Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog
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We are passionate about Route to Market and supply chain management and we are delighted to share our thoughts with you. We would like to hear from you too, so please comment on our posts or contact us.
Latest Posts
FMCG Complexity - A Practical Reduction Guide
Dave Jordan Wed, Nov 06, 2024
Recondite complexity? I recently discussed how complexity negatively affects cost and service including how a floppy SKU tail inhibits growth. Do you understand the impact unnecessary SKUs have on FMCG success? CEOs should be seeking leaner and…
FMCG: Your wagging SKU tail is knocking your company off-balance
Dave Jordan Wed, Oct 30, 2024
Double Bio, then the weekend! Finally, Friday afternoon and looking forward to running out of school with a whole weekend of football ahead. Just a double Biology lesson to get through and then 2 days of freedom from books, blackboards and…
FMCG Complexity - a stealthy increase in SKU numbers?
Dave Jordan Wed, Oct 23, 2024
Stealth? What made me think of that word? Do you remember that playground game called Statues? One person is the 'Museum Curator' and stands at the end of a field or yard. Everyone else stands an agreed distance away and the aim of the game is for a…
Top 10 Benefits of S&OP (Sales & Operational Planning)
Dave Jordan Wed, Oct 16, 2024
This article was first published several years ago but it is about time for a refreshed look at what S&OP brings to your business. A reminder In successful FMCG and other companies, Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) is the flexible glue that holds…
FMCG 4Ps: Is everything you do really adding value?
Dave Jordan Wed, Oct 09, 2024
Time for action? If you have been dithering about making change for FMCG success, now is the time. With so much chaos around the world and COVID raising its ugly head once more, you will (hopefully) never have such a strategic discontinuity…
Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat & his Supply Chain hat
Dave Jordan Wed, Oct 02, 2024
Deliver, deliver, deliver. Briefly, before we get stuck into today's article, I recently took a first-hand look at the ailing National Health Service in UK. Oh, how a little bit of demand and supply planning expertise plus a smidgeon of alternative…
FMCG S&OP: Special Agent Assignment
Dave Jordan Tue, Sep 24, 2024
Spamfall A British Secret Agent glided through the polished corridors of HQ. Reaching his destination door he knocked and entered at the same time and introduced himself as Beams, Jon D Beams. The swooning Miss Cashnickel smiled a Colgate smile and…
Optimising Distributor Performance - Balancing KPIs for Long Term Success
Michael Thompson Thu, Sep 12, 2024
In my last article and post I covered the topic of distribution performance, specifically the topic of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Metrics. In our journey, we have now selected our Distributor, by considering what an ideal Model Distributor…
Top Distributor KPIs - Financial, Customer, Process & Growth Metrics Explained
Michael Thompson Wed, Sep 11, 2024
In my last article and post I covered the topic of distribution performance and how we establish the right processes and behaviours. I now want to address the topic of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Metrics. Before I do this, a quick recap. In…
FMCG S&OP: Silo & Obstruction Practises...
Dave Jordan Wed, Aug 07, 2024
Frustration Preparation Today I am getting ready to do business in my nameless but dysfunctional FMCG business. For “FMCG” you could substitute ANY business sector you wish. A full body suit made from flexible Kevlar with all the usual macho,…
FMCG S&OP: From Chaos to Cruise Control
Dave Jordan Wed, Jul 31, 2024
Once More Unto The Breach You could hear the groans around the room when the FMCG CEO announced to the company that they had decided to implement Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP). After months of prevarication and toing and froing, a decision had…
FMCG ABCD Stock Holding: Fast Food Lessons
Dave Jordan Tue, Jul 23, 2024
Do you want fries with that? People who work in fast food outlets – I really cannot bring myself to label them as restaurants – must have specific training in dealing with non-standard orders. Can you imagine the temptation to audibly groan when in…
Define Your Ideal Model Distributor: Key Steps for FMCG Success
Michael Thompson Thu, Jul 18, 2024
When we start the process of distributor selection, we need to be very clear about what we are looking for. A key question is this. What is our ideal Distributor Partner, or Model Distributor, we sometimes call them, and what do they look like?…
FMCG Leaders: How good is your S&OP? Take this test!
Dave Jordan Tue, Jul 16, 2024
Blinkers? While you are tackling the day to day routine of crises, meetings, strategy and more crises while fending off the results pressure from global/regional HQ, you can lose a grip on the reality of how your company is operating. Creeping…
Driving Performance Post-Distributor Selection: JBP & JAP
Michael Thompson Fri, Jul 12, 2024
I am often asked what is the single most important thing that should be done after selecting a new distributor. Before I answer this question, let me recap the process of distributor selection. The three phases of Distributor Selection are: The…