Food & Beverage

Ocean Carriers Improve Their On-time Performance

February 12, 2013

Ship-level and container-level key performance indicators showed significant quarter-on-quarter increases in reliability in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to Drewry's quarterly report Carrier Performance Insight, just published.

Supply Disruptions Sometimes Affect Share Value for Long Periods

February 12, 2013

CFO

Supply-chain disruptions cut about 7 percent of a firm's shareholder value, according to research by Accenture cited in a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report on supply-chain resiliency.

CFOs Optimistic for Corporate and Economic Growth in 2013, Survey Finds

February 11, 2013

TD Bank

Middle-market and corporate CFOs are optimistic for macroeconomic and business growth at a level unseen since the height of the Great Recession, according to a survey by TD Bank. Forty-six percent of finance managers polled said they are more optimistic about U.S. economic growth over the next year compared to 2012. Further, 57 percent of respondents are more optimistic for their own companies' performance over the next year.

Price Isn't Everything, But Supplier Auctions Still Make Sense

February 11, 2013

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

I've spent the last couple of posts urging procurement executives not to focus solely on price when they're choosing suppliers. Service, product quality, financial health, social responsibility and exposure to natural disasters and other potential disruptions are all elements that need to be factored into the mix. So you'd think this enlightened attitude would pretty much rule out the use of auctions for selecting vendors, right?

Highly Attractive Asia Pacific Logistics Market Is Transforming Quickly, Report Finds

February 8, 2013

Transport Intelligence

Asia Pacific's logistics industry continues to develop at a fast rate despite the economic weakness of its two largest trade partners - the EU and the U.S.

Retailers' RFID Programs Have Major Implications for Relationships with Suppliers

February 8, 2013

ChainLink Research

Some of the biggest names in retail"”such as Walmart, Macy's, Marks & Spencer, Dillard's, JCP and others"”have implemented large-scale item-level RFID initiatives, in full production rollout. These have big implications for suppliers.

KFC Sales in China Bounce Back Following Squawk Over Food Safety

February 8, 2013

Los Angeles Times

An uproar in China over the safety of chicken sold at KFC "has been longer lasting and more impactful than we ever imagined," according to the chief executive of parent company Yum Brands.

Importer of Record Responsible Under New USDA Meat Import Guidelines

February 8, 2013

Deringer

On February 1, 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), announced new guidelines governing the importation of meat and meat products. According to the bulletin, "the guide articulates which products and FSIS sampling and testing programs are subject to this policy." The program known as "test and hold" has a major impact upon product being exported to the United States and upon the importers of record for these transactions.

How Will China's Coming Labor Shortage Affect Supply Chains?

February 8, 2013

Fortune

Not too long ago, the mere mention of the "China price" could send shivers down the spines of executives in developing countries trying to compete for outsourcing contracts. A pending labor shortage could make such pricing an historical relic.

Counting the Links in the Space Supply Chain

February 8, 2013

Ted J. Bujewski, Chief, Industrial Base & SC Mgmt., Human Space Flight, NASA

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.