Horse meat challenges supply chains structures. The point to emphasis about the recent scandal in Europe is not that products contain horse meat – many people eat it. It is that consumers were not told on the packaging; the product descriptions were therefore misleading and that is an offence. The scandal has begun to elicit comments from leading retailers. Most … Read More
A low cost service part is important
Failure of logistics. I currently have an exercise machine that is idle because the importer does not have a spring in stock – the sale price of the part is $5! So, I am continuing my (mostly bad) experiences with customer service and service parts. Here is an example of a supplier that considers a low cost part not to … Read More
Logistics can improve your customer service
Customer service failures. Logistics can positively affect the performance of your post-sales service for customers, but this requires people that understand inventory management and are capable of implementing a company policy that considers customer service to be really important. This last week I have experienced poor customer service. One company tells me that to obtain service parts will take three … Read More
Horse problems in a supply chain
Complexity causes another headache. Supermarket chains and brand companies in 16 Europe are responding to a supply chain problem. Frozen meat products have been found to contain more than 60 per cent horse meat and that certainly does not agree with the statements concerning ‘pure beef’ on the packaging! Removing product from shelves and contracting with replacement suppliers is a … Read More
Your profitable retail channel mix
Retail has always changed. Archie Norman, who led ASDA supermarkets in the UK through the 1990’s recently remarked that the UK is a world leader in on-line food shopping with home delivery, but the channel is not profitable. While consumers like the idea of on-line shopping and free delivery, the reality of retail is that the most costly part is … Read More