Consumer Packaged Goods

UPS, FedEx Strike E-Commerce Partnership Deals

November 21, 2016

Both UPS and rival carrier FedEx have announced e-commerce partnership as they head into the busy holiday shopping season that kicks off with Cyber Weekend.

Will Robots Put an End to Holiday Hiring in the Warehouse?

November 21, 2016

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

For retailers and distribution centers, the traditional method for coping with the chaos of the Christmas buying season has been to throw more bodies at the problem. But what if robots could do a better job of handling the surge of activity?

E-Commerce Expert Says More Brands Should Sell on Amazon

November 18, 2016

Apparel

At Gap's annual shareholder meeting this year, CEO Art Peck said, "to not be considering Amazon and others would be in my view delusional." Soon after, Lands' End announced that it would start selling some merchandise on Amazon, as the online behemoth's "credibility of being a desired fashion destination for shoppers continues to grow."

Samsung Enters Automotive Supply Chain With $8Bn Deal

November 18, 2016

Supply Management

An $8bn acquisition may turn Samsung into a major supplier to the automotive industry. The South Korean smartphone manufacturer has entered into a definitive agreement with Harman International Industries, a market-leading maker of connected-car components, to buy the firm for $112 per share in cash.

Sealed Air Debuts Packaging Technology That Eliminates Outer Boxes

November 16, 2016

Sealed Air

Sealed Air Corporation has announced the launch of its StealthWrap cartoning design, a patented micro-layer, opaque cartoning alternative which allows primary package cartons to be protected for transit without the need for outer boxes or additional packaging materials, the company says.

Stores Hustle to Get Holiday Goods As Fallout From Hanjin Mess Continues

November 16, 2016

The Los Angeles Times

The last Hanjin Shipping vessel dropping off goods in California has set sail from the Port of Long Beach, finally clearing the many ships left stranded by the company's sudden collapse two months ago. But in its wake, the giant shipping line has left a mess that retailers across the country will be sorting out for weeks.

Manufacturers Slow Investment Amid Uncertainty

November 16, 2016

Supply Management

Spending by manufacturers on plant and machinery is expected to slow over the coming two years, according to research. Manufacturers' organisation EEF said "elevated levels of uncertainty are clouding the ability of businesses to forecast future demand," though this was an underlying trend not altered by June's Brexit vote.

CIPS Risk Index Rises As Global Commitment Slides

November 15, 2016

Supply Management

Supply chain managers are facing a new wave of impediments to the flow of goods across borders, said John Glen, economist for the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, as the latest CIPS Risk Index continued to climb to levels not seen since 2013.

Organics Raising the Steaks for Food Manufacturing

November 15, 2016

Dave Gustovich, Area VP, NetSuite's Manufacturing Center of Excellence

Consumer appetites for organic foods are at an all-time high. As grocery shoppers buy more goods labeled as organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO and other attributes of healthier foods, food manufacturers need to adapt to the complex challenges of the organic products supply chain.

Sap Aims to Simplify Innovation With Update to In-Memory Database

November 14, 2016

CIO

SAP says it wants businesses struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation in its HANA in-memory database to relax as it readies a new version, HANA 2. Since introducing HANA in 2010, the supply chain software company has been releasing updates twice a year, providing customers with new capabilities but also pushing them to keep their software current to benefit from continuing support.

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.