Weyerhaeuser has started work on a $500 million Arkansas facility that could turn small trees into engineered lumber. The plant will produce TimberStrand, which is created by gluing thin pieces of wood together. "We have some of the most brilliant wood scientists on the planet and we've dialed it in," CEO Devin Stockfish said at REITweek. "It will be very hard for anyone to replicate this."

C&S Wholesale Grocers has agreed to acquire SpartanNash in a deal valued at $1.77 billion. The deal, expected to close later this year, will combine nearly 60 distribution centers serving almost 10,000 independent retail locations, strengthening C&S's position in the food distribution sector.

Amrize has debuted on the New York Stock Exchange after completing a spinoff from Holcim. Amrize, which has more than 19,000 employees, is focusing on the construction market in North America. The company generated $11.7 billion in 2024 sales.

Robotic technologies are transforming warehouse operations, particularly in the area of truck loading and unloading. Systems such as Ambi Robotics' AmbiStack and Boston Dynamics' Stretch use advanced sensors, AI algorithms and specialized grippers to handle heavy, oddly shaped and variably sized packages. These technologies, trained through simulation and real-world refinement, are overcoming previous limits of automation and delivering measurable gains in speed and flexibility.

The Middle East conflict is significantly disrupting global air and sea freight operations and supply chains, as major carriers have suspended services and altered routes due to escalating regional instability. Carriers have either scaled back or halted their operations in the region, while the threat remains that Irn could blockade shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Millennials and Generation Z are regarded as effective B2B marketing leaders because of their digital fluency, trend awareness and resourcefulness, according to a survey from The Harris Poll and Madison Logic. The survey of 300 US B2B leaders highlights these generations' ability to adapt to new technologies and manage challenges efficiently.

ChatGPT has boosted effectiveness or efficiency for 83% of marketers, Search Engine Journal recently found, and several believe the technology will aid small businesses. While AI provides value via content creation for 64.5% and 44% get benefits from idea generation and content optimization, quality concerns 54.2% and 62.6% worry about misinformation.

Supply chain leaders should proactively manage global tariffs as a permanent business factor, says Lou Longo, a partner at Plante Moran. Longo recommends using free trade zones, reviewing transfer pricing agreements and leveraging the first sale rule to mitigate tariff risks.

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