Its founder called it the grocery store for “overeducated and underpaid people.” You’ve probably only heard of Trader Joe’s if you have one within a 30-mile radius (or if you have out-of-town friends who rave about it). Ever thought about how the niche grocery chain manages to be so small, so exclusive, so affordable, and yet turn such a large profit? We’ll give you a hint: it’s got a lot to do with their unconventional supply chain.

In the 21st century, customer expectations have pushed supply chain and logistics to evolve at unprecedented speed. In 2019, supply chain will be dominated by one key realization: in order to keep up with customers, brands can neither rely on the old ways, nor place their faith entirely in new technologies. Instead, they will need to re-orchestrate their operations to place the customer at the center, and start measuring success in terms of product availability.

With the biggest gift-giving season of the year upon us, last-minute gift buyers (you know who you are) are scrambling to buy the perfect presents for their loved ones. For many, that means placing online orders and crossing their fingers that these arrive on time. But if you're one of the brands vying for their business, you need to do better than that. Customers need to feel like they're in complete control of the process, and know when to expect their orders, so they come back to you next time they have to make a purchase on the fly.

A trade war that put businesses and consumers on edge. An entire industry confronting generational shifts and talent loss. The synergization of online and offline sales channels. 2018 was not a year of abrupt change or revelations, but one of gradual developments — developments that are going to continue into 2019 and beyond.

Manufacturing is part of the supply chain complex that is being swept up by a digital revolution. Yet a deeply-rooted “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” mentality, and a lack of integration between operating and IT systems, are preventing manufacturing from reaping the benefits of Industry 4.0.

When Amazon announced its takeover of Whole Foods last year, there was a lot of speculation about how the e-tail giant would overhaul the grocery chain’s operations. One year in, we take a look at what’s changed so far — and how it could spell the beginning of a new era for the food and beverage industry.

Your customers want products to be available every day of the year. But when the holiday season arrives, their anxiety about having that perfect gift or deal — on time — puts enormous pressure on your brand.

Concerns about food waste and changing consumer preferences are posing new challenges — and opportunities — to the food supply chain. Increasingly, retailers are making their Thanksgiving supply chains more efficient, prioritizing sustainability, freshness, and satisfied customers without compromising profit.

For most of us, Thanksgiving is a time to reconnect with family and celebrate abundance. For big grocery chains, it means anxiously overseeing a network of suppliers and shippers as they move vital ingredients across the country (and around the world), all while working in tricky weather that demands solid logistical execution to avoid late — or spoiled — deliveries. Grocery retailers always risk losing precious inventory, but never is it more critical to receive the right foods at the right time than during Thanksgiving week. Instead of hoping that their pumped-up stocks of turkey and pumpkin pie arrive intact and on time, grocery chains avoid supply chain disaster by overstocking many of these key items and running tried-and-true marketing tactics to flood their aisles with shoppers. 

Indian e-commerce company Flipkart is in fierce rivalry with Amazon over the country's online retail market. Both have unique advantages, but the true test will be which company can best tailor its offerings to the Indian consumer’s palate.

In recent years the trucking industry has been faced with a double-edged sword — rising fuel costs and a plummeting labor force. In today’s blog we’re taking a look at what this means for shipping costs, and how retailers can fortify their operations against price hikes.