F.W. Webb relies on strengths to handle market changes | UNFI to open DC in Pa. to meet growing regional demand | Survey: Trading partners are largely out of alignment
Since its founding in 1866, F.W. Webb has offered competitive customer service, thanks to knowledgeable staff members and flexible inventory strategy that can pivot with changing market conditions, Chief Operating Officer Bob Mucciarone said. Still, the Massachusetts-based HVAC, plumbing and industrial products distributor is expecting a slow year due to the economic downturn and inflation eating into demand, but "our diversity of disciplines allows us to handle it better than most," Mucciarone said.
United Natural Foods plans to open a 1.3 million-square-foot temperature-controlled distribution center in Manchester, Pa., to support the distributor's Mid-Atlantic market growth. The facility is expected to be operational next year and will include a lifestyle center for employees and "technology and automation solutions designed to enable greater network capacity, scalability and profitability," said Chief Operating Officer Erin Horvath.
Misalignment among manufacturers, distributors, buying groups and retailers can be exacerbated by supply chain pressures, creating a "collaboration gap," in which one trading partner feels more out of alignment than the others, according to an Enable survey. Only 1 in 10 distributors said they feel strongly aligned with their trading partners, and "[t]his gap must be addressed if trading partners are to achieve more success together," the survey said.
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Global revenues among third-party logistics providers jumped 14.5% year-over-year in 2022 to total $1.47 trillion and nearly doubled from 2016 as they forged tighter relationships with shippers seeking flexible options, according to Armstrong & Associates. Other factors attributing to growth include the increased popularity of 3PLs among small and mid-sized shippers and significant territory and service expansion to serve client needs.
PepsiCo aims to boost distribution efficiency by using artificial intelligence-driven label and barcode reading machinery developed by KoiReader Technologies. The readers reduce costly delays due to their ability to read damaged labels and labels on irregular product shapes and sizes, said Ashutosh Prasad, KoiReader CEO.
Customers don't like to feel they are being treated unfairly by companies -- especially when they are given an upfront price on goods or services that changes over time -- a tactic that doesn't foster loyalty, writes Larry Robertson. "The way you treat your customers comes back in like form, loyal or indifferent, and a short-term gain isn't likely to yield long-term advantage," Robertson writes.
Leaders have to make difficult choices, so it's important for them to be fair and listen carefully to their teams so their business can succeed, says Ryta Zasiekina, CEO of FYST. "Issuing directives where you are simply handing out tasks and telling people what to do is completely ineffectual for business," says Zasiekina.
Workforce issues, including finding and keeping good employees and engaging the ones they have, are on the minds of a majority of executives, according to DDI's Global Leadership Forecast, and Bob Richards, the CEO of Rhenus Automotive North America, says leaders can create an inviting culture by banning micromanaging, giving teams a sense of direction and paying them well. Boost engagement by limiting meetings, rewarding effort over results and building relationships with, and between, team members, writes Lolly Daskal.
