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

Retail suppliers are still under strain — and it could hurt everyone

Stores are open, but vendors face longer payment terms and financial uncertainty, which could hit retail shelves just as the holidays ramp up.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 10, 2020

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

Ahold Delhaize's US digital sales soar 127% as consumers turn to online grocery delivery, pickup

To improve delivery profitability, the company is extending a micro-fulfillment center pilot program and ramping up its omnichannel investments to match consumer demand shifts.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 5, 2020

New Clorox CEO tasked with increasing supply, staying in stock

Executives are "aggressively investing" to increase production capacity because, though sales are booming, stockouts are adversely affecting the company's share of the total market.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 4, 2020

Home Depot adds 3 warehouses as DIY demand grows

The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior and buying patterns, but it hasn't deterred Home Depot from its plan to invest in its distribution network.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 4, 2020

Amazon prioritizes capacity over speed with peak approaching

A 50% increase in fulfillment, delivery and sortation space is intended to relieve pressure from soaring demand, but it won't fix the e-tailer's lagging delivery speed, according to CFO Brian Olsavsky. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 31, 2020

XPO says tech, automation interest is leading shippers to outsource more of their supply chains

Executives said shippers need interim capacity to handle demand spikes during the pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • July 31, 2020

Mondelez plans 25% SKU cut to sustain pandemic market share growth

As competitors' supply chains catch up from pandemic-related production slowdowns, CEO Dirk Van de Put said a SKU reduction would help the company maintain its gains.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 30, 2020

Harley-Davidson revamps inventory management, cuts production

The new plans are part of a broader restructuring strategy after Harley-Davidson's retail sales slid almost 27% compared to the same time last year.

By Matt Leonard • July 29, 2020

Grocery supply chains must invest in automation as delivery becomes the norm

As grocers cut costs, smaller staffs will be stretched by increasing delivery demands. Technology can fill the gap, writes Avery Dennison VP Ryan Yost. 

By Ryan Yost • July 28, 2020

Shippers eye struggling retail properties for conversion to last-mile, fulfillment centers

A shift to online shopping during the coronavirus outbreak has accelerated the trend of retailers retrofitting store properties for supply chain functions.

By Morgan Forde • July 28, 2020

FreshDirect, Fabric to launch micro-fulfillment-powered grocery delivery in DC-area

Expanded service and a same-day offering will kick off later this year from a 10,000-square-foot setup inside a Maryland distribution facility.

By Jeff Wells • July 28, 2020

Apple's 2030 roadmap to carbon neutrality focuses on product design, supplier base

The company plans to invest in emissions reduction technologies and carbon removal projects to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations, manufacturing, supplier base and product life cycles.

By Morgan Forde • July 23, 2020

Home Depot leans on efficiency analysis for sustainable transport plan

"As we try and improve the efficiency of our supply chain, it actually results in massively better sustainability measures," the VP of transportation told Supply Chain Dive.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2020

Walmart's planned South Carolina warehouse will increase Port of Charleston volume 5%

The $220 million, 3 million-square-foot facility will serve regional distribution centers that support about 850 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs.

By Matt Leonard • July 22, 2020

Coca-Cola expands 'ruthless' SKU rationalization strategy to cut entire product lines

The beverage giant is in the process of discontinuing the Odwalla juice brand — a decision stemming from the SKU rationalization work the company has undertaken due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 22, 2020

Maersk, Microsoft, Nike, Unilever, others form net-zero emissions initiative citing 'climate emergency'

Member companies have committed to sharing best practices across their value chains.

By Morgan Forde • July 21, 2020

FedEx installs robotic arms for automated parcel sorting to handle rising e-commerce volume

The carrier is partnering with Yaskawa America and Plus One Robotics, starting with four robotic arms sorting small parcels in its Memphis hub. 

By Morgan Forde • July 17, 2020

Asos works to restore warehouse throughput, build operational flexibility for peak

The retailer will incur roughly $5.7 million in costs related to pandemic operational requirements needed to keep workers safe while scaling capacity for peak.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 17, 2020

Port of LA: 2020 volume will be lowest since Great Recession

It took nearly a decade to see levels recover after the Great Recession. But the port is confident it won't take that long this time around.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2020

Amazon preps for peak with restrictions on 3rd-party seller warehouse space

"Amazon is preparing for the 'worst,' which in this case it could be the best holiday season in a generation," Rick Watson, CEO of RMW Commerce Consulting, told Supply Chain Dive.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 14, 2020

FDA releases food safety blueprint that uses tech to bolster visibility, recall tracking

Tech-enabled traceability, data tools, modernization and strengthening safety culture are ways the agency believes foodborne illnesses can be reduced.

By Jessi Devenyns • July 14, 2020

Patent Pending: Can't sign for your package? Just let UPS track your phone's location

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.

By Matt Leonard • July 10, 2020

Will sustainability take a backseat to COVID-19 challenges?

Procurement leaders from Danone, PepsiCo, L'Oreal and more see the practices and tools gained through sustainability work as assets in the battle against pandemic supply chain disruptions.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 9, 2020

NRF forecasts lowest peak season since 2014

U.S. ports handled 1.53 million TEUs in May, down 17% year over year. June is estimated at 1.69 million TEUs, down almost 6% compared to last year.

By Matt Leonard • July 9, 2020