The Supply Chainer

Updated: March 8, 07:42 The escalating disruption around the Strait of Hormuz is rapidly shifting from a geopolitical flashpoint to a structural supply chain event. While the waterway has not been formally sealed, carrier suspensions, tanker diversions, rising insurance premiums, and aviation interruptions are already reshaping trade flows across energy, chemicals, containerized goods, and time-sensitive air cargo. Roughly one-fifth of global petroleum and LNG moves through

Large-scale military operations are rarely discussed in the language of supply chain management. Yet when viewed through a logistics lens, operations such as the recent Epic Fury  campaign illustrate one of the most complex supply chains on earth - a tightly synchronized network moving sensitive payloads across thousands of kilometers through air, sea, and land corridors under extreme time pressure. For supply chain professionals, the operation offers a striking case study in

Fast-moving consumer goods brands are under constant pressure: innovation cycles are accelerating, consumer loyalty is increasingly fluid, and the ability to spot early signals from the market often determines whether a product succeeds or fails. In a conversation with The Supply Chainer , Ester Marchetti, Co-Founder and Head of Innovation at Bolt Insight, explained why she believes AI-powered qualitative research is becoming central to how brands adapt. “Traditional qualitat

Governments and infrastructure authorities across Europe and Asia continue to launch large procurement processes aimed at expanding logistics capacity and modernizing freight infrastructure. Recent media coverage points to a steady pipeline of tenders tied to port terminals, freight corridors and multimodal logistics hubs - projects designed to reduce bottlenecks, support trade flows and strengthen supply chain resilience. Many of these procurements rely on concession or publ

Retail e-commerce sales topped $6 trillion globally in 2024, fueling continued growth in international parcel flows. Cross-border orders now account for roughly one in five online purchases worldwide, with about 59% of online shoppers reporting purchases from overseas retailers, according to recent consumer research. Amid this growth, tariffs, de minimis caps, currency fluctuations, and geopolitical tensions are adding new volatility to global parcel networks. Facing shifting

With U.S. retail return rates estimated at roughly 15–20% annually, reverse logistics is becoming a central factor in retail profitability rather than a secondary operational concern. Retailers and logistics providers are increasingly rethinking how returned goods are processed, moving away from centralized national facilities toward regional returns infrastructure designed to shorten processing times and reduce costs. The shift reflects broader pressure on retailers to contr

Freight runs 24/7. But most logistics decision-making still doesn’t. When the workday ends, trucks keep moving. Appointments shift. Weather rolls in. Drivers check in from the road. Yet in many organizations, meaningful intervention slows until the next shift logs on. That structural gap - between nonstop freight and time-bound human oversight - is where delays compound and invisible friction builds. It’s also why AI has generated so much interest. In the pilot phase, AI in l

In episode 109 of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, host Tom Raftery speaks with Jonathan Doller, Solution Consultant at Logility, about the intersection of artificial intelligence and operational resilience. At the centre of the discussion is a deceptively simple question: is AI genuinely strengthening supply chains, or is it being layered on top of fragile foundations? For senior supply chain leaders navigating disruption, data overload and growing governance pressure, th

Post-holiday inventory backlogs are again testing apparel supply chains, as weaker-than-expected Q4 retail performance leaves brands holding surplus fabric, packaging, and finished goods. With discount channels saturated and landfill increasingly scrutinized, excess inventory is no longer just a balance sheet problem. It is becoming a regulatory and reputational liability. At the same time, extended producer responsibility frameworks advancing in the EU and several US states

Interview with Paul Vezelis, CEO and Co-Founder of Traxlo Food retailers rarely operate with excess staff. High turnover, absenteeism, seasonal spikes, and repetitive in-store tasks create constant pressure on store managers. The need is not abstract — it is immediate: reliable, on-demand labor that can step in quickly without long hiring cycles. Traxlo positions itself as a structural response to that problem. The Europe-based startup operates a retail gig platform designed

February delivered a focused set of confirmed supply chain leadership transitions across food manufacturing, container shipping, and consumer goods supply operations. Rather than sweeping overhauls at global logistics giants, the month reflected structural reinforcement in sectors where execution discipline, fleet modernization, and operational resilience remain paramount. Hormel Foods Names New Chief Supply Chain Officer Hormel Foods appointed Will Bonifant  as Group Vice P

The days of compliance data living downstream in the supply chain and ticking the “last checkbox” before a product hits the shelves are over. Manufacturers that prioritize regulatory intelligence as a core input into their procurement strategy, risk modeling, and long-term supply chain design are the ones protecting their company - and their bottom line - from risk. They also benefit from fewer data gaps and smarter, faster sourcing decisions. But the changing regulatory land