Food & Beverage

Hershey Kisses Its Supply-chain Inefficiency Good-bye

April 1, 2001

Rapid growth, acquisition of a company with different distribution characteristics and a troubled ERP implementation created supply-chain problems for Hershey Foods in the late 1990s. A new strategy that focused on fulfillment speed and agility helped turn things around.

Increased European Sales for Staples? Yeah, We've Got That

February 1, 2001

The pioneer of the office-products superstore has big plans to boost sales and market share in Europe by increasing stores, catalog orders, contract stationery business, and internet retailing. But it must balance growth with the challenge of a multi-channel supply chain.

Master Lock Finds The Right Combination For Supply-Chain Improvements

December 1, 2000

Kurt C. Hoffman

Costly automation and price cuts weren't working. A new approach centered on increased outsourcing, flexible manufacturing and distribution, and establishing operations in Mexico. Now, Master Lock is saving money and getting new products to market faster.

P&G: The Global Giant Starts Small, Grows Fast

July 1, 2000

Always a First Time For Just-in-Time

July 1, 1999

Hub Group Taps into Guinness Supply Chain

July 1, 1999

Europe is a Pain for Distribution of Consumer Health Products

March 1, 1999

Europe's widely differing regulations of the consumer health product industry pose significant obstacles to centralized distribution. For companies trying to build efficiencies into their supply chains, such as health care giant Novartis, it's a real Maalox moment.

Lean on Automation, Mazda's Spare Parts Center Covers Europe

March 1, 1999

The Japanese car maker, which once held almost eight months' worth of aftermarket parts at its Belgian logistics center, is well on its way to keeping only a little more than two months' of spares on hand. In doing so, it has relied on surprisingly little in the way of information technology.

U.K. Brewer Turns to Canada's Numetrix for Supply-Chain Help

October 1, 1998

Ken Cottrill

A potent mix of changing consumer tastes and legislation that forced it to sell much of its pub business caused Bass Brewers to radically tighten up its supply chain. It called in Numetrix to provide the needed technology.

LEGO's Logistics Blocks Include 'Combi' Transport, Recyclable Packaging

April 1, 1998

Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies

Denmark-based LEGO Group keeps its brightly-colored blocks flowing to consumers in 150 countries by incorporating logistics as an important adjunct to both manufacturing and sales.

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.