Brazil and Canada win big from US-China trade war with record soy exports

Canada quadrupled its soy exports to China, a sign that tariffs intended to increase competitiveness of U.S. goods often have the opposite effect. 

By Emma Cosgrove • March 13, 2019

Amazon: A vendor purge or poor communication?

Thousands of sellers reported the retail giant was no longer placing orders with them, but new reporting suggests it simply failed to explain the situation. 

By Matt Leonard • March 12, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management as an effective strategy against tariffs.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Imports drop to annual lows with tariff hike on hold

Data from the National Retail Federation provide key insights into the retail supply chain that will help inform critical business decisions.

By Rich Weissman • March 11, 2019

SAP, Bumble Bee Foods team up to track tuna using blockchain

Consumers will be able to scan a QR code on the final product to find out where their fish was caught and how it made it to the store. 

By Matt Leonard • March 11, 2019

Dollar Tree builds business plans for 25% tariffs

In planning for the worst-case scenario, the discount retailer opens the possibility of increased margins in the latter half of 2019 if tariffs do not rise.

By Shefali Kapadia • March 8, 2019

Walmart tightens on-time, in-full rate for suppliers to 87%

The retailer toughened its OTIF policy from the previous requirement of 85% as it seeks greater control over inventory. 

By Matt Leonard • March 8, 2019

Investors call on soy trade companies to eliminate deforestation

In a letter, 57 investors with $6.3 trillion in assets asked for a "commodity-specific deforestation policy" and traceability from the largest publicly traded companies involved in the soy trade. 

By Matt Leonard • March 8, 2019

More than half of hospital leaders see supply chain improvement as path to higher margins

Despite being a high priority, many hospitals rely on outdated methods to manage inventory and related costs, and some barely keep track at all according to a new survey. 

By Meg Bryant • March 7, 2019

Retailers take aim at packaging waste

The amount of packaging waste generated in the U.S. has increased by 185% between 1960 and 2016. Retailers are looking for a more sustainable way forward. 

By Matt Leonard • March 5, 2019

Office Depot teams up with Alibaba

The U.S. retailer and the Chinese e-commerce firm are partnering to give small and medium-sized businesses access to Alibaba's global network of more than 150,000 suppliers.

By Dan O'Shea • March 5, 2019

Amazon unveils Project Zero to fight counterfeits

The company's automated technology will scan over 5 billion listings daily and will remove suspect products.

By Dan O'Shea • March 1, 2019

Washington state bill would make manufacturers responsible for plastic waste

House Bill 1204 would require plastic packaging producers to either participate in a stewardship organization by 2022 or stop using the materials.

By Cathy Siegner • March 1, 2019

Tate & Lyle partners with supplier, NGO to study stevia sustainability

Tate & Lyle and Sweet Green Fields are working with Earthwatch to understand the popular sweetener's supply chain.

By Jessi Devenyns • Feb. 28, 2019

Mercedes-Benz pilots blockchain to track supplier standards

Rolling out complex processes like blockchain often look fine on a project management Gantt chart but in reality are very tough to manage.

By Rich Weissman • Feb. 28, 2019

Lighthizer 'looking at' exclusion process on 10% tariffs

The U.S. Trade Representative repeated the administration's message of "progress" in trade discussions but emphasized the need for enforcement to hold China accountable. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 27, 2019

Environmental group launches supply chain sustainability website

A new website from the Environmental Defense Fund provides a variety of resources for anyone looking to understand how to implement sustainability goals.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 27, 2019

Foreign suppliers subject to FDA inspection under new food safety plan for imports

The agency will beef up inspections domestically and abroad, and use mandatory recall authority to limit risks from the 15% of the U.S. food supply that is imported.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 27, 2019

Walmart bets on new high-tech consolidation center to win at 'inventory flow'

The center acts as a midway point in the supply chain and allows the retailer to move inventory based on real-time demand. 

By Jen A. Miller • Feb. 26, 2019

Accenture, Mastercard turn to blockchain to enable tips for producers

The application tracks the path of a product and verifies the identity of the producer, allowing consumers to give them a monetary tip. 

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 26, 2019

It's time to stop managing intellectual property on a wing and a prayer

Businesses are often confident in their top suppliers' systems to manage intellectual property and confidentiality, but confidence erodes in tiers two, three and beyond of the supply chain.

By Rich Weissman • Feb. 25, 2019

Trump delays tariff hike initially scheduled for March

Tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China will remain at 10%, and the President plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping "to conclude an agreement," Trump tweeted.

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 24, 2019

Retailers warn of Brexit-induced tariff hikes

Without a withdrawal treaty between the U.K. and EU, tariffs of up to 45% on "everyday food items" could be coming soon, according to retail groups. 

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 22, 2019

Kraft Heinz discloses SEC investigation into its procurement policies

The CPG giant found $25 million in procurement spend should have been recorded, a fraction of the company's total procurement spend of $11 billion. 

By Megan Poinski • Feb. 22, 2019

Cargill works toward deforestation-free supply chains by 2030

Two new policies on sustainable soy production in South America and human rights commitments, along with an updated Forest Policy, outline the company's plan for increasing sustainability within its supply of soy, cocoa and palm.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 21, 2019

John Deere's demand forecast in limbo amid trade uncertainty

An equipment purchase the size of a Deere tractor is an investment in the future of a farm, and uncertainty makes farmers hesitant to invest until the climate improves.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 21, 2019