Chris Barnes

At Manifest 2026, Scott Luton shared a cup of coffee with Max Garland, Senior Reporter at Supply Chain Dive, an Informa TechTarget publication, for a boots-on-the-ground perspective from one of the industry’s most plugged-in observers. Garland covers freight, logistics, retail fulfillment, and parcel delivery: the parts of the supply chain where strategy meets reality. And after a bruising 2025, he sees an industry that’s not just reacting anymore. It’s recalibrating.   From Plan B to Plan D If 2025 had a theme, Garland says it was contingency planning. “Last year was when a lot of companies were putting together those Plan B’s, Plan C’s, and Plan D’s,” he explained, pointing to tariff upheaval and shifting trade policy that forced leaders into constant reaction mode. Companies prioritized flexibility: diversifying sourcing, adjusting procurement strategies, and preparing for fires wherever they might spark. In 2026, that flexibility remains. But the tone has shifted. Now companies are “firming up their plans, fine-tuning, making sure those back-up plans are cost-effective as well.” It’s no longer just about avoiding disruption; it’s about operating efficiently within it. In other words, supply chain leaders aren’t just jumping over candlesticks anymore (like Jack from the old nursery rhyme). They’re…

Stay up to date on all the latest conversations, interviews, and episodes we released this week here at Supply Chain Now! We kicked this week off with a special episode of Supply Chain Now featuring Mike Griswold. Scott, Kelly, and Mike discuss the key takeaways from the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2021. For Monday’s This Week In Business History, Kelly gives insight on two notable figures who have made some amazing strides in theoretical economic science research. On Tuesday, we released an episode of Supply Chain Now with host Scott Luton. Scott had the opportunity to chat with Theodora Lau the Founder of Unconventional Ventures and Bradley Leimer the Co-Founder of Unconventional Ventures. They discuss some of the amazing points in their book titled “Beyond Good: How Technology Is Leading a Purpose-Driven Business Revolution.” We also released an episode of Logistics With Purpose this week. Host Enrique and Monica talk with Dave Schweidenback the Founder and CEO of Pedals for Progress. Dave shares the story behind the logistics of shipping 4,800 bikes across 45 different countries. For Thursday’s Supply Chain Now episode Scott interviews communications expert Monique Russell from Clear Communications, LLC. This conversation is all about effective communication and…