Risk
Under supply chain pressure, small and medium-sized American candy makers are forced to restructure their operations
Small and medium-sized candy manufacturers in the United States are facing multiple challenges, including labor shortages, rising logistics costs, and unstable raw material supplies. To cope with these difficulties, many companies have begun adjusting their procurement strategies, recruitment methods, and production plans to sustain operations in a volatile market environment.
The Supply Chain Adventures of "Lady Day": A Late Journey for a Billie Holiday Photography Book
Nichelle Gainer originally planned to release her photography book "Lady Day: Body & Soul" on April 7, the birthday of music legend Billie Holiday, but the first batch of pre-ordered books did not arrive until more than two months later. The reason was that the cargo ship "Ever Forward," carrying the book, ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay for a month and subsequently faced congestion at the Port of New York. This incident highlights the common lack of visibility and cascading disruptions in the international supply chain.
Supply Chain Realities Challenge FMCG Sustainable Packaging Goals
Over the past two years, FMCG companies such as Keurig Dr Pepper, PepsiCo, and Mondelez have successively announced targets to reduce the use of virgin plastics in packaging, with recycled plastics and paper becoming popular alternatives. However, the pandemic disrupting consumer behavior and material supply chains, limitations in the existing U.S. recycling system, and new variables such as the war in Ukraine collectively threaten these timelines. Experts from institutions such as IHS Markit and RaboResearch point out that the commitments were made without a foundation of means for achievement, and price and supply fluctuations make the short-term path to meeting targets unclear.