Consumer Packaged Goods

Amazon Patents Flying Warehouse

January 10, 2017

Amazon has filed a patent for a flying warehouse that would deliver packages using a fleet of drones. The "airborne fulfilment centre", patented in the U.S., would consist of a giant airship that remains at high altitude while drones collect packages from it to deliver to locations on the ground.

Top 3PLs Of 2017

January 9, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

As e-commerce continues to grow, so does the number of fulfillment options available to merchants. In particular, an increasing number of third-party logistics providers (3PLs) have emerged, handling all or some fulfillment operations for merchants who don't see it as a core competency.

Deutsche Post DHL Group Completes UK Mail Acquisition

January 9, 2017

Air Cargo World

Deutsche Post DHL Group has completed the acquisition of UK Mail in a $315.5m bid to strengthen its presence in the U.K. e-commerce market.

The Future Of Fashion Is Mushroom Leather: A More Sustainable Fashion Industry

January 9, 2017

Bloomberg

As you slipped into heels or a tux to toast the New Year, you probably weren't thinking about the fact that the leather in your shoes polluted drinking water in Indian villages, or that merino sheep were made miserable for your suit - and François-Henri Pinault doesn't want you to have to. This year, the 54-year-old Frenchman is toasting the results in his 2016 sustainability report.

Delta Cancels Order for 18 Dreamliners

January 6, 2017

American Machinist

Boeing Commercial Airplanes has settled terms with Delta Air after the carrier cancelled an order for 18 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets, a contract worth $4bn at current list prices.

Retail CFO Turnover Could Be a Sign of Changing Times

January 6, 2017

Bloomberg

What did retailers want for Christmas? Apparently, new Chief Financial Officers. Neiman Marcus Group Inc. is on the hunt for a new CFO. So are Kohl's Corp., Coach Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. Whole Foods Market Inc.'s CFO of 29 years - and the longest-serving female CFO in the Fortune 500 - will be leaving in 2017.

Food Companies' Environmental Efforts Are Increasing Production and Profits

January 5, 2017

Environmental Leader

The food and agriculture industry depend on natural resources, along with predictable weather and climate patterns, to produce their products and turn a profit. And yet these two industries have historically been divided over climate change and often slow to embrace new technologies and practices that can help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental footprint.

Sourcing a Safer Battery (That Won't Catch Fire)

January 5, 2017

The New York Times

Mike Zimmerman likes to shock his guests by using a hammer to drive a nail through a solid polymer lithium metal battery. Nothing happens - and that's a good thing.

After Years Offshore, Bike Production Rolls Back to the U.S.

January 5, 2017

Industryweek

From hand-crafted boutique brands to high-volume manufacturing and assembly, dedicated U.S. bicycle makers are reshoring bike production to the U.S. A confluence of factors including rising offshore costs, the benefits of a "local for local" business strategy, the growing popularity of bikes in expanding urban areas and patriotism are giving rise to new opportunities for an "old" mode of transportation.

HP Partner Jabil Moves One Step Closer to a 3-D Future

January 4, 2017

Industryweek

John Dulchinos and the rest of his team at Jabil Circuit received their new Multi Jet Fusion 3-D printer from Hewlett-Packard back in June and, for months, they have fiddled with the technology. Process development. Characterization capabilities. Figuring out the limits of what, exactly, is possible, when you print as quick as 340 million voxels per second.

Consumer Packaged Goods

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the consumer packaged goods industry. Learn how consumer packaged goods companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.