The future of supply chain is accelerating, and on today’s episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens are unpacking the global trends, disruptions, and economic shifts shaping what’s next for leaders everywhere. From declining imports to AI’s growing pains, this episode cuts through the noise to bring clarity to fast-moving industry headlines. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP! Scott and Allison dive into the biggest stories impacting supply chains today — and the ripple effects businesses need to prepare for. Together, they discuss: 📉 Why U.S. imports from China are falling sharply across electronics, furniture, toys, and more — and how tariffs and cooling consumer demand are reshaping sourcing strategies 🤖 The retail AI reality check: Why 95% of organizations see little ROI from AI investments, and how brittle workflows and lack of contextual intelligence are slowing progress 🔮 Top supply chain trends for 2026, including workforce and talent shortages, AI-driven transformation, and mounting geopolitical challenges 🛒 Thanksgiving meal costs drop 5%, but some items — like sweet potatoes and veggie trays — are bucking the trend with noticeable price increases 🌏 What all these signals mean for manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, and consumers heading…

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Karin Bursa welcomes a powerhouse panel of women supply chain leaders who are rewriting the rules in today’s “never normal” world. Joining the discussion are Stephanie Beal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Hasbro; Tamera Fenske, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Kimberly-Clark; Eliza Simeonova, Vice President of Global Supply for Mars Pet Nutrition; Whitney Shlesinger, Vice President of Global Planning and Logistics at McCormick; and Sylvia Wilks, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lamb Weston. Together, they share defining moments that shaped their careers, from early plant leadership to global transformation initiatives. They explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping supply chain performance: driving operational discipline, improving demand planning, enhancing knowledge management, and freeing teams to focus on creative, strategic work. The panel also reflects on the importance of clean data, talent development, and building integrated value chains that deliver measurable business results. Looking back, each leader offers advice to their younger selves, highlighting the power of mentorship, confidence, and learning from failure while encouraging the next generation to own their careers and pay it forward.   This episode is hosted by Karin Bursa, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.  …