Dollar General's Change Master 💵
Good morning! As we step into the early days of September, we find ourselves at the intersection of innovation, resilience, and global connectivity in the world of supply chain management. With each passing day, new challenges and opportunities emerge, reshaping the way goods move across the globe.
In this issue, we'll delve into the latest trends, strategies, and insights that are shaping the future of supply chain and logistics, ensuring you stay ahead of the curve in this dynamic industry. 👍👏
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Dollar General Appoints New Supply Chain Leader to Drive Efficiency and Growth
Dollar General has promoted Rod West to the position of Executive Vice President (EVP) of Global Supply Chain, effective from September 1st. In his new role, West will oversee various aspects of Dollar General's supply chain operations, including distribution centers, transportation, supply chain modernization, and the private fleet, which comprises more than 1,800 tractors.
West has an extensive history with the company, having joined in 2005 and held various positions, including Vice President of Process Improvement and Senior Vice President of Distribution. Dollar General aims to strengthen its supply chain, having added several distribution centers and initiated efforts to work with diverse suppliers to enhance its operations. CEO Jeff Owen expressed confidence in West's leadership and expertise to benefit the company's business, customers, and communities.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Dive to learn more about Dollar General’s new supply chain lead. Will this help the discount retailer in the long run?
Featured Article
Dollar General names new supply chain lead | Supply Chain Dive
“Former SVP of distribution Rod West will lead the discount retailer’s distribution center operations and private fleet, as well as the company’s supply chain modernization.”
Supply Chain & Investments
Crate and Barrel Announces Significant Boost in Supply Chain Investment
Crate and Barrel Holdings has unveiled a multi-year investment initiative known as the "Bring it Home" plan, aimed at enhancing inventory optimization, demand forecasting, and delivery speed. This strategic plan involves doubling the company's technology team over three years and implementing AI and automation to streamline and expedite deliveries. While the specific investment amount remains undisclosed, the company seeks to leverage the lessons learned from recent challenges, including the global pandemic and supply chain disruptions, to maintain its growth momentum.
One key focus of the plan is to position inventory closer to end customers, meeting their expectations for precise, reliable, and flexible deliveries. This approach is expected to boost delivery speeds and reduce transportation costs but necessitates a well-developed physical infrastructure and robust demand forecasting capabilities. Crate and Barrel is considering expanding its distribution footprint to achieve this goal and will utilize its newly expanded technology team, including engineers and data scientists, to harness data for demand-related insights. The company also plans to leverage AI and machine learning to optimize inventory placement and achieve even greater forecast accuracy.
Logistics & Leadership
St. Louis Automotive Logistics Firm Acquires California Business
St. Louis-based automotive logistics firm, Acertus, has successfully acquired California-based RCG Logistics, a company specializing in vehicle logistics and remarketing services. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
Notably, Vick Kuzmenko, the co-founder and CEO of RCG Logistics, will continue to play a crucial role within Acertus as the Executive Vice President, ensuring a smooth transition and leveraging his expertise to further enhance Acertus' operations in the vehicle logistics sector. This strategic acquisition is expected to bolster Acertus' presence and capabilities in the automotive logistics industry.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Checking out the scoop outside of the United States…
🚢 Maersk Expands Operations in Central America and the Caribbean with Two New Fulfilment Centers. Maersk, the global integrated logistics company, is bolstering its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean with the inauguration of two new fulfillment centers. The first, spanning 14,000 sqm, is located in Funza, Colombia, while the second, with a 3,500 sqm capacity, is situated in Panama Pacifico Logistics Park, Panama. These additions strengthen Maersk's role as a logistics integrator in the region, aiming to enhance connectivity for customers and simplify their supply chains. The new fulfillment center in Colombia is strategically placed within 50 minutes of six major consumer market areas in Bogota, serving customers in the pharmaceutical and consumer products industries. It offers a range of services, including warehouse management, and cross-docking, and features environmentally friendly elements such as lithium battery electrical equipment and LED lighting.
❄️ Yum China Unveils China's First 100% Renewable Energy Cold Chain Logistics Center. Yum China Holdings, the company behind brands like KFC and Pizza Hut in China, has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability efforts. The company's logistics center in Nanning, Guangxi province, became the first cold chain logistics center in China to operate entirely on carbon-neutral renewable energy as of July 2023. This achievement aligns with Yum China's goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050 and demonstrates the company's leadership in emissions reduction within the Chinese restaurant industry. Yum China is committed to transitioning its restaurants and supporting facilities to renewable energy sources and aims to have an annual green power consumption of approximately 10 million kWh by the end of 2023. The company is making substantial progress in this direction, with around 70 stores in several provinces expected to transition to green energy by the end of the year.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🚗 Kia and Lotte Global Logistics Collaborate on Innovative Logistics-Specific PBV Development. Kia Corp. and Lotte Global Logistics have entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish an environmentally friendly logistics ecosystem. The collaboration aims to develop purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) specifically designed for logistics and engage in eco-friendly logistics initiatives, including the demonstration of new electric mobility technologies. Initially, Kia will provide Lotte Global Logistics with an electric cargo truck, the Bongo 3 EV, to support Lotte's transition toward 100% electrification in logistics. The partnership will also involve joint efforts in optimizing used battery logistics supply chains, operational demonstrations, trials of battery swapping technology, and charging solutions utilizing used battery energy storage systems, marking a significant step towards sustainability in the logistics sector.
👏 Yamaha Chooses project44 Ocean Visibility Solution for Improved Supply Chain Resilience. Yamaha Corporation has chosen project44's Ocean Visibility and Port Intel solutions to enhance its supply chain operations. Yamaha, as the world's largest musical instrument manufacturer and a producer of quality audio equipment, aims to improve supply chain visibility, resilience, and optimization through this partnership. Yamaha ships around 15,000 containers annually to various global destination ports. The decision to work with project44 was motivated by Yamaha's desire to gain better control over transportation between its production factories and distributors. project44's solutions offer comprehensive visibility of shipment status on a global scale, provide highly accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA) information, and facilitate timely decision-making. Yamaha recognized the need to quickly access essential information, such as transportation status and historical performance data. The company believes that project44's platform will help transform its logistics operations from a reactive to a proactive and data-driven approach.
📈 Acertus Expands its Reach with Acquisition of RCG Logistics, a Vehicle Transporter. Acertus, an automotive logistics-as-a-service platform, has acquired RCG Logistics, a transportation provider and vehicle resale company, in a strategic move to enhance its comprehensive automotive platform. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This acquisition enables Acertus to broaden its offerings and serve a wider range of vehicle types in the growing global automotive market, which is projected to reach $28.7 billion by 2030. RCG Logistics will be integrated under the Acertus brand immediately. Acertus aims to provide a full suite of vehicle logistics services through strategic partnerships and investments, focusing on delivering a world-class customer experience. The acquisition aligns with Acertus' commitment to innovation, performance excellence, and profitable growth.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
💰OOCL Logistics Joins the Growing Ranks Exploring Trade Finance Opportunities. OOCL Logistics has formed a partnership with Stenn, a financial technology platform, to introduce a trade finance product aimed at addressing the financing challenges faced by shippers involved in international trade. As part of this collaboration, OOCL Logistics, a third-party logistics provider (3PL), will offer both buyers and suppliers access to invoice-backed capital and payment services. The integration with Stenn's platform will enable suppliers to receive payment within 72 hours of a shipment departing, while buyers will benefit from improved payment terms, enhancing the efficiency and liquidity of trade transactions. This move aligns with the growing interest in trade finance solutions that facilitate smoother cross-border trade operations.
👷🏽 Zap Zone Expansion at Lansing Mall Delayed Due to Supply Chain Issues, Owner Reports. Supply chain issues and equipment delays have caused a setback in the completion of Zap Zone's expansion at the Lansing Mall. Originally anticipated to open during the summer, the project is now scheduled for completion in November, according to Mike Hafez, Zap Zone's co-founder, who cited widespread delays in construction projects due to the challenging supply chain conditions. The expansion project involves the transformation of a 125,000-square-foot former Younkers department store into a comprehensive entertainment venue. The finished space will feature a 5,000-square-foot restaurant, an arcade with nearly 200 games, laser tag, a go-kart track, 12 bowling lanes, trampolines, glow golf, and a toy store. The go-kart track, occupying approximately 30,000 square feet, will accommodate both children and adults with different types of go-karts.
☝🏽TorQuest Partners Invests in Brimich Logistics to Fuel Growth. TorQuest Partners, a prominent Canadian private equity firm, has completed an investment in Brimich Logistics, a family-owned and operated full-service supply chain management and third-party logistics (3PL) company based in Brantford, Ontario. The Fergus family, the existing owners of Brimich, will retain significant ownership in the company. The specific financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Brimich Logistics has been providing integrated transportation, logistics, and warehousing solutions for over 25 years, offering ambient, refrigerated, and frozen storage services across five locations with a workforce of more than 400 employees. With TorQuest's investment, Brimich intends to expand its capacity in Southern Ontario in the coming years. The leadership team and daily operations of the company will remain unchanged following the transaction.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 25, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.