Food & Beverage

Food Safety: It's All About the Supply Chain

April 29, 2013

As tainted-food scandals go, it wasn't so bad. The discovery early this year of unlabeled horse meat in European food products wasn't for the most part a safety issue. It was a violation of cultural norms, to be sure, as well as a truth-in-packaging problem. Most of all, it was a supply-chain failure.

After 44 Years, Wal-Mart Stores Joins National Retail Federation

April 23, 2013

Storefront Backtalk

Walmart has now officially joined the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a member. For those new to retail, this may seem to be no big deal, but the background is that Walmart and the NRF have been in what amounts to a blood feud for decades.

How Much Inventory Do You Really Need?

April 22, 2013

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Inventory is evil. Inventory is essential. The two statements aren't necessarily contradictory. Not if companies can figure out a way to determine the absolute minimum amount of stock needed to keep customers happy, while maintaining a tight lid on costs.

Unilever North America Says All Facilities Now Have Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Status

April 22, 2013

Unilever

Unilever United States and Canada announced that all 26 of its manufacturing and non-manufacturing headquarter facilities are now zero waste to landfill (ZLF). Other countries in which Unilever has achieved this milestone reportedly include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan.

Use of Robots Creates Image Problem for U.S. Manufacturers

April 19, 2013

Chief Executive

When asked to describe the impact on the economy of modernizing factories with advanced technology and automation, nearly two-thirds of Americans told pollsters that it either made no difference or actually hurt the economy, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Fresh & Easy Grocery Chain Goes Stale; Parent Tesco to Pull Out of U.S. Market

April 19, 2013

Los Angeles Times

Tesco PLC's ambitious U.S. experiment - 5-year-old grocery chain Fresh & Easy - has failed after costing its British parent billions of dollars, the company said.

New Oil Alternatives Needed to Address Vegetable Oil Challenges, Study Says

April 18, 2013

A.T. Kearney

Solving the sustainability challenges of the palm oil market will require use of alternative oils and the cooperation of all stakeholders, says a study from A.T. Kearney.

Conventional Organizational Structures Based on Function Are Obsolete. Time for New Approach?

April 18, 2013

Strategy + Business

By now, the functional model has become the conceptual core of nearly all organizational structures, public and private. It is so ingrained in the daily activities of most companies that it is rarely questioned. But it is obsolete.

Europe Envies Investment U.S. Rail Companies Put Into Improving Their Networks

April 17, 2013

The Economist

Europeans have long pitied Americans for their rotten passenger trains. But when it comes to moving goods America has a well-kept freight network that is the most cost-effective in the world.

How Coca-Cola's Store Delivery Operations Benefit from Route Optimization

April 17, 2013

Mike Jacks, Sr. Mgr.-Logistics Systems, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Food & Beverage

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the food and beverage industries. Learn how food and beverage 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.