Supply Chain

[On-demand event] Building resilient supply chains from seed to field and ‘farm gate to dinner plate’

17-Nov-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food and beverage companies need to take a holistic view of their agriculture and logistic processes to create resilient supply chains that can weather sudden and drastic challenges, a panel of experts shared during FoodNavigator-USA’s Futureproofing...

Futureproofing the Food System

[Watch-on-demand] “Your AI is going to be as good as your data”

16-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Understanding how to identify and leverage useful data into a consistent and predictive algorithm is critical for a nimble and productive business strategy. How can businesses across the food sector—from ingredient discovery and product development to...

From seed to table: How the food, beverage industry is building resilient supply chains

16-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Between global conflicts and the threat of climate change, the food and beverage industry is facing supply-chain crises from multiple fronts, which will require stakeholders to find innovative ways to create a more resilient system that can endure for...

McCormick’s stock drops despite improved profit forecast, positive response to innovation

04-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Spice and flavor giant McCormick & Co.’s stock tumbled double-digits yesterday despite beating analyst expectations during its third quarter and laying out a solid multi-prong plan to drive volume and engage consumers going forward as investors became...

Opinion

Handling and storage challenges in the food supply chain

20-Jul-2023 By Theo Mizzi

Theo Mizzi, project manager at Inverto UK, discusses handling and storage challenges in the food and drink supply chain and how artificial intelligence can play a role in maintaining integrity during transit.

US bakers bank on ‘strength in numbers’ to tackle priorities with Capitol Hill

13-Jul-2023 By Gill Hyslop

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is partnering with the American Society of Baking (ASB) and Retail Bakers of America (RBA) to give bakers an even stronger voice with US Congress.

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Consumer Brands Association is ready to go ‘back to the future’

26-Jun-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Under a new CEO and with peak-pandemic receding farther into the background, the Consumer Brands Association is “going back to the future” to focus on core values that, while still priorities in recent years, took a backseat during the chaos of COVID...

Food prices continue to level off, even as labor shortages, transportation challenges linger

14-Jun-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

A slight uptick in the price of food at home in May from April after months of steady decline isn’t as worrisome to some industry stakeholders as it could be given year-over-year food prices continued to slow and remained far lower than the double-digit...

White House celebrates ‘normalizing’ supply chains, but industry warns of more work

09-Jun-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Critical supply chains are finally “normalizing” after the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted transportation and slowed production, triggering bottlenecks and driving up inflation to 40-year highs, according to a White House report card...

NutraCast: Power Leaves finds opportunity in decocainized coca

02-Jun-2023 By Danielle Masterson

Power Leaves says it's breaking the monopoly on the supply of coca leaf extract and bringing on a ‘new age of coca’. Through an exclusive agreement with indigenous communities, the ingredient manufacturer and supplier has developed a legal Colombian...

Trucking legislation that could ease supply chain challenges advances in House

25-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

A trio of trucking bills passed by the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week are a “step in the right direction” to further repair and reinforce fragile food supply chains threatened by an ongoing severe driver shortage, according...

Dedert shows potential of upcycling, preparing for precision fermentation scale-up with processing changes

09-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

Alt protein and related ingredient companies should consider how diversifying their manufacturing processes, including precession fermentation, could create more growth opportunities through upcycling, market manager at manufacturing equipment company...

Tetra Pak report shows there’s a long way to go for sustainable packaging

21-Apr-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A new report from Swedish-Swiss packaging company Tetra Pak revealed high levels of consumer support for sustainable packaging. However, due to supply chain issues and high prices, many companies are nevertheless struggling to implement changes to their...

Modern data platform, Crstl, facilitates B2B e-commerce between CPG brands and retailers

17-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The no-code electronic data integration software offers automatic compliance testing, certification services and onboarding amenities to connect food and beverage brands with a network of trading partners.

What is behind rising food prices and when will they come back down?

31-Mar-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Rapidly rising food prices are expected to slow in 2023 after supply chain challenges, geo-political strife, climate change and agricultural policy changes contributed to record inflation in 2022 and prompted government action, according to federal agencies....

Hershey reimagines manufacturing to navigate lingering supply chain challenges

28-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hershey is making more of the sweets and snacks consumers want with less and overcoming extreme supply chain challenges by replacing and repurposing underutilized manufacturing capacity, ditching conventional lines in favor of more efficient modular operations...

Abbott investigated over infant formula manufacture and contracts by SEC, FTC

27-Feb-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

According to a SEC filing, Abbott Laboratories has also made more than $20bn in COVID-19 testing-related sales over three years.

Mondelez holds off on promotions, price roll-backs despite retailer pressure as inflation remains high

01-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Mondelez executives see no reason to lower prices or increase promotions for their iconic sweets and snacks despite reported retailer requests that brands across the board do so as some consumers begin pulling back on spending in the face of ongoing inflation.

McCormick cuts supply chain workforce, jobs elsewhere to improve profits in 2023

27-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Spice and ingredient giant McCormick & Co. is “streamlining” its workforce through layoffs and voluntary retirements as part of an initiative to cut costs by $75m in 2023 and $125m annually following a disappointing fourth quarter that missed expectations...

Relief from trucking supply chain challenges driving up costs could be on horizon if SHIP IT Act passes

25-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food industry leaders are calling for the fast passage of bipartisan legislation introduced yesterday that seeks to ease ongoing supply chain challenges stemming from the nation’s historic 80,000 truck driver shortage, which is delaying deliveries and...

Input prices for food, transportation fall slightly, but remain notably higher than pre-pandemic

19-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite a slight cooling in food prices paid by manufacturers in December from November, and a low-double digit decline in gas prices that could help ease transportation costs, the food industry still faces input costs that are up low double-digits from...

5 profit-boosting strategies for 2023 include focus on supply chain transparency, ESG & innovation, Deloitte says

12-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite concerns that high energy prices, supply chain and labor challenges, and geo-political strife will continue at least through the end of the year if not longer, many CPG executives remain optimistic about their companies’ performance, according...

UNFI reinforces supply chains, boosts fill rates with reorg, investment in automation

11-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

United Natural Foods Inc. plans to remain on the sidelines rather than enter a bidding war against existing clients if and when anti-trust concerns force Kroger and Albertsons to divest retail locations as part of their proposed $24.6bn merger expected...

Conagra Brands overcomes stubborn inflation price lag to drive high margin, profit growth

05-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

After years of struggling to offset unprecedented inflation with price hikes that often were too little too late, Conagra Brands has finally reached a “significant inflection point” in which net sales per unit are once again higher than the cost of goods...

FMI: Climate change, transportation & trade relations will test food inflation in 2023

01-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

While economists predict inflation will ease slightly in the coming quarters, this year could easily become a “groundhog day version of 2022” if the weather takes a turn for the worse and triggers a domino effect that strains transportation, commodity...

Surging food costs in November pose CPG manufacturers with tough choice between price hikes, additional layoffs and enacting other less desirable saving strategies

12-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Higher than expected increases in wholesale prices in November announced Friday – driven primarily by surging food prices – suggest CPG players may face tough choices in the months ahead as they try to offset extra costs either through additional price...

Guest Article: Issues and challenges for omega-3s in 2022

12-Dec-2022 By Ellen Schutt, Executive Director, GOED

While 2022 may be categorized as the year the world returned to somewhat normalcy, the last 12 months still held their share of challenges, and for omega-3s, questions remain about how the market will change in 2023.

Legislators vote to avoid rail strike, but grocery industry argues more needs to be done to secure supply chains going forward

02-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Uncharacteristically quick bipartisan action by Congress this week to pass a bill forcing an agreement between railroad workers and managers and avert a strike “spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores,” according to President...

Can a rail strike – and by extension food shortages on shelves – be avoided?

29-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle promise to push forward this week legislation to divert a looming national freight rail strike that threatens significant job and financial losses and which could snarl still fragile supply chains, including...

Consumers begin pulling back on groceries as rising wholesale costs for food portend higher prices

18-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As temperatures drop across the country and consumers allocate a larger portion of their budget to heating and fuel, experts predict spending will cool across other categories, including food, which has been relatively resilient despite double-digit inflation.

Hain Celestial: ‘Input costs are starting to crest’ and inflation, while still high, will ease

09-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hain Celestial is cautiously optimistic that the “macro environment is beginning to stabilize” and expects “modest sequential improvement in total company profit performance” in fiscal 2023 after better-than-expected sales in North America that softened...

UNFI executes against its growth strategy, ramps up warehouse automation investment

29-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Ending its fiscal year on a strong note, grocery wholesaler UNFI is ramping up investment in warehouse automation and robotics as part of its long-term growth plan to enhance efficiencies and long-term profitability for its customers.

Could reframing ‘food as medicine’ counter rising prices that are pushing healthier options out of reach?

27-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food prices at near forty-year highs now overshadow most other consumer concerns about grocery shopping – including fears of contracting COVID-19 or experiencing violence in stores – prompting many to rethink where they shop, what they buy and what product...

Target cuts overloaded inventory levels to refocus on high-growth categories

19-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Target has cut its inventory levels by 20% in the last two months in a conscious effort to streamline its business and set the company up for improved long-term growth, shared chairman and CEO Brian Cornell.

Vetting suppliers becomes ever more crucial as US-China tensions rise

18-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

Heightened US-China tensions have caused planners in all industrial sectors to reevaluate their sourcing arrangements. Stakeholders in the dietary supplement industry say having firm relationships with well-vetted suppliers is the best way to manage...

Botanical yields fall as climate change affects harvests

17-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Extreme weather events from heat waves and droughts to ‘hundred-year storms’ happening every two years, the impact of climate change is obvious. And few industries are witnessing the impact as much as botanical supply chain.

Why are food prices continuing to go up while inflation eases in other categories?

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Notoriously thin operating margins in the food supply chain will likely keep manufacturers and retailers from incrementally lowering prices even as input costs begin to come down – preferring instead to wait until the economic landscape stabilizes and...

Prices for key food commodities remain high even as overall wholesale costs dip

12-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

In another sign that inflation may be peaking, wholesale prices fell month-over-month for the first time in July since April 2020, but commodities remain significantly higher than last year, suggesting it may be well into next year before food manufacturers...

SURVEY: How are covid, inflation, supply chain disruptions, impacting food innovation and R&D?

28-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

The past two years have been a rollercoaster for many food and beverage companies, who have had to deal with everything from a global pandemic to rocketing inflation, labor shortages, and massive disruption across their supply chains. So what does all...

McCormick falters as high costs, supply chain challenges and COVID restrictions impact sales, profits

30-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Dragged down by higher-than-expected cost inflation, supply chain challenges and unanticipated, stringent COVID-related restrictions in China, McCormick missed its sales and earnings targets in its second quarter – forcing the spice maker to slash its...

Supply chain challenges take center stage as consumer confidence falls, spending shifts

29-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As rising gas and food prices cause US consumers’ confidence and short-term outlook for the economy to plunge, some are shifting their spending habits and the blame from the pandemic to ongoing supply chain costs, constraints and related government policies,...

Bobo's CEO on supply chain woes: 'It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better'

01-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Oat bar company Bobo's is continuing its growth streak, predicting 45% growth for the full year 2022 vs. 2021 even as challenging supply chain conditions linger, says CEO TJ McIntyre.

To offset or inset? Carbon offset market insists it can provide ‘transparency and integrity’ as food firms look to supply chain solutions

26-May-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Food companies are increasingly opting for insetting over offsetting their carbon emissions, it's been claimed, as the voluntary carbon offset market continues to look to improve its credibility.

Consumers struggle with grocery shortages and rising price of goods, report finds

10-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While many consumers report struggling with product shortages and delays in online orders along with mounting concerns over inflation, demand for groceries “tends to be relatively inelastic,” according to Morning Consult, which has just surveyed 1,000...

Hain Celestial’s positive North America performance softens blow of international business challenges

06-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Batting many of the same macro headwinds as the rest of the industry including continued inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ingredient and packaging shortages, Hain Celestial maintains a positive outlook on its North American business where consumer...

Record-breaking spike in cost of goods portends inflation will go higher before it levels off

14-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

March’s staggering 11.2% year-over-year producer price increase revealed yesterday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests inflation, which reached a 41 year high of 8.4% last month, may be far from peaking and manufacturers, and consumers, should...

Popchips unveils new look and new flavors, drops sub-brands to focus on top-selling SKUs

13-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

Popchips has unveiled a new look and two new flavors - Fiery Buffalo and Fully Loaded – that it says will help the ‘popped, never fried’ brand showcase its strong taste and ‘crave-worthy’ credentials. It has also ditched some brand extensions to focus...

Annual inflation for food at home surges 10%, calling into question future elasticities

12-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Fueled by ongoing supply chain constraints and skyrocketing energy costs due partly to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, inflation continues its upward march with the Consumer Price Index topping out at a staggering 8.5% for all items and 10% for food...

Frito-Lay standoff with Loblaw expected to change snacking landscape

12-Apr-2022 By Gill Hyslop

The high-profile pricing dispute between the pair has been resolved, but has prompted the need for a code of conduct that would implement new rules of engagement for suppliers and grocers.

White House, industry team to recruit more truckers, ease supply chain constraints

05-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing trucking as a “lynchpin” in America’s supply chains that moves 72% of the US economy’s goods and that a lack of drivers has held back ability to meet surging consumer demand since the start of the pandemic and now contributes to rising inflation,...