Three of South Africa's biggest supermarket chains have moved to reassure the public that their meats are safe after news that top local researchers had found "fraudulent meat products" across the country.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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"¦
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?
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.
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