Earlier this week in The Stockout CPG-focused newsletter, I discussed the impact that China’s efforts to replenish its hog population was having on corn and soybean exports as well as the related transportation challenges. Today, I dig into another pork-related issue, California’s Proposition 12, which could have a major impact on pork supply chains and […]
Cargill’s announcement last week that it is making a nearly half-billion dollar investment in soybeans caught my attention because it suggests that one of the world’s largest food producers believes that soybeans are poised for sustainable growth and the recent price appreciation and surge in production are not just the result of transient trends. It’s […]
Earlier this week, in the last edition of The Stockout CPG-focused newsletter, I focused on reefer since the many CPG companies that require temperature controls are facing an even tighter freight market than those that do not. Today, I am shifting gears to discuss shipping dry goods and, specifically, intermodal insights from the latest datasets […]
Just as Pat Riley trademarked the term “three-peat,” I’m considering trademarking “coin flip compliance.” That’s the state of the reefer market today with reefer carriers rejecting 50.3% of tendered loads, up from 40% in early February and up from 10% at this time last year. So, as concerning as tight transportation markets are for shippers […]
This article was originally published in The Stockout newsletter on February 3, 2021. To sign up for The Stockout newsletter, click here. We recommend that CPG companies, and others that ship refrigerated goods, pay close attention to Marten Transportation’s results each quarter. Marten, which reported its fourth quarter last week, is listed seventh on the […]
One financial metric in the CPG world that stands out to me is AB InBev’s net debt-to-EBITDA ratio: 4.8x. The company has been highly leveraged since its acquisition of SABMiller in 2016 when its debt topped $100 billion (net debt was $82.7 billion at the end of 2020) and the pandemic hurt the company’s profitability […]
Plant-based meat alternatives are to the food industry what electric vehicles are to the transportation industry — a niche with a lot of startups today but maybe not so niche in the future, especially as further quality advancements are made. In today’s edition of The Stockout, a CPG-focused newsletter, I discuss recent developments with Beyond […]
Bid season is here, which means contract rates are catching up to spot rates and in turn loosening capacity.
Sustainability efforts are becoming a major focus for CPG companies as consumers demand investments in a cleaner future.
Capital Logistics COO Michael Feig says it’s too early to tell if the summer will bring tight capacity to the reefer market.
Reefer truckload capacity begins to tighten further in the Midwest and Southeast
Reefer trailer orders were over 100% above replacement levels in November which shows capacity is trying to return to the reefer markets.
Droughts and geopolitical tensions are driving up cotton, corn, and soybean prices and in turn impacting supply chain costs.
Reefer spot volume volatility has exploded across the nation over the past week.
Lumber Prices are soaring which is threatening CPG companies with higher supply chain costs.
Reefer tenders have strengthened significantly out of the nation’s largest markets.
New Class 8 truck orders are increasing and this trend is likely to continue through 2021.
Coca-Cola slashes jobs in an effort to restructure.
Frito-Lay is responding to customers’ demands and have introduced an option for consumers to customize their variety packs.
As states prepare to administer COVID-19 vaccines, it is still unclear who will be deemed “essential”.
