Adidas, H&M, Ikea lead on sustainable cotton sourcing

The Sustainable Cotton Ranking evaluated the companies, looking for policies that firmly direct more sustainable cotton sourcing, followthrough on those policies and the internal traceability available to benchmark improvement.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 20, 2020

Advance Auto Parts credits WMS, distribution upgrades for Q4 margin boost

The upgrades are part of a long-term supply chain and IT strategy where the majority of potential margin growth in the near future won't be dependent on sales but on internal optimization, executives said. 

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 19, 2020

Walmart boosts stores' role in e-commerce fulfillment

The retailer will increase e-commerce fulfillment from stores in 2020, but isn't committing to just one strategy. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 19, 2020

Modell's works with vendors, landlords to avoid bankruptcy

Mitchell Modell said the retailer has hired restructuring advisers and is turning to vendors and landlords to see it through a rough patch.

By Daphne Howland • Feb. 12, 2020

Under Armour forecasts up to $60M revenue hit from coronavirus disruptions

CEO Patrik Frisk expects "significant material impact both financially and operationally" on the company's full-year results, but putting hard numbers on the disruption is tough without a clear picture of scale or duration. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 12, 2020

NRF: Coronavirus could cause 13% import drop at US ports

Before the outbreak, the National Retail Federation predicted February imports would be 1.54 million TEUs. The forecast has slid to 1.41 million.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 11, 2020

Flexible plastic makes up 28% of global packaging: report

PET bottles and flexible plastic are lightweight, easily customizable and cheap to manufacture, the association wrote in its "2019 Global Packaging Trends" report.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 10, 2020

FedEx to transfer some Express parcels to Ground for last mile

The aim is to improve parcel density and cost particularity for residential deliveries, FedEx said. 

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 10, 2020

JD Logistics deploys autonomous shuttles, drones for last-mile deliveries in coronavirus quarantine zones

The technologies minimize human contact, and JD Logistics has provided its employees in the area with masks, body suits and other emergency safety gear.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 7, 2020

How online order fulfillment is changing grocery in 3 charts

Meeting the tight deadlines consumers desire has pushed grocers to get creative with fulfillment.

By Morgan Forde • Feb. 6, 2020

Macy's lays out a massive supply chain overhaul

Macy's new Chief Supply Chain Officer Dennis Mullahy took over a supply chain with siloed management and data and little strategic influence. That's all about to change. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 6, 2020

Ralph Lauren pilots custom apparel with 16-day lead time

It was only a pilot, said CEO Patrice Louvet, but there is value in knowing such a turnaround is possible. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 6, 2020

Owed millions, Forever 21 suppliers and lenders take aim at auction plan

Some of the retailer's biggest suppliers say the company has fallen behind on payments and worry that a quick sale process could burn them. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Feb. 5, 2020

Learning from Adidas' Speedfactory blunder

Adidas will end its revolutionary manufacturing program this year, but that doesn't mean the principles of distributed operations should be abandoned by other players.

By Adrián Hernández • Feb. 4, 2020

H&M operations, sustainability leader will be next CEO

Helena Helmersson's promotion and deep ties to the company's sustainability work suggest H&M will continue improving the sustainability of its supply chain as planned.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 3, 2020

Online grocery forecast increases to $143B by 2025

FMI and Nielsen updated their projections due to an uptick in pickup, two-hour delivery, expanded services and a surge in Amazon Prime memberships.

By Krishna Thakker • Feb. 3, 2020

Kellogg works with suppliers to phase out controversial glyphosate

Consumer and environmental advocacy groups applauded the cereal maker's decision and hoped it would spur similar action from other companies such as PepsiCo and General Mills.

By Cathy Siegner • Feb. 3, 2020

Amazon shipping costs continue to climb with no end in sight

CEO Jeff Bezos said the number of items available for one-day Prime shipping quadrupled year-over-year in Q4.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 30, 2020

How Lush ditched manual invoicing for automated accounts payable

Before 2017, the skincare company printed hundreds of thousands of supplier invoices annually. Now 92% of invoices are touchless.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 30, 2020

La Senza's suppliers file to put it in Ch. 7 bankruptcy

The lingerie retailer was sold by L Brands in 2018. Less than a year later, it fell behind on tens of millions of dollars in payments, a vendor alleges. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 27, 2020

Coca-Cola says it won't ban plastic bottles because consumers like them

Head of Sustainability Bea Perez said people like being able to reseal drinks in lightweight packaging, and alternatives could increase the company's carbon footprint and hurt sales.

By Lillianna Byington • Jan. 27, 2020

Whole Foods struggles with shortages amid supplier closure

Customers nationwide have reported bare shelves and limited inventory, which the retailer has said is a result of an unexpected supplier closure. 

By Jessica Dumont • Jan. 27, 2020

Amazon, DHL, Ikea, others join electric vehicle alliance

The Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance members plan to electrify their fleets within the next five to 10 years.

By Morgan Forde • Jan. 23, 2020

Trader Joe's, CVS get low marks on chocolate supply chains

If retailers make the decision to buy chocolate based on labor and environmental standards it can help shift the industry in the right direction, Green America noted in its study.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 16, 2020

Amazon lets 3rd party sellers use FedEx Ground for Prime shipments after peak season ban

The decision comes after Amazon removed the option for sellers to ship with FedEx Ground and Home in December 2019 over concerns about late holiday shipments.

By Morgan Forde • Jan. 15, 2020