Dear valued supplier: Don't take advantage of the pandemic to raise prices

Nearly every cycle, some business condition creates cost challenges, with many price increases valid but others not. The goal is to separate fact from fiction.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 6, 2020

CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and MSC resume operations at Port of Beirut

The port resumed operations on Monday afternoon, according to a notice from Maersk which reported the container terminal saw only minor damage. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Aug. 12, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Risk Management

Risk takes many forms in the supply chain: severe weather, geopolitical uncertainty and labor tensions. Explore the tactics supply chain managers use to prepare for disruptions.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

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

Beyond Meat incurs $6M in repacking expense to handle pandemic demand shift

With restaurants, schools and offices closed, the plant-based supplier switched food service production lines over to retail products, which resulted in a mix of 88% retail and 12% food service.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 5, 2020

Tropical Storm Isaias heads up East Coast threatening road, sea freight movement

The storm's winds could overturn truck trailers along the busy 1-95 corridor and increase the risk for downed trees on railroad tracks. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 4, 2020

ISM: Manufacturing growth indicates 'we're coming out of recession'

The PMI climbed to 54.2% in July, with employees returning to work and growing consumer demand contributing to a healthy reading.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 3, 2020

Demand for partitions and face shields is booming. How a plastic fabricator is adapting its supply chain

Imaginative Materials leaned on supplier relationships and started buying larger sheets of material as customer calls for partitions rolled in. 

By Jen A. Miller • July 30, 2020

Residual effects of Hurricane Hanna to slow cross-border freight for days

Any closure of the major roads between Saltillo and Monterrey in Mexico can result in concentrated traffic and delays at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas.

By Emma Cosgrove • 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

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

Stonyfield saves on cost and carbon by reducing waste, tracking KPIs

Companies are identifying waste streams with economic value and sending those materials to recycling facilities, realizing financial and reputational benefits. 

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • July 21, 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

Pandemic-driven budget cuts increase safety risks for ocean cargo

Alllianz warns that the economic impacts of the coronavirus on shippers, carriers and workers since the downturn will encourage cost-cutting which often negatively affects safety. 

By Emma Cosgrove • July 21, 2020

Flooding in China disrupts medical, PPE suppliers. Shippers should expect delays

Maersk said it had several inland terminals suspend operations as a result of the flooding in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, though "the situation is improving, as the water recedes," a company spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive.

By Matt Leonard • Updated July 23, 2020

MIT, CSCMP: 35% of companies lack supply chain sustainability goals

Social issues — child labor or slavery, worker welfare, etc. — received "far more" focus in companies' sustainability goals than environmental issues.

By Matt Leonard • July 20, 2020

Conducting supplier audits in the era of COVID-19

Buyers are leaning on contractual obligations and technology to curtail the use of physical audits. 

By Craig Guillot • July 16, 2020

BlackRock calls out OEMs, industrial suppliers for inadequate climate disclosure

The investor wields its power to call attention to emissions in the supply chain, and BlackRock's public reporting could affect the reputation of the companies deemed insufficient.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 16, 2020

73% of companies experienced supply-side disruption due to pandemic

Three in 10 respondents said their company would source less from the Far East.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2020

Florida requires sea level studies for construction as ports plan for climate risk

The Port of Miami said sea level rise was one of the "biggest concerns involving the future" of the port.

By Kim Slowey • July 15, 2020

How a small-batch distillery improvised a hand sanitizer supply chain in 72 hours

When hand sanitizer was in short supply, nontraditional producers retooled operations and worked with suppliers to fill the gap.

By S.L. Fuller • July 14, 2020

CH Robinson, Microsoft partner on inventory visibility platform

The inventory data pairs with outside sources of information, including weather and traffic, and the platform will use predictive analytics in an attempt to anticipate supply chain disruptions.

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2020

Southeast US warehousing markets to grow as supply chains opt for China+1 strategies

The Southeast closed Q1 2020 with the top three fastest-growing industrial real estate markets: Savannah, Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina, according to CBRE. 

By Matt Leonard • July 13, 2020

Unilever CSCO: Agility beats forecasting when the supply chain is stressed

Every dollar spent on agility has 10 times the ROI compared to forecasting spend, according to Chief Supply Chain Officer Marc Engel.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 13, 2020

The 5 Ws of reshoring supply chains

The decision to reshore is a balance between price and risk and a trend that started long before the coronavirus pandemic. 

By Shefali Kapadia • July 13, 2020