The container shipping companies are faced with the perfect storm with the ever tighter environmental regulations coming into force and oil prices jumping, exerting further pressure on liners to squeeze out profit from the buoyant demand.
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US importers face perilous trans-Pac peak season
US importers are facing a perilous peak season in the trans-Pacific this year, with many likely to be forced to pay significantly higher rates to get goods onto ships that in many cases are nearly sold out. Ocean carriers in certain cases are holding the line on weekly minimum quantity commitments (MQC) as they have […]
The Economy Grows Bigly
Call it huge or fantastic or even beautiful. Trumpian adjectives are absolutely appropriate to describe the humming U.S. economy in the second quarter of this year. The great American opportunity machine is roaring once again. While it may be unlikely that growth will be quite this strong in the quarters to come, Friday’s GDP report […]
Survey: Few Older Americans Grocery-Shop Online
The number of Americans over 50 who are online grocery-shopping is relatively low, with only 17% ever having ordered groceries to be picked up from a store, 17% from a prepared meal delivery service, 16% ever having ordered groceries to be delivered, and 10% having ordered from a meal-kit delivery service. Those are among the […]
How brands can adapt to the changing in-store model
Retail is in the midst of a stressful transformation that’s producing plenty of collateral damage. As customers’ shopping habits evolve and brands rush to meet them, the end-game for physical stores is taking shape. Stores have suffered — there’s no need to belabor the point. Declines in foot traffic and the convenience of e-commerce have […]
Trump OKs sale of revamped short-term health care plans
The Trump administration issued a final ruling on Wednesday allowing insurers to sell short-term, limited-duration health plans on the insurance markets as soon as this year.
UNFI to acquire SUPERVALU
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), Providence, R.I., announced plans to acquire SUPERVALU INC., Minneapolis, for approximately $2.9 billion. The transaction will greatly expand UNFI’s customer base and exposure across channels, including those where demand for “better for you” products is increasing.
State of the Industry 2018: The Future of Food & Beverage
Discover how robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and mobile apps continue to reshape the future of the cold food and beverage industry.
Report: Online grocery reaches 5.5% of total sales
Online grocery spending continues to grow at a rapid pace, now making up 5.5% of total grocery spending in the U.S., according to a new study from advisory firm Brick Meets Click. Nearly 30% of U.S. households buy groceries online, and most of the near-term growth in online grocery spending will continue to come from […]
Drivers Wanted: Why the Trucking Shortage Is Costing You
A shortage of truck drivers that has been simmering in the U.S. for years has reached a full boil, causing anxiety from small factories to the Federal Reserve. Trucking companies have responded by raising wages and boosting their hauling fees. Their customers then have to choose between smaller profits or passing along the higher costs, […]