Breakthru Beverage Group is introducing a proprietary e-commerce platform, Breakthru Now, which President and CEO Tom Bene says will expand to most markets by year's end. Bene also says Breakthru will continue to grow through mergers and acquisitions, as well as through its Aspect and Trident initiatives for fine wine and spirits, respectively.

Fastenal ended 2021 with 1,416 active Onsites, 11.9% more than in 2020, and plans to add between 375 and 400 this year. Physical branches declined in 2021 by 10%, to 1,793, and CEO Dan Florness says that number will decline to 1,450 locations in the US and Canada.

Economic pressure from COVID-19, higher prices throughout the supply chain and labor shortages are all affecting grocers, leading many to raise prices. "The extraordinary cost pressure that we're seeing across all different business right now is landing in that last resort, and that's why you're seeing the inflation," says SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam.

Over 94% of freight and transportation industry leaders attending a conference in Atlanta said supply chain problems will persist this year, and almost 75% said staffing is the biggest difficulty for the less-than-truckload market. However, Old Dominion Freight Line CEO Greg Gantt said one bright spot is the infrastructure law's inclusion of a pilot program to help 18- to 20-year-olds get commercial licenses to drive trucks across state lines.

Automated processes and software can make trucking firms' human resources and logistics functions more efficient and flexible, writes Avi Geller, founder and CEO of Maven Machines. Customer demand for specialized services can also be met with digital tools that facilitate automation, Geller writes.

A GumGum survey of senior marketers found that while 56% know that contextual targeting is a viable ad tactic in a post-cookie world, just 27% said they are "very familiar" with it. Frito-Lay North America's James Clarke says successful contextual advertising comes from properly aligning creative and the ad message with an ad's environment.

Some 64% of business-to-business technology marketers are expecting an increased budget this year, while 32% think it will remain the same and just 4% expect a reduction, according to a 93x survey. In addition, 74% of B2B tech marketers intend to up their brand marketing spend this year and 48% say tracking return on investment and attribution will be their biggest challenge.

A majority of voters in Arizona, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Nevada, Colorado and Montana say the Build Back Better Act would exacerbate inflation, and 66% say their personal finances have been hurt by higher prices, states a survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. "It's clear: Americans are feeling the pressure of inflation, and they want Congress to focus on relief -- not massive new spending bills that could make inflation worse and stall our economic recovery," NAW CEO Eric Hoplin says.

It's easier to manage your time when you have clear priorities -- including time to relax -- and turn down things that don't match those goals, writes Steve Keating. "Even on the days life throws you a curve and your priorities go out the window you'll have less stress than others because you're still in control of your time more days than not," Keating writes.