Reporting

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 chain… Read more

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,… Read more

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 Given… Read more

By Shefali Kapadia Trade didn’t make it into the Biden administration’s seven immediate priorities. It’s not a subject where analysts and former trade representatives expect to see big moves or a flurry of activity. But that hasn’t deterred newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “I don’t expect, if confirmed, to be put on the back burner… Read more

By Shefali Kapadia Interstate 495 is in clear view from the berths at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware. One traffic light and one turn is all it takes for trucks departing the port to reach the highway and haul their containers to dense population centers along the East Coast. And running parallel to the interstate,… Read more