Food & Beverage

Future of Warehouse Automation

March 12, 2013

There are several overarching themes driving the push for more automation inside the four walls. Some relate to changing demographics in the labor force, others to how consumers are shopping today, and let's not overlook the constant striving for more efficiency, productivity and cost reduction.

Planning, Designing and Implementing DC Improvements

March 11, 2013

New or Improved DC: An Introduction to the Process

Keys to Fulfilling Multiple Channels From a Common DC

March 11, 2013

SupplyChainBrain

Jason Denmon, apparel industry executive with Fortna, offers advice on how companies can utilize a common distribution center for servicing multiple brands or channels - and why it's so tough to get it right.

Smaller But More Frequent Retail Orders

March 5, 2013

Scott Moran, Kane Is Able; Brian Gibson, Auburn Univ.; John Slinkard, Sun-Maid

Getting a Handle on Your Total Delivered Cost

March 4, 2013

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: It's no secret that companies in logistics-intensive industries are facing a variety of commercial and operational challenges. For example, consumer products and goods companies experience "margin squeeze," in which they pay more for commodity raw materials but typically are not able to pass along corresponding price increases to retail customers. High fuel prices, increasing wage rates in low-cost countries and concerns over supply chain disruption are causing manufacturers and retailers alike to rethink global sourcing strategies. - Ryan Godsil, Tony Ross, Alex Bajorinas and Jim Morton, all of Ernst & Young LLP

E-Commerce Has Explosive Impact on Food & Beverage Industry

March 4, 2013

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: The food and beverage industry will see many changes this year. To stay ahead of the curve, food retailers will have to understand that the environment is changing and innovate toward a more flexible omnichannel supply chain. - Tim Pyne, Vice President of Retail, Consumer & Food, Tompkins International

To Meet Fuel-Efficiency Standards, Automakers Must Continually Shed Pounds from Their Products

March 4, 2013

MIT Technology Review

Automakers are putting some of their best-selling vehicles on a diet in a race to meet strict new fuel-efficiency regulations that will kick in by the middle of the next decade.

Factors to Consider When Determining If You Need an ERP System

March 4, 2013

Technology Evaluation Centers

To ERP, or not to ERP, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous ERP vendors, Or to take arms against a cloud of component solutions"¦

Collaborative Purchasing, Revisited

March 4, 2013

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

So collaborative purchasing appears feasible for the restaurant industry. But what about other business sectors? Can different companies - even direct competitors - really band together to get better deals from their suppliers?

There are Good Ways and (Very) Bad Ways to Manage Crises - Like Horse Meat in Food You Serve

March 1, 2013

Fortune

Many balk at the idea of biting into Seabiscuit. The cultural taboo around eating horse is one reason why the public has had such a negative reaction to the news that certain European suppliers have been shipping beef contaminated with horse meat.

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.