responsible Textile Recovery Act

    SB 707 makes apparel producers responsible for the recycle, reuse and collection of their products.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 10, 2024
  • Hormel, planters
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    Permission granted by Hormel Foods
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    Hormel taps co-packer partnerships to aid disrupted plant

    Production at a Planters facility in Virginia was impacted by a food safety issue found in April.

    By • Oct. 9, 2024