By S.L. Fuller If there’s one CPG brand known for taking societal and political stances, it’s Ben & Jerry’s. The Unilever-owned line of ice cream puts company values front and center on its packaging — like when it released a design of two cows in top hats, ostensibly getting married, on the front of “I Dough, IContinue reading “Ben & Jerry’s, Frito-Lay and Oreo Put Diversity Messaging Right on the Pack. There Are Risks and Rewards.”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
What Target’s Plan to Cancel Orders Means for CPGs
By Shefali Kapadia After months of building inventory to hedge against stockouts, some retailers now face the opposite problem: what to do with a glut of supply. In June, Target announced plans to “right-size its inventory, ” which included markdowns and cancellations of some orders. The actions to right-size will continue for the rest ofContinue reading “What Target’s Plan to Cancel Orders Means for CPGs”
Bolthouse CEO Ready for More M&A After Acquisition From Starbucks
By Shefali Kapadia After Bolthouse Farms announced plans to acquire Evolution Fresh from Starbucks, Bolthouse CEO Jeff Dunn described the purchase as a “perfect fit.” Evolution Fresh’s high-end portfolio would slot neatly into Bolthouse’s premium lineup of refrigerated juices and smoothies, Dunn told CPG Specialist. Bolthouse contracts rail service from Bakersfield, California, to Chicago, which would expand Evolution Fresh’s mostly West Coast distribution. And there’s plenty of runwayContinue reading “Bolthouse CEO Ready for More M&A After Acquisition From Starbucks”
After years of ‘Made in China,’ supply chains consider alternatives
By Shefali Kapadia The “Made in China” label is ubiquitous in the United States, stamped on everything from industrial machinery to a pair of flip flops. But risks — from rising costs, to a trade war, to a pandemic — have prompted companies to rethink their relationships with suppliers and China. “We’ve realized that we put tooContinue reading “After years of ‘Made in China,’ supply chains consider alternatives”
Mars Gears Up for a New CEO and Its Next Chapter
By Shefali Kapadia From the outside, it appears an ordinary day at Mars’ headquarters, just across the border fromWashington, D.C., in Virginia. But inside the corporation, change is afoot. The CPG is gearing up for one of its biggest shifts since 2014, as a new CEO prepares to take the helm. Inevitably, some degree ofContinue reading “Mars Gears Up for a New CEO and Its Next Chapter”
Frito-Lay bucks the trend of supply chain simplification
By Shefali Kapadia When pandemic-driven lockdowns sent consumers home, Frito-Lay adjusted its inventory to meet increasing demand for its products. The snack brand temporarily culled about 21% of its SKU portfolio to keep its supply chain as efficient as possible and deliver its most in-demand products, said Laura Maxwell, senior vice president of supply chainContinue reading “Frito-Lay bucks the trend of supply chain simplification”
Transport execs confront high-stakes decision: remote, office or hybrid work?
By Shefali Kapadia USA Truck, like many businesses, went fully remote for office operations last spring when the pandemic prompted large-scale shutdowns. The decision was straightforward for most companies, as they put staff safety above all else. “When the pandemic hit … you have that ‘fight or flight’ button in your brain and say, ‘OK,Continue reading “Transport execs confront high-stakes decision: remote, office or hybrid work?”
How supply chains contend with severe weather and climate disasters
In this seven-part series, Supply Chain Dive and sister publication Transport Dive explore the impacts of climate disasters and severe weather on logistics networks, and how supply chains respond to the current threat and fortify operations for the future. As storms become more frequent and volatile, some ports plan for the risk — but most do notContinue reading “How supply chains contend with severe weather and climate disasters”
9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1
By Shefali Kapadia and Matt Leonard The growth spurt in consumer spending that began last summer carried over into 2021, with knock-on effects to supply chains. Freight demand led to hikes in transportation prices and warehouse rents, alongside dips in capacity. And near the end of the quarter, a global disruption occurred: The Ever GivenContinue reading “9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1”
Timeline: How the Suez Canal blockage unfolded across supply chains
By Matt Leonard When the Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, it captured international attention as crews worked to dislodge the vessel and resume global trade flows. Days after the vessel was freed, hundreds of container ships were still waiting to get through the canal as a result of the backlog created byContinue reading “Timeline: How the Suez Canal blockage unfolded across supply chains”
SHEFALI KAPADIA 