Though supply chain disruptions persist, only 44% of food retailers and 32% of suppliers believe such disruptions will negatively impact business the remainder of 2023 -- down from 70% and 83%, respectively, from 2022, according to  The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023 report from FMI -- The Food Industry Association. "The positive news is the industry is signaling its expectation that supply chain disruptions will continue to lessen as we move through 2023," said FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin.

UPS is training non-union US employees to mitigate package delivery disruptions if the union strikes on Aug. 1 and executives have been advised not to schedule paid time off during July and August, according to company officials. Contract negotiations over part-time worker salaries stalled last week, and no new talks are currently scheduled.

The share of ecommerce sales dropped to 5.6% in 2022 as more consumers chose to shop in stores, down from 6.5% in 2021 but still above the 2.5% of 2019, according to The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023 report from FMI -- The Food Industry Association. Although four out of five food retailers sell online, only 45% say ecommerce is currently profitable and 47% indicate plans to change their online sales platform within the next two years.

The Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates in July and later in the year. The Fed wants to make sure it does not repeat mistakes of the 1970s when it stopped working to keep inflation in check and saw prices increase again.

AI robotics company Simbe Robotics raised $28 million in Series B funding, which it plans to use to expand its autonomous retail offerings. BJ's Wholesale, Schnuck Markets, SpartanNash, Wakefern and Carrefour are among the company's food retail partners making use of its Tally shelf-scanning inventory robot. "Elevating the retail experience for everyone -- retailers, their associates, and customers -- through AI and robotics is the foundation of Simbe's mission," said Simbe CEO and co-founder Brad Bogolea.

Shippers should prepare for price increases as sea carrier options shrink, experts said at an online event examining supply chain trends. Consensus is that many carriers that entered the market during the peak of the pandemic will step aside, unable to operate because of altered and more challenging economic conditions.

Females account for 12% of commercial drivers nationwide and represent 44% of dispatchers at trucking firms, 32% of C-suite or executive positions, 37% of supervisory leaders and 28% of boards of directors, according to research Women in Trucking research. The nonprofit says "there has been a significant increase in the number of female drivers for the past five years," which it attributes to their multitasking and driving abilities, "along with the need for more professional truck drivers."

John Jantsch, creator of Duct Tape Marketing, talks about how business-to-business marketers can implement an effective referral program. Jantsch explains how referrals need to be built into the customer experience from the very beginning of a prospect's journey and discusses how strategic business partnerships can be a referrals goldmine.

David Aaker, vice chairman of Prophet, talks about how "disruptive innovation" helps business-to-business marketers fuel growth and the power of social media to scale messaging and reach. Aaker explains how B2B storytelling can help marketers break through the social clutter.

Commercial truck operators and the Environmental Protection Agency seem to be on a collision course regarding greenhouse gas emissions, writes Robert Bowman. "The realities of sourcing, production and technology could result in the issuance of waivers, relaxation of some requirements or even resetting of targets for phasing out the dirty old internal combustion engine," Bowman writes.

AI has plenty of uses in wholesaling distribution if users are "willing to get past the fear and find our curiosity," opines Jason Bader of The Distribution Team consultancy. Among Bader's suggested uses: inventory management, pricing optimization, customer service and marketing.

Tara Coomans, CEO of Avaans Media, shares advice from top entrepreneurs she has worked with on public relations. Look at every challenge as an opportunity, consider mishaps as a learning experience, and understand what you do well versus where you need other expertise, Coomans writes.

Join us in Washington, D.C., Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, 2024 for the wholesale distribution industry's premiere annual event! Learn more.

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