The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors released a statement mourning the passing of former CEO Dirk Van Dongen, an unwavering supporter of pro-business policies who built NAW into the influential trade association it is today. "Throughout his four-decade tenure, he transformed NAW into a powerhouse in Washington. Dirk mentored generations of trade association leaders, including myself," said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. "Dirk was not just a mentor but a friend to me and many others. While he will be deeply missed, the impact he made will resonate for generations."

Distributors need to remain current on personal protection and safety equipment, including head protection, first aid kits, cut-resistant gloves, heat stress and dropped-object prevention, writes Cam Mackey, president and CEO of the International Safety Equipment Association. Mackey details the latest regulations, standards and products and what distributors need to know.

Labor shortages and increased consumer demand are driving rapid growth in warehouse automation, says Heimo Robosch, an executive at Georgia-based Knapp. Robosch argues warehouses must become "more human-friendly," noting that automation is essential for attracting and retaining employees in an industry where workers seek less routine and more engaging work.

Price sensitivity, an affinity for convenience, sustainable packaging, challenges with labor retention and consumers' generational trends related to social media are impacting produce shopping, according to Sprouts Farmers Market's David Dudley, Amazon Fresh's Charchil Shah and Heritage Grocers Group's Shonna Williams -- all of whom participated in a panel discussion at the recent West Coast Produce Expo. Purchases of convenience fruit have increased, said Dudley, noting that consumers are willing to pay more for products that are gathered for them at the store or delivered.

Shipments of automated forklifts in the US and Europe are expected to double from 2024 to 2025 as labor challenges continue to push companies toward automation, according to an ABI Research report. Growing demand for automated forklifts will affect orders for standard industrial versions, especially in the US and Europe, according to the report.

Sales professionals should take managers or other specialists from the company with them to client meetings, writes sales leader Colleen Francis. "It will improve the number of opportunities with that customer, the value of those opportunities, will speed up the time it takes to close and will improve the closing ratio," Francis writes.

With key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to sunset after next year, tax policy will be a key topic for lawmakers in 2025. Topics of debate could center around which provisions to extend -- if any -- and whether to offset the cost with other forms of revenue. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers are also considering the potential for other tax breaks designed to boost US competitiveness.

Federal Reserve policymakers are unlikely to cut interest rates at a policy meeting this week, but economists are split on the number of cuts policymakers will signal for the remainder of 2024. A Bloomberg survey shows 41% of economists expect the Fed's dot plot to show two cuts, while 41% of economists expect one or no cut.

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