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Supply Chain Sparrow –Supply Chain News and Resources

The Perishables Ecosystem –Food, Wine, Cannabis & More

Main Content

SCSparrow Feature Article

Help Wanted: The Cannabis Industry Needs Supply Chain Talent

By Lara L. Sowinski

When it comes to business success, a “million dollar idea” or slick marketing campaign cannot compensate for a less than optimum supply chain. There are endless examples of delivery disappointments, manufacturing mishaps, and compliance catastrophes—some relatively minor, others more severe—that have impacted the reputation, operations or financials of companies representing every industry.  The emerging cannabis industry is increasingly confronting its own supply chain challenges, while the highly regulated nature of the industry adds more complexities. However, unlike more … [Read more...] about Help Wanted: The Cannabis Industry Needs Supply Chain Talent

More Cannabis

Wine/Beer/Spirits

Q&A With Diageo On 2020 Sustainability Goals, Commitment to Diversity

September 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

Sustainability takes on a broader meaning for organizations that interpret its meaning to encompass more than environmental stewardship. True sustainability also includes such areas as human resources, customer relations, and product lifecycle, among others.  Likewise, for food and beverage companies whose products are largely tied to water … [Read More...] about Q&A With Diageo On 2020 Sustainability Goals, Commitment to Diversity

Food/Beverage

Now is the Time for Food Manufacturers to Embrace Digitalization Technologies

October 2020 By Stephen Dombroski

The food and beverage marketplace is driven by the consumer and today’s consumers are more demanding in all aspects of the buying experience. The industry is getting pressure from consumers who want to know the origin of the products they consume as well as the path they took to get to their door. The … [Read More...] about Now is the Time for Food Manufacturers to Embrace Digitalization Technologies

Cannabis

Molecular Tagging Takes Cannabis Tracking & Tracing to the Next Level

August 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

The legal cannabis industry relies on a variety of software and technology tools to verify the provenance, integrity and safety of products, as well as meet numerous regulatory compliance requirements. Molecular tagging, which is akin to small DNA fragments that can be used as a “molecular barcode,” is helping advance … [Read More...] about Molecular Tagging Takes Cannabis Tracking & Tracing to the Next Level

Food/Beverage

Convenience Stores Pivot to Meet New Consumer Demands

The U.S. convenience store sector is comprised of large chains like Circle K and 7-Eleven along with many independently owned retail outlets. Although business from consumers going to-and-from work and school has dropped off considerably, the coronavirus pandemic has spurred more visits from … [Read more...] about Convenience Stores Pivot to Meet New Consumer Demands

The Food & Beverage Supply Chain is Stressed to the Breaking Point by COVID-19

What positive changes might we see post-pandemic? By Henry Canitz Director of Product MarketingLogility Inc. There is no shortage of doom and gloom these days when it comes to the food and beverage industry. Since early spring, Covid-19 has rapidly spread across the world causing … [Read more...] about The Food & Beverage Supply Chain is Stressed to the Breaking Point by COVID-19

more Food/Beverages

Supply Chain Sparrow

There’s Still a Need For More Refrigerated Rail Service

supply-chain-transparency

Food Supply Chain Transparency is Misleading

The Global Food Chain Needs Diversity, and Small Farmers

Farmers’ Markets Are Happening—Support Them!

Wine/Beer/Spirits

Cheers to Robot Supported Happy Hours

Automation is making a deeper foray into the food and beverage supply chain as companies look to implement social distancing and contactless transactions to keep workers and consumers safe in the … [Read More...] about Cheers to Robot Supported Happy Hours

Younger Consumers Willing To Pay More For Sustainably Produced Wine

The latest wine industry research shows younger consumers are leading the push for sustainably produced wine and they’re willing to pay more for it.  “Younger consumers of legal drinking age … [Read More...] about Younger Consumers Willing To Pay More For Sustainably Produced Wine

more Wine/Beer/Spirits

Wine Brand West + Wilder Finds Its Groove With Innovative Packaging and Solid Supply Chain Practices

Employee Health Top of Mind for Wine Industry

Cannabis

Forecast Mixed On California’s Cannabis Sales Due To COVID-19

June 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

California Gov. Gavin Newsom revised downward the state’s projected cannabis excise tax yield due to the negative impact of COVID-19.  Initially, Newsom’s proposed state budget released in … [Read More...] about Forecast Mixed On California’s Cannabis Sales Due To COVID-19

California Agency Seeks More Cannabis Cops to Boost Compliance and Product Safety, While Tamping Down On Black Market

June 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

While California’s legal cannabis market earned an estimated  $3.1 billion in 2019, the black market raked in approximately $8.7 billion last year. The good news is that legal cannabis sales in … [Read More...] about California Agency Seeks More Cannabis Cops to Boost Compliance and Product Safety, While Tamping Down On Black Market

more Cannabis

Iron Apple Article

Canada’s Cannabis Market Benefits From Strict Regulations

Truckers, Take Note: DOT Issues Notice On Use of CBD Products

Supply Chain

GCCA Says Labor Remains Biggest Cost For Cold Storage Operators

The Global Cold Chain Alliance’s latest Cold Chain Index for the first quarter of 2020 finds that labor remains the biggest cost for cold storage operators. Specifically, labor comprises 46 percent of … [Read More...] about GCCA Says Labor Remains Biggest Cost For Cold Storage Operators

Conventional Reefers Stage a Comeback, But Will It Stick?

Recently, Howard Posner, president and managing director of NAGA Logistics, posted on LinkedIn about the comeback of the conventional reefer market—one that had been losing considerable market share … [Read More...] about Conventional Reefers Stage a Comeback, But Will It Stick?

More Supply Chain

More Perishables

COVID-19 Clips Airfreight Capacity

Severe cuts in international passenger flights are putting a strain on the global airfreight sector, as most airfreight actually moves in the bellies of passenger planes.  Reuters is reporting … [Read More...] about COVID-19 Clips Airfreight Capacity

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Spring season is peak season for the flower industry, and roses, tulips and chrysanthemums are the go-to gift for Mother’s Day and other celebrations such as graduations and weddings.  The … [Read More...] about Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

More Perishables

HISPANIC MARKET FOCUS

Latin America’s Food Supply Chain Under Stress; Chile Is A Case Study

June 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

The food supply chain in Latin America is under increased stress from COVID-19, which is exacerbating fragmented food distribution networks, import/export flows, and the ability to maintain proper sanitation and food safety measures. At the same time, unemployment is also rising dramatically, which is making it harder for consumers to afford food. Already, one-third of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean lives with food insecurity, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This means consumers have insufficient access to food either due to shortages and/or their inability to afford it. Likewise, food insecurity goes hand-in-hand with a diet that is lacking in healthy, nutritious food. The FAO also warned that food prices would likely become destabilized as consumers’ purchasing power is further affected by COVID-19, while farmers might have trouble finding labor and … [Read more...] about Latin America’s Food Supply Chain Under Stress; Chile Is A Case Study

More Hispanic Market Focus

maquiladora supply chain

Maquiladora Workers and Employers Differ Over What Defines Essential

May 2020 By Marisa Barrio Rodriguez

Amid the C19 pandemic where the entire world has come to a virtual stop, there is a border city in Mexico where people are lining up in droves and hopping on crowded old buses like a clandestine tribe … [Read More...] about Maquiladora Workers and Employers Differ Over What Defines Essential

scsparrow-barcelona-marisa-barrio-rodriguez

Spain’s Food, Wine Supply Chain Intact, But Truckers Feeling Strained

April 2020 By Marisa Barrio Rodriguez

About Marisa Barrio Rodriguez … [Read More...] about Spain’s Food, Wine Supply Chain Intact, But Truckers Feeling Strained

Port of Barcelona Fulfilling “Essential Services”

April 2020 By Lara L. Sowinski

While the city of Barcelona remains on lockdown, the port stated in a press release on March 16 that it would guarantee to “fulfill essential services to maintain the supply of goods, facilitating … [Read More...] about Port of Barcelona Fulfilling “Essential Services”

Primary Sidebar

I VOTED (for cannabis)

No matter their political stripe, many Americans are in agreement with efforts to legalize recreational and medical cannabis.

On November 3, voters legalized marijuana for adult use in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota. Initiatives to legalize medical cannabis passed in Mississippi and South Dakota. The rapid expansion of legalized cannabis throughout the U.S. has a direct impact on the supply chain.

Let’s start by considering the food supply chain–a valuable case study with COVID-19 as the backdrop. Early on, Americans experienced food shortages at the retail level. Manufacturers and distributors scrambled to realign networks to supply grocery stores where demand was spiking, while shifting away from restaurants and the hospitality sector where demand was tanking. In a matter of months, online shopping and food delivery to consumers’ homes grew dramatically. As a result, the food supply chain is in the midst of reinventing itself.

The cannabis supply chain faces some similar challenges. Most importantly, there’s an opportunity now to learn and adopt best practices from the food and pharmaceutical supply chains with which it shares key commonalities.

What are the risks to the cannabis supply chain? California’s unprecedented fires this year threatened growers throughout the state. How quickly can infrastructure scale-up to meet demand, and at what cost? Commercial and industrial real estate is currently at a premium with the proliferation of e-commerce. What about transportation, distribution and logistics capabilities, including reverse logistics in the case of product recalls? Facilities, equipment, and skilled workers are in high demand, and as competition for these various assets tightens, what does that mean for the entire perishables sector (food, cannabis, wine, beverages, pharma, etc.) that need them? Collaboration and creativity can provide critical solutions across the board.

On a related note, a small handful of American and European companies are in talks with Rwanda now about exporting cannabis to the country to meet rising pharmaceutical demand. Supply Chain Sparrow has previously identified cannabis exports as a massive opportunity for the U.S., which of course, would require legislative changes at the federal level.

Vote. And keep on voting.

Be Brave. Fly Right. And keep in touch at info@scsparrow.com.

Lara L. Sowinski, Executive Editor

UPCOMING EVENT: Navigating Wine Logistics in a New World

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Podcast: News Bites & Insights

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Cannabis in Deutschland!

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Germany is the biggest market for medical cannabis outside of North America. Companies in Canada, and even the U.S., are eyeing opportunities.

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C.E.O. Insights: Eden Amirav, C.E.O. of Become

C.E.O. Insights

4 Ways Transportation and Shipping SMBs Can Get Back on Track After COVID-19

Logistics companies can emerge stronger post-pandemic by focusing on digitalization, creating new vendor partnerships and relationships, and getting lean, according to Eden Amirav, C.E.O. and co-founder of Become.

INSPIRATION

OFF THE EARTH WITH NASA

WE ARE BETTER WITH BACH

Support Netherlands Bach Society https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en

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Recent Posts

  • Now is the Time for Food Manufacturers to Embrace Digitalization Technologies
  • Q&A With Diageo On 2020 Sustainability Goals, Commitment to Diversity
  • Cheers to Robot Supported Happy Hours
  • Molecular Tagging Takes Cannabis Tracking & Tracing to the Next Level
  • Convenience Stores Pivot to Meet New Consumer Demands

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