Consumer Packaged Goods

Retail Sales in September Surge Most in Two Years

October 18, 2017

Americans increased their spending at retailers last month by the most in two and a half years, driven by strong auto sales as residents of hurricane-ravaged areas replaced destroyed cars.

Intermodal Rail Investment Prepares Port for Higher Cargo Volumes

October 17, 2017

Challenge: Next generation ships carry more cargo than ever before. How can a port increase throughput in an environmentally sustainable manner while ensuring speed to market at destinations around the country?

Using Integrated Business Planning to Enhance Integration of All Functions

October 17, 2017

Challenge: A multi-national corporation producing personal care products had several business units struggling to align all functions. Surprises and expediting were part of the management process; long-term visibility was not holistic. Decisions were made in silos without a formal review. A major difference between what was planned and was executed resulted.

Integrated Business Planning As a Process in a Business Turnaround

October 17, 2017

Challenge: A food company with flat revenue and growth in a five-year period struggled to increase market share and household penetration where expectations and prices fluctuate. Credibility of the forecasts was debated, and plans were not consolidated. Receiving timely, accurate data was a struggle, and a $100m profit gap was projected.

Cosmetics Industry Urges Limit on Microbead Ban

October 17, 2017

Supply Management

Cosmetics industry representatives have urged the European Commission (EC) to limit an English ban on plastic microbeads.

Hidden Cost of Feeding Grain to Farm Animals to Hit $1.32Tr a Year

October 16, 2017

The Guardian

Our habit of feeding human foods, such as grain and soya, to farm animals will cost us $1.32tr a year by 2050 globally, according to environmental campaigners.

Ivanka Trump's Supply Chains in China Cloaked in Secrecy

October 16, 2017

The Washington Post

It is no secret that the bulk of Ivanka Trump's merchandise comes from China. But just which Chinese companies manufacture and export her handbags, shoes and clothes is more secret than ever, an Associated Press investigation has found.

Why APICS Partnered With a Private E-Tailer for Omnichannel Benchmarking

October 16, 2017

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

An unusual partnership between a major industry trade group and private retailer seeks to create a system for benchmarking supply-chain performance by e-commerce companies.

Women in Supply Chain, 2017

October 13, 2017

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

We're well into the 21st century, but we seem no closer to achieving gender parity in supply-chain leadership positions.

U.S. Loses Jobs for First Time in Seven Years As Hurricanes Buffet Market

October 12, 2017

The Guardian

The U.S. jobs market stalled in September, losing 33,000 jobs, as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma took their toll. It was the first time in seven years that the U.S. monthly total had recorded a fall.

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.