The Supply Chain Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12n ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!

Nearly every business news story we read has something to do with inflation and supply chain disruptions. Ironically, business and consumer response to so much disruption is causing a second wave of unexpected outcomes! From dangerously low unemployment to eroding consumer brand loyalty, nothing is immune.

In this session, created in collaboration with a live digital audience, Scott, Greg, and guest host Kelly Barner from Dial P for Procurement, discuss:

• Why, as in the case of unemployment, you really can have too much of a ‘good’ thing
• How companies and public sector agencies are being tripped up by constitutional law in their aggressive pursuit of workforce diversity
• How consumers and consumer packaged goods companies are responding to each other’s new habits two years after the start of the pandemic

Intro/Outro (00:00:03):

Welcome to supply chain. Now the voice of global supply chain supply chain now focuses on the best in the business for our worldwide audience, the people, the technologies, the best practices, and today’s critical issues. The challenges and introduc Stay tuned to hear from those making global business happen right here on supply chain now.

Scott Luton (00:00:30):

Hey, good morning, Scott Luton, Greg white, and Kelly Barner with you here on supply chain now. Welcome today’s live stream, Greg and Kelly. How are we doing?

Kelly Barner (00:00:39):

We’re

Greg White (00:00:39):

Good. Doing great.

Scott Luton (00:00:41):

Fantastic. It’s just that easy, huh? Just great. One word, one word response today. One word Monday,

Kelly Barner (00:00:46):

Monday, Scott. We’re still warming up. Okay.

Scott Luton (00:00:48):

All right. Fair enough. Fair enough. Well, I got a, I got a little quick warmup question for you, both a surprise question. Um, coffee wise, we’ve talked a lot about coffee. It seems like in recent weeks. Um, Kelly, what is your go-to coffee brand?

Kelly Barner (00:01:03):

Oh, donkeys. I’m in the Boston area. We dream dunking donuts coffee here. This is God’s country.

Scott Luton (00:01:09):

Is it really? Okay. Is that official?

Kelly Barner (00:01:12):

Uh,

Scott Luton (00:01:12):

Yeah. Are you sure?

Kelly Barner (00:01:13):

It’s I’m positive.

Scott Luton (00:01:14):

Okay. Is that like okay. Where it’s donkey dunk?

Kelly Barner (00:01:18):

Yeah. From Quincy, Massachusetts. Thank you. Okay.

Scott Luton (00:01:20):

We got it right. And I know that you’re kind of on again, off again. Coffee drinker, I believe, right?

Greg White (00:01:26):

Yeah, I’m on right now.

Scott Luton (00:01:30):

Um,

Greg White (00:01:32):

Uh, Lovaza that, that’s not my choice so much. It’s delicious, but uh, they have all these different flavors. I think it’s super grandma or something like that. Um, but you know, my wife has a, a coffee grinder maker. She’s her own barista. Nice.

Kelly Barner (00:01:49):

Yeah. Does she write your name on

Greg White (00:01:50):

40 years or so, you know, with the savings per cup of coffee, we’ll be even

Scott Luton (00:01:55):

Rob O no human. That is a mistake. Love that commercial right on the cup. Um, well hello to Vicky by extension. Uh, that sounds like a wonderful cup of coffee and of course, donkeys Kelly, you can’t go wrong with, um, the donkeys for sure. But Hey, we recently joined, uh, and subscribe to Ariel resupply coffee, which is a small business. Oh yeah. Owned by a veteran. And, uh, they also provide a lot of coffee, uh, to, uh, our folks in uniform serving around the world. So it’s been a really cool and a good cup of coffee. So, uh, it reminds me, I’m go get

Greg White (00:02:30):

How appropriate since you’re an air force guy to use aerial resupply, that’s, he’s an air force.

Scott Luton (00:02:36):

Vet’s, you know, I don’t know. I’m about to ask Mike, I haven’t read up on his bio. I wanna say he’s more of an, he’s an army or Marines vet, but I’ll double check. Um, but y’all check it out. You can get it wherever you get your coffee from. Uh, we subscribe, we get two bags every two weeks. Um, so, but this is not, not about the, the coffee connection today. I promise it is supply chain buzz brought to you every Monday, 12 to Eastern time right here on supply chain. Now we’re Greg and I, and, uh, always a rock and roll star across industry. Typically join us today. That is Kelly Barner. I was

Kelly Barner (00:03:08):

Gonna say you got me.

Scott Luton (00:03:11):

No, you’re like, you’re like the, what

Greg White (00:03:13):

Are you talking about? Boston is practically the home of rock and roll, right?

Kelly Barner (00:03:17):

Yes. Love that journey.

Scott Luton (00:03:20):

So, uh, Kelly Barner of doopy for procurement of buyer’s meaning point of art procurement, you name it. Kelly has got her finger on the pulse of certainly global procurement and Kelly. Great to have you back here today on the bus.

Kelly Barner (00:03:33):

Great to be here. Thanks for having me guys.

Scott Luton (00:03:35):

You bet

Greg White (00:03:36):

Fresh off her initiative. The, the link in creator initiative too.

Kelly Barner (00:03:40):

Yeah. Creator accelerator. So I’m all kinds of sped up. That’s what it was. Need less coffee,

Scott Luton (00:03:45):

Less coffee. Yeah. Less coffee. You’re approaching ludicrous speed. Um, but folks, we’re gonna say low to a bunch of folks in the comments here in just a moment. We’re so glad that you’re here and we wanna hear from you. So we’re gonna be working through three or four different stories here today. That should be on your radar. And we’d love to get your take as well. A couple of them may solicit more opinions than others. We, we shall see, but nevertheless, uh, quick programming note, Greg and Kelly are y’all are y’all ready to tackle some of these events. So Kelly let’s

Greg White (00:04:13):

Do it.

Scott Luton (00:04:14):

And Greg I’ll tell you what ask and you shall be, you shall receive, and you be better you to be ready to get it because Kelly we’ve been, uh, ringing the bell, beating the drum, sounding, alarm, whatever cliche you wanna use to really bring in nominees via the 20, 22 supply chain and procurement awards. And I bet we have almost, uh, 70, maybe 80 nominee, uh, no, across the categories. It was truly a blessing, especially in last few weeks. So, so Kelly and gray, we’ve got a lot of work to do to evaluate all of these, uh, these nomination packages, right?

Kelly Barner (00:04:51):

Yeah. And they all came in on Friday, which was the due date. So clearly next year we need the world class procrastination award and we’ll just give it to everybody. Um, so, so we’re thinking like what’s happening, what’s happening. And then they all came in on the same day and we were buried.

Greg White (00:05:06):

We literally were having a meeting. Right. We were having the team meeting on Tuesday and it was, oh, there’s another one, three mortgages came in How’s everyone’s oh four

Scott Luton (00:05:17):

In, it was remarkable. So it was, uh, folks, we’ve got all, that’s a wonderful theme because we allows us to, uh, better support and support with a bigger check to our friends and hope for justice. So that’s really cool. We also get to celebrate all these companies and these, uh, practitioners. That’s really cool, but Hey, you can still join us. Uh, May 18th is the date of the actual event. It’ll be a live stream across, uh, across the globe. You can, uh, visit this link that we’re about to drop in the comment. So you can go ahead and register for it, uh, on LinkedIn. But if you want any other information about, uh, the 20, 22 supply chain and criminal awards, you can check us out at supply chain, procurement awards.com. We really got creative with that URL. Um, this, this year says supply chain, procurement awards.com.

Scott Luton (00:06:08):

Okay. So Greg and Kelly, I wanna move along to this very special initiative that we partnered with our friends at vector global logistic. Uh, it started probably two or three weeks ago. Um, really they created it and we said, Hey, that’s great work. As, as vector nor vector normally does vector Victor. Um, uh, we’re almost coining a new, uh, a new persona there. Uh, Greg and Kelly. Roger. Roger. Yeah, that’s right. Um, but vector does great work here. They’re practically trying to, uh, procure resources, get those said resources, uh, across, uh, across the globe into the hands of folks, uh, that have really vetted needs. Food and medicine are, are the big two of the biggest needs right now we’re meeting weekly, uh, Wednesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern time to have counties working set so we can help identify not only the needs, but the resources and also the wherewithal to get these things shipped, uh, via, uh, proven re uh, sources, Greg, this is nothing new for team vector. Right,

Greg White (00:07:11):

Right. I mean, they’re the reason I coined the phrase pay, you know, uh, what, what is it give forward?

Scott Luton (00:07:17):

I give

Greg White (00:07:17):

Forward, not give back. Right. I mean, give forward is it’s really their business model. How, how do we give through our business and, uh, and make a viable business out of that? So I think, uh, their heart and mind and action is in the right place.

Scott Luton (00:07:33):

I completely agree. Um, and Kelly, uh, this is what I mean, this is supply chain and logistics folks are in, in a unique position to, to really help, right?

Kelly Barner (00:07:44):

Oh my gosh. Absolutely. And when you’re a mission driven organization, like vector happens to be, you know, you see a need, you align it with what you can do and you don’t look back and those guys have been incredible.

Scott Luton (00:07:57):

Uh, agreed, well said. And wonder if they

Greg White (00:07:59):

Have anybody know named Victor working at vector.

Scott Luton (00:08:02):

Hey, Hey, uh, Sammy, this is Victor ed vector. I’m here to get your, get your freight. That’d be awesome. Um, if they don’t, we’re gonna, uh, we’re gonna, uh, add a team member maybe, but Kelly and Greg, all kidding aside. What a wonderful, um, initially be part of, we wanna help get the word amongst our global ecosystem. We’ve got the link and the comments there, and Hey, don’t be, um, no one, you’re not obligated to give anything. You’re not obligated to bring a need. If you want to come in and register for these working sessions. And then sit back with your camera off and observe and gather market Intel and put your finger on the pulse. That’s perfectly fine, you know? Uh, so just join us. Feel free to join us Wednesdays 3:00 PM Eastern time and the link agains in the comments. Okay. So before we move on, uh, we, we’ve got a, uh, interesting, interesting anecdote on front end of the buzz here today. And then we’ve got three stories that we’re gonna be working our way through, but Kelly and Greg, I’m gonna, let’s go. We got a bunch of folks that are tuned in and we’re gonna try to hit all of them. In in fact, we gotta start with a real Victor, uh, Victor, your ears may have been burning.

Greg White (00:09:11):

Wow. And

Scott Luton (00:09:11):

He’s, he’s all about that. McDonald’s but large coffee. How about that, Greg and Kelly?

Kelly Barner (00:09:17):

It is a good cup of coffee.

Scott Luton (00:09:19):

Is it,

Greg White (00:09:20):

Is it really? Yes. I will back a dollar.

Kelly Barner (00:09:22):

Any size?

Scott Luton (00:09:24):

Any size is a buck, huh? Yes.

Greg White (00:09:26):

About that.

Scott Luton (00:09:27):

Um,

Greg White (00:09:27):

Do they put stuff in it?

Kelly Barner (00:09:30):

I think

Greg White (00:09:30):

So. You know?

Kelly Barner (00:09:32):

Yeah. Like milk or sugar, whatever. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:09:34):

Well, that’s a question to you, Victor. Uh, is it for you? Is it just black coffee or do you load it up with cream, sugar? You name it? We’ll see.

Greg White (00:09:43):

Yes. As I’ve said, many times, I’m a Beastie boys. Style of coffee drinker. I like my sugar with coffee and cream.

Scott Luton (00:09:52):

So, uh, Sylvia. Hello, Sylvia. Uh, it’s great. Uh, so great to see you. Of course she is the supply chain ambassador that happens to reside in Charleston, uh, big fan and dynamo based in the holy city. It’s so great to see you there. Sylvia, uh, Michael TuneIn loves a pullover time to defend the championship. That is right. Michael

Greg White (00:10:13):

That’s right?

Scott Luton (00:10:14):

Uh, world series champions to 2021. No one saw that. Evidently except for clay, Phillip, the dog who may be, uh, tuned in today here. Uh, we’ll see Lamont Hardy’s back Greg Lamont. Hardy of San Diego, California, right?

Greg White (00:10:28):

Yeah. Yeah. Good to have him back. Always dial, dial in here, cuz there’s gonna be something to comment on. I guarantee to you Lamont.

Scott Luton (00:10:37):

Lots of goodness and Kelly. How about this? Curtis says, uh, check out atomic coffee roasts in Salem, Massachusetts

Kelly Barner (00:10:44):

Salem is a beautiful city. It’s not a safe place to go on Halloween. Don’t don’t try that. But all the rest of that time.

Greg White (00:10:51):

Absolutely.

Kelly Barner (00:10:52):

Yeah. Do not go there the weekend of Halloween. Just

Greg White (00:10:54):

Don’t I had totally forgotten about that. Yeah. Yeah. And don’t wear a black Peaky hat. Yeah.

Kelly Barner (00:11:01):

Not unless you wanna be approached anyway. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:11:04):

Right. Or amongst other things perhaps. I don’t know. Right. Um, Hey kaon is back with us. Uh kaon I tell you y’all see his latest. Um, he is a writing machine. Uh, Greg and Kelly. I can’t remember the name, the topic of his latest. Great to see ya. Hey, drop your link to that. I think it was on LinkedIn. I saw it. Drop your link there and great to have you here as always S Sylvia is dropping some coffee here. One nation coffee, Moab. Uh Resty. Oh, uh, Greg I’m you

Greg White (00:11:35):

Roast,

Scott Luton (00:11:36):

So finish that

Greg White (00:11:39):

Mic. Okay.

Scott Luton (00:11:40):

Okay. I’ll take your word for it. Uh, so those are two hometown brew. You says a lot of good coffee, uh, there in the Judy household, Justin, Wilson’s back with us. Great to see you Justin, via LinkedIn, uh, see a bunga, uh, via LinkedIn. Uh, Hey, we wanna hear from you see AGA bring your perspective, let us know what you’re thinking as we’re working away through, uh, topics of our day here. Um, let’s see. T squared looking to forward to the lunchtime supply chain management, nourishment, Kelly. You pack a lunch today.

Kelly Barner (00:12:11):

Always. Yeah. And my little brown bag right down here.

Scott Luton (00:12:14):

What’s in your sandwich today.

Kelly Barner (00:12:17):

Uh, ham and cheese

Scott Luton (00:12:19):

Ham and okay, man, boring lunch today in, uh, God’s country, Massachusetts. Huh?

Kelly Barner (00:12:26):

All time I got this livestream thing I have to do. I gotta be a lead quick between calls.

Scott Luton (00:12:30):

All right, Greg, what what’s you eating for lunch today?

Greg White (00:12:33):

Uh, I don’t know yet. I am, uh, I’m expecting a visit from our newest family edition sometime shortly after this. So I, I ate a late breakfast to make sure that I was well nourished for this. Awesome,

Scott Luton (00:12:47):

Awesome. Well, ti squared, thanks for holding down the Fort for us on YouTube. Uh, cigar. Great to have you here tuned in from India via, uh, LinkedIn. So great. See Jean pleasure. Old GP. The one only, he’s a growing legend around here. That’s

Greg White (00:13:00):

Great. Yeah. I was worried that he wasn’t.

Scott Luton (00:13:02):

That is right.

Greg White (00:13:04):

What’s the point?

Scott Luton (00:13:05):

What’s the point? Natalie is tuned in once again via LinkedIn. Great. See Natalie, I think she hails from the Charlotte area, uh, and Mohe professor Mohe, Kelly R we can’t do a livestream without professor Mahe from the air capital of the country of the world, maybe, uh, Wichita, Kansas. So great to see you there. Go shocks. Go shocks. Okay. So, uh, we welcome everybody. One more. Uh, TV is with us O Tom Valentine, uh, fresh a full week at mod ex. I’m sure he was. And he says, grandpa Greg congrats, man.

Greg White (00:13:39):

Thank you. Awesome. He, uh, Tom had a panel session or a, a keynote or a, or led some sort of discussion at Mox. Love to hear how that went. Yes.

Scott Luton (00:13:50):

So let us know old TV, uh, cargo Margo it’s 9:00 AM. I’m looking forward to lunch my FA part of the day besides happy hour. She says, love that. Love that. Great to have you here. Cargo, Margo, enjoy your, uh, live streamed as well. Okay, so let’s dive right in. I wanna start off with, uh, a little personal anecdote. If, uh, here we go. So, um, y’all may or may not know that there’s an event at maca only air force, uh, air force base in Wichita, Kansas called knuckle busters. Now I don’t think knuckle busters is unique to that air force base. I imagine they’ve got ’em uh, everywhere. I can’t remember what they called it. Uh, I was Athaw air force base and I was also at McConnell of course, McConnell was knuckle busters. I can’t remember what, what Shaw used, but basically it’s a annual event that cell celebrates all the maintainers that help keep our military moving forward.

Scott Luton (00:14:41):

Hence uncle busters, right? As you’re working on equipment engines, you name it. Um, they’re in their 40th year, Kelly and Greg 40 years of celebrating our maintainers and, uh, supply chain now wanted to donate a couple things and do a raffle and stuff. I just love the spirit of the event. And as part of that, we are able to order some new challenge coins. Now I’m gonna save time. I’m not gonna tell a story. Many of you veterans that are maybe in the, um, uh, in the audience, know what I’m talking about with these challenge coins, but to get this pull the chalks maintenance rocks, print it across the top of that coin. Don’t you love that? Um,

Greg White (00:15:16):

Yeah, I love that. That’s cool.

Scott Luton (00:15:17):

That’s awesome. So, uh, but a little tip, you make sure you take these coins wherever you go. Cause you never know when you’re gonna be, uh, you’re gonna have a, uh, coin check and you don’t wanna be on that end of, uh, the bar tab. Uh, Greg you mean?

Scott Luton (00:15:31):

Yes, that’s right. That in right. This is your insurance policy, right. And, and big thanks to, uh, Ann and all those wonderful, uh, airmen, uh, at McConnell air force space, doing great things during Wichita, Kansas, and, uh, keeping, you know, keeping not only our military moving forward, but in the greater scheme of things, Kelly and Greg, as we all know, um, know global supply chain has an army of maintainers, right from, uh, truck fleets to aircraft fleets, to, um, power equipment at our, you know, plants, you name it. Um, you know, think of, think of, uh, here in the last couple years with the, um, um, vaccine, you know, uh, from a, um, why can’t I a frozen, uh, cold chain, cold chain, a cold chain perspective. Think of all the maintainers that goes into that, protecting those products, just the right temperature at the right time, keeping things moving. So Greg and Kelly. Oh yeah. Uh, Greg and Kelly, we gotta find new ways of offering up and loving on these folks. Get some recognition. Right?

Greg White (00:16:30):

I love the, the, uh, channel idea that is genius. Right?

Scott Luton (00:16:35):

Well, we hope we’re gonna, uh, I got a little idea. We’re gonna do some supply chain now, challenge coins, and, uh, maybe we’ll find a way to celebrate some, the maintainers across global supply chain. How cool will that be? Kelly. There we go.

Greg White (00:16:47):

That’d be very cool. I like that.

Scott Luton (00:16:49):

All right.

Greg White (00:16:49):

I will volunteer to, uh, to tour some bars and make sure everyone is, has their coins on their person. That

Scott Luton (00:16:56):

Is good to know. We’re gonna need

Greg White (00:16:58):

Always a giver. Scott, you know me that

Scott Luton (00:17:00):

Quality assurance we need it. So, uh, Greg, thank you. You so much for volunteering for that mission. Uh, really quick, kaon answered the call. Uh, he’s there writing about 3d printing and additive manufacturing. So check out that link. Lot of gets stuff there. Um, okay. So moving right along, uh, by the way, uh, veteran voices today on the main channel is a special crossover episode, Mary Kate saliva, us army veteran, and overall dynamo. Uh, we published her first official episode as a host, the host of veteran voices. So check that out. Don’t ever mistake kindness for week weakness with Mary bill. Um, okay. So Greg and Kelly did y’all did y’all read the paper over the weekend?

Greg White (00:17:42):

Yes.

Scott Luton (00:17:43):

Okay. I know Kelly, does she, she, she reads 17 different paper.

Greg White (00:17:47):

Read the paper.

Scott Luton (00:17:48):

Yes.

Greg White (00:17:48):

Greg, you mean an actual physical paper? That’s

Kelly Barner (00:17:51):

Right. I wish no, I have an iPad.

Scott Luton (00:17:53):

You have an okay. Okay.

Kelly Barner (00:17:54):

I prefer the paper, but

Scott Luton (00:17:56):

Yes, I I’m with you. So, um, what I, so I, I get the, the weekend edition of the wall street journal. I really enjoy is very eclectic. Um, but this is the article, uh, that really got my attention of the weekend. And for folks that may be listening to audio replay, the article says is, is headlined logistics was hinder. Russia’s military. Now, Greg and Kelly, I gotta tell you as I hit this and was diving into it, it didn’t exactly hurt my feelings to see this and see some of the challenges. This is really a blessing in the sky, right? Anything to hinder, uh, Putin’s outright invasion and atrocity going on in Ukraine. Uh, but setting aside, uh, the more important stuff for just a second from, from a sheer supply chain perspective, I think it’s really fascinating to kind of watch this, this develop, right.

Scott Luton (00:18:45):

One point, and then we’re not gonna dive deep into this article. I’m gonna get y’all’s reaction, Kelly and Greg, but one of the points made in, uh, in this read was that, uh, the exceptional job done for a long time, but in particular, in recent decades, biologic stations in the us military, well, that may have fooled many into making the assumption that Russia’s military, uh, Russian military supply chain pros could support whatever Putin wanted to do. And that’s proving to be proving to be an incredibly inaccurate assumption for sure. And that is, uh, good news. Uh, undoubtedly, so Greg, I’ll get your response to this, uh, to this development first.

Greg White (00:19:24):

Well, I, I don’t know exactly what the issue is, but, uh, issues were, but I know that some weeks ago when the 40 mile convoy, which we’ve all heard about, uh, sort of stalled outside of Keve, that, that they were having some, some fuel issues. Um, and they basically became a 40 mile long target for, uh, what’s left of the Ukrainian military. Um, look, I mean, sticks was born out of military, um, force, right? I mean, you, when, if you were a Caesar, a king, a noble person of any kind, and you were, you were trying to take land or defend your land, you had to feed and water yep. And supply your, um, you know, your troop. So it’s natural and you’d think more core to the strength of, of an army to have a really, really strong logistics core. Um, you know, Scott, I was at, I was at the world affairs and, uh, business and supply chain conference, you know, the, a upstate international world affairs councils of America, a conference last week, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Uh, but you know, we had a lot of military, uh, and diplomats there talking about things like this and their, the last week was that this is part of this pullback is tactical, right? To resupply, to re um, regather their, their troops, which have gotten farfield and, and to start another offensive, but that it doesn’t change the fact that they have had some significant supply chain struggles and, and their logistics have, uh, left them literally in some cases, high and dry. Right.

Scott Luton (00:21:19):

So Kelly, uh, Greg and, and excellent feedback. And, and, and by the way, uh, I interviewed Greg, uh, to gather some of his key to takeaways from this event, he mentioned that was Friday, right? Yeah, that’s right. And then we should, that

Greg White (00:21:31):

Seems like so long ago already, doesn’t

Scott Luton (00:21:33):

This guy. Well, you know, it should be, I think our team’s turning that around quickly. That’s gonna publish, I believe this week. So look forward to that. Cause Greg, Greg brings a lot to the table that may be in your blind spot for sure. Kelly, uh, we’re talking about this article over the weekend, logistic expose hinder Russia’s military, be our friends at wall street journal, your quick takeaway there.

Kelly Barner (00:21:53):

So this reminds me of a piece of advice that one of my college professors gave me. I did not go to college for supply chain. So this is advice from a Shakespeare professor. And she talked about the fact that, you know, comedies start bad and end well, tragedies start good. And then very poorly, if the main character knew what kind of play they were in, they would probably make different choices, right? Because they would know what the ending was gonna be. I think if Russia had known this was gonna lasted more than 48 hours, I mean, we all thought dates, right? We’re now over a month, you don’t need a robust chain for few full food or fuel or anything else if it’s gonna be a 48 hour war. So if they had known it was gonna drag out this long, they would’ve re reinforced their supply lines.

Scott Luton (00:22:40):

Hmm. Excellent point. Uh, and, um, you know, again, our thought and, and, and, you know, it’s tough to give this story five minutes, uh, our hearts and our thoughts and our prayers with not just Ukrainian people, but all the folks. And across that region, of course, the beautiful people of Poland are stepping up and welcoming in so many refugees. Um, but regardless we hope that we find a way to put, you know, get to a ceasefire soon and then let the diplomats, uh, do what they do and, and, um, get us into the next chapter. But, uh, on a much lighter note folks on a much lighter note, uh, Kelly and Greg, let me brag on Sylvia, Judy, just for a second. You know, we love Sylvia around these parts, uh, for her supply chain. Prowes as much as we like, uh, Greg, cause I still hadn’t had any, she is a master chef when it comes to jelly and jams, right?

Greg White (00:23:29):

Yeah. That’s

Scott Luton (00:23:31):

So when she’s not solving the world supply chain, she’s in her kitchen, cooking out some good stuff, but what you may not know that Sylvia also does is she answers the call. She answers the call for, for, especially for our veterans looking to make connections as they get out. So I’m so thankful that Sylvia, uh, there’s a coast guardsman. That’s getting out after 20, some odd years of serving our country uniform. And we are trying to help him make connections, especially in Charleston, uh, to folks in supply chain, Sylvia raised her hand, immediately connected with the him grab, grab a phone call and clearly is plugging him in Brendan, is his name plugging him into the, uh, the local supply chain industry and community. So as she says here, uh, Sylvia says the maritime association of South Carolina, uh, social, uh, I guess is tonight and Brendan’s gonna join.

Scott Luton (00:24:26):

So, and that is such a very cool, yeah. So Sylvia, thank you very much good to the order. Certainly the Sylvia, Judy, but you know, that really illustrates one of the challenges that our veterans have, you know, so many of ’em they’re, you know, they don’t go off base and, and good association meetings or, or, or able to really build out their private, oftentimes building out their private network. And that’s you usually a big need when they come outta the military, whether they’re retiring or they serve a term. So it takes great practitioners and leaders like Sylvia to help make that happen. So Sylvia, you have made our day. So thank you so much here. Okay. Um, let’s get this comment here from Mohe. Uh, he says, I read it somewhere that Napoleon used to build supply chain logistics prior to taking over city. Now disruption of the supply chain and logistics would hinder any war advancement. There are many ways of fight war without picking up a weapon. Hey, Greg Kelly,

Kelly Barner (00:25:19):

Wasn’t it. George Washington that said an army marches on its stomach.

Scott Luton (00:25:22):

Was that, was it George Washington?

Kelly Barner (00:25:25):

Somebody fact checked me.

Scott Luton (00:25:26):

Uh, but

Kelly Barner (00:25:27):

Point taken if they can’t eat, they won’t March.

Scott Luton (00:25:31):

Right.

Greg White (00:25:31):

Great. Yeah. Right. I, I don’t know. I don’t know all the sayings, but I know this, that the Romans were Supreme in terms of logistics. I mean, the reason that they took over much of the west, the reason that they occupied so many countries, the reason that the, that words like Kaiser, German for Caesar or king even exist is because of the Romans and they were prolific throughout, uh, Europe and, and Western Asia of course. Right. Mm.

Scott Luton (00:26:02):

Uh, agreed. Agreed. And, uh, I think you’re right. I think that was George Washington, Kelly, and I, I like how your, your, um, your fallback position. Well, I’m not sure who quoted it. Uh, the point is they won’t March, if they don’t eat. I, that

Greg White (00:26:17):

It got it got said,

Scott Luton (00:26:18):

Right. It got said, yeah. Okay. We’re gonna shift gears. I’ll tell you. We’re we are covering a ton of ground and we’re only halfway through the supply chain buzz, but again, hits your, uh, live stream on at 12 new Eastern time. So let’s shift gears a bit. I wanna bring this story up here. And Kelly, um, interesting development as reported on by your hometown news, Boston herd is focused on a key ruling in California related to corporate board diversification initiatives. So Kelly, tell us more.

Kelly Barner (00:26:49):

So this actually, you know, Greg mentioned my, my LinkedIn accelerator, I just spent 10 weeks studying all things. Diversity now, mostly supplier diversity, right. In the procurement context, but it’s really complicated because there’s what we wanna do. There’s the results we wanna drive, but you have to stay legal when you do it. And so basically they tried to mandate that there be women and other members of minority or underrepresented groups put on these corporate boards. The problem is if you have a law that says you can’t strip discriminate against someone because of, you know, age, race, gender, any of those things, you also can’t proactively advance somebody for being a different one of those categories. So it was ruled unconstitutional. I mean, clearly we need some change, but we have find, uh, a way to do it, that doesn’t run a foul of, of constitutional law.

Scott Luton (00:27:49):

Hmm. Interesting. Uh, Greg,

Greg White (00:27:52):

A lot of emotion in this issue, obviously. Right. And I think sometimes politicians in their, uh, effort to do well, uh, let emotion overrule their knowledge or adherence to the law. And, uh, clearly the case here, of course we want this to happen, but, um, you know, much like other initiatives that were struck down the, the Supreme court has actually ruled on this, I believe, right. Because of, uh, there was a seventies, uh, uh, initiative that I cannot remember what it was called, uh, affirmative action. Right. And, um, and yeah, I mean, it, you know, the thing we have to be careful about is not disadvantaging others. Right, right. Because, um, for instance, old white guys won’t always be the majority. Right. And, um, we can’t shift the power and lock it into any group in, in, you know, in particular. And I think the law taking a much, much broader perspective is, uh, important for not just the now, but the future as well.

Scott Luton (00:29:04):

Well said, Greg and Kelly and Kelly, one quick follow up question. Sure. Um, 10 weeks of studying, uh, the best practices and things that don’t work, perhaps when it comes to supplier diversity and, and the like anything else really stick out as a, as a key learning for you.

Kelly Barner (00:29:22):

I think probably the biggest key learning. I mean, and we’re all interviewers here right. In, in different capacity. I think, you know, after doing this for so many years, I learned just how much more there was to do around being an effective, active listener when you’re discussing something like race, gender, identity, disability status with people, you have to be incredibly sensitive. But I think the listening skills that I had to build on over the 10 weeks are exactly the same thing that we need to actually attack these problems, whether it’s in business or the public sector. Right. We all need to be listening a whole lot more carefully and maybe talking a little bit less. So big problem, super challenging, very emotionally charged Greg. You’re absolutely right about that. No easy answers. Um, but we have to just keep after it and we will eventually make the progress we need to make

Scott Luton (00:30:12):

That’s right. Uh,

Greg White (00:30:13):

I think we have to acknowledge that most, most, nearly all I would say, um, good people want this kind of change. They just want it done the right way. Yeah. And you know, the, sorry they want it done in a way that it doesn’t, um, cause unintended consequences. Yeah. Right. And fortunately, because we are though, we are constantly told we’re democracy, not in the United States, we are a federal representative Republic. Um, and because of that, we are protected from the, in, in, uh, let’s see the unintended misdeeds or consequences of, of the hoard or of emotion. Right? Yeah.

Kelly Barner (00:31:00):

And this is the thin corporation have to be careful of too. Coca-Cola’s general counsel tried to say, X percent of all legal contracts have to go to minority owned law firms. You can’t do that. He’s not general counsel anymore. Right. So this isn’t even just a politician mistake. We all have to be so careful that even as we’re trying to, you know, what is it the road to hell is paid with good intentions.

Greg White (00:31:22):

Right. Definitely the

Kelly Barner (00:31:23):

NFL, just not George Washington

Scott Luton (00:31:24):

Who said that, be above Kelly. Who, who we attributing that to? I

Kelly Barner (00:31:28):

Think Greg said that.

Scott Luton (00:31:30):

1. All right. Well, Hey, before my time speaking in which Corey says that, going back to the last story. Okay. This is, oh dude, Chrome attributed that that quote was attributed to Napoleon and Frederick the great Kelly Barner. Very

Kelly Barner (00:31:46):

Cool. Thank you for that, Corey.

Scott Luton (00:31:48):

Yeah. Thank you. Corey. Hope this finds you well, wherever you are. Uh, Corey also Lamont says he agrees with Mohe about the same reasons, why the Germans initially built the Aban to resupply and transport the armies expeditiously. Now you may not know as fast

Kelly Barner (00:32:02):

As they wanted,

Scott Luton (00:32:03):

Right? Yeah. Well, and the same principle applied to the interstate system here in the us. In fact, if you go look at the official name, the Dwight de Eisenhower national system, national system of interstate and defense highways, big part, really? Yeah. Moving, moving, um, uh, material now and equipment quickly, uh, and people and consumers and vacationers and tourists, even though sometimes, uh, the best of those intentions, uh, through parts of say Atlanta, don’t nothing moves quickly, but uh, never nevertheless

Greg White (00:32:39):

And not the truth.

Scott Luton (00:32:41):

Um, alright, so Kelly and Greg, thank you all very much. Uh, we’ll keep our finger on the pulse. Uh, you know, we’re all kinder spirits. There’s so much more work that has to be done, but to both of y’all’s points, it’s gotta be done the right way. Uh, and that’s that, that’s one of the, uh, the, uh, tricky parts about it. Um, right. So let let’s move right along to the next story here. I think we’re gonna be talking about limbo. Limbo. Remember that game as a kid? No I’m setting aside, but the, the headline did remind me in my MI mind of the limbo, if you’re of the roller skating rink generation, that the three of us are so labor market, the wild wild west these days, all it’s missing is let’s see white and may west Kelly. Greg, what else? What if we’re making this analogy? What else is, are we missing from the wild, wild west when it comes to labor market? Anything.

Greg White (00:33:34):

How about baby boomers, baby? For the most part? I mean that, yeah, that, I mean, that really figures into this equation pretty dramatically.

Scott Luton (00:33:42):

I thought you were gonna say Huckleberry’s Greg, I’m so disappointed that we didn’t continue the analogy, uh, who is that doc

Kelly Barner (00:33:50):

Duck

Greg White (00:33:50):

H holiday.

Scott Luton (00:33:53):

Yes. Kelly. Yes. Nailed that one. All right. But as it relates to the workforce and the labor market, Kelly, let’s talk about this question. That’s on the tip of everybody’s a lot of people’s tongues, at least how low can unemployment go?

Kelly Barner (00:34:07):

And obviously it can go extremely low. I think maybe the better question we should ask is what are the maybe negative consequences of unemployment continuing to fall, right? So as there’s more job, there’s more opportunities. People move around. You don’t make a lateral move unless you have to you’re negotiating higher salaries, which draws up the cost of everything. Um, it’s, it’s one of those things where we unintentionally contribute to inflation by, by moving around and seizing these opportunities. So really low unemployment sounds like a good thing, but beyond on a certain point, it’s actually a really serious concern.

Scott Luton (00:34:44):

Mm Greg, I know you’re geared up, ready to go. What you

Greg White (00:34:48):

Got, I am completely vexed by the possibility that that unemployment is almost at record levels for the history of its measurement, 3.8% right now, unemployment. And, and think about how many, many companies legitimately say we still don’t have enough people. So truly to that point around baby boomers, what we have to look at is the, is the, the denominator, right? The, the, um, workforce has actually shifted substantially and their are fewer people for the amount of jobs. There are something like 11 or a 10.6 million job openings right now, and only 8.4 million job seekers. So in fact, if, if you consider the, the whole number, we are actually at negative unemployment. So, uh, it, it is, it’s gonna be a very interesting thing. I mean, not, not just the fact that 3.6 million baby boomers retired last year, or not just baby boomers, but people over 55, um, last year, I guess those are all baby boomers or, or older, um, retire 3.6 million more retired last year than were expected to. And they were, and baby boomers were, uh, retiring at a rate of 10,000 a day. Wow. So, so we had an incredibly large number of people retire. They may come back into the workforce and again, change the denominator so that, so that things happen, but there’s also this sort of mismatch of skills, um, for the jobs that are open. Yeah. Um, I, I mean, because, because I actually did some research on this Scott, which I know

Scott Luton (00:36:39):

I’m bad, my socks are off my blow, my socks off Greg.

Greg White (00:36:43):

Well, you know, I was so vexed by this number, Kelly, that I had to investigate how it is possible. Some of these numbers and what I found was this great mismatch, not, not a great resignation. And by the way, the people of the great resign are not who we thought they were. They are not millennials and they are not gen Zers. And they are not gen Xers. They are largely baby boomers. The great resignation was people largely retiring early, but there’s this but left from that. Because as we’ve talked about many times before those baby boomers took their largely unwritten gift skills and processes out the door, there’s hardly anyone qualified to do the jobs that they have left behind because so much of that work was, uh, lacked co complete documentation. It was all in their head and we’ve lost a lot of that work knowledge. And there’s very few people that where desire and the skillset match up on these 10.6 million jobs. Yeah.

Kelly Barner (00:37:45):

Which basically works out to be 1.8 jobs for every person who wants one that’s right. It’s dangerously close to two, two full-time jobs, almost for every single person that might want a job. So it, it clearly is not. And it, you of opportunity, it’s an issue, like you said, Greg, of the, of the match and Scott, you guys have had some awesome people on talking about how they need to win people over to the lifestyle associated with long haul trucking or win people over to the idea that manufacturing is not like a dark and dirty place to work. That it’s actually very high tech. There’s a lot of automation involved. Right? Some of it is a perceived disconnect more than there is an actual one.

Scott Luton (00:38:24):

Yeah. Agreed. You know, over the weekend, speaking of, uh, labor related issues, I came across a story of our IRS, right? The internal revenue service. Yeah. They are, uh, thousands of workers short and they’re still also found out there’s still roughly nine main Americans that still file an actual paper return versus the Eile that, that so many Americans do. And so what that’s created is this massive backlog, uh, and it also creates some risk because you’ve got a lot of tax documents sitting lined up in the, in the queue and we’re talking thousands and thousands and thousands in these various, uh, centers. And gosh, if there’s a fire, all those documents are lost. And then I can, I can only imagine the, the pain involved, both for the IRS and the S so, um, IRS is trying to play catch. In fact, uh, as, uh, what I was reading said that RS still typically does business as they do, as they did it largely in the nineties. And some of the modernization monies that, that have been added to its budget. They’re having to use to try to hire people, to process these manual terms really fascinating, um, on a, on a variety of levels and then separate from that. And perhaps more exciting than that, because it’s one of my favorite topics pizza. I watched the pizza show over the weekend. Okay. Greg and Kelly, stick with me here.

Greg White (00:39:44):

Now you’ve got my attention.

Kelly Barner (00:39:46):

It’s called the pizza show. Like that’s what the show is

Scott Luton (00:39:48):

Called. Yeah. It’s vice vice network. It’s called the pizza show. And this, this guy, I believe he is like a Brooklyn entrepreneur that his own pizza shop. And he’s traveling the country with a, with a, a film crew going into New Jersey style pizza course, Chicago making these visits. And gosh, it is, I think it’s a really cool show makes you hungry. And it also interviews like the family and entrepreneurial story. Yeah. Anyway, I bring that up. Cause Boston robotics was one of the places he mentioned. Uh, he venture to Kelly and they had, uh, I can’t remember the name of the company, but they had a, a pizza automation line. They were automating the, the pizza build process. And of course, as a P as, as a chef himself, he was very, um, uh, he wasn’t, didn’t have a whole bunch of confidence in the ultimate product, but was delicious, but he was still kind of hedging his bets if you know, the future of, uh, of, of pizza making of just how much involved robotics and automation will be Greg and Kelly I’m of the ilk. That’s gotta be a, anything requiring, uh, um, um, humans and elbow grease, you know, that has potential of being automated to some degree. Everyone’s gotta be considering that, you know, nothing’s out of balance, perhaps Greg, get your response to that. Either taxes or pizza, just not both at the same time, otherwise we’ll need lots of beer, but, uh, but Greg, your response,

Greg White (00:41:15):

Well, I’m gonna do with taxes. What I largely do during season, which is ignore it. Um, so let’s go on to pizza and, um, and labor in general, you know, 1.8 jobs per person. I think we can stop apologizing for automation and, and cease this old ancient narrative that largely did apply to the baby boomers of automation, taking jobs away from people. And, you know, and I, I preach this all the time. Here I go. Right. Represent and, uh, I think it’s right. Um, and I think you, one of the things that we have to understand is supply chain procurement and, and many industries are, are moving from a brute force type industry to an intellectual pursuit. And that is a natural elevation of human beings. Let, let robots, let automation do the dark, the dirty, the dangerous, the mundane, the mindless, and, and mind numbing.

Greg White (00:42:15):

And, and, um, and, and of course there are other intellectual pursuits that they can do better and more consistently than humans, but that still leaves plenty of domain for humans to work in, right where we are excellent. We are excellent in making rapid decisions that are high stakes with inadequate or inaccurate, uh, information, right. Which you cannot do with technology. You just simply can’t do it because they require too much data. We have been collecting data for our entire lives. We have learned by, um, by imprinting, in some cases and, and formal learning or informal learning and ideation over the course of our entire lives. So that ability to reason and think critically is unique to human beings. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:43:03):

Hmm. Kelly,

Kelly Barner (00:43:04):

I I’ll continue along the same lines with automation. I think self-service is gonna be the answer in more areas than we even realize. I mean, an obvious example is you go to McDonald’s and there’s that TV turned on its side where you can put in your little meal order and, and pay, right. That’s self-service. But even on the corporate landscape, whether it’s through procurement systems, HR systems, you know, let people take care of themselves. If we’re hiring someone and we are assuming they’re intelligent enough and skilled enough that we want them to be part of our, our company, why not let them book and make purchases and, you know, handle their own travel and all these things where we used to have teams of people that really don’t need to be done by people as much as we think there should be a whole lot more self-service inside of companies, as well as from a consumer standpoint.

Scott Luton (00:43:53):

Excellent point. As long as it works, going back to these per procurement platforms at times, it felt like we were in procurement purgatory. I’ll tell you what it is. So painful. Lots of peas there. Uh, but Kelly I’m with you as if it works. Yep. I I’m of the, I, I love going through, um, I dunno about y’all, but grocery store get seven things I need and then check it out on my own. You know, some of those days make, it might be a tough day. You don’t feel like talking and making small talk. It’s all like, you know, uh, of your own device. I love it, embrace it. And, and if that allows organizations to not only give a good service that a consumer wants, but also navigate through these challenging labor environment, Hey, let’s do a lot more of it. Um,

Greg White (00:44:33):

I think generational change and economics are gonna force a ton of automation. Yes. I mean, you mentioned McDonald’s Kelly. I mean, first of all, being paid $15 to slap one of those horrible hamburgers together is utterly ridiculous and it’s not economically feasible. You can see some of the truly fast foods, some of the really repeatable yeah. The stuff that they stack up anyway, you can see that being automated, um, and maybe Lord help us greater quality. But you know, the, the, the other thing is generational change and generational to is I gen gen Z and millennials don’t wanna be truck drivers. Yeah. The truck driver shortage is never, and you can quote me on this, like many have over the course of last three or four years, never going away. We will never not have a truck driver shortage. And autonomous is now inevitable. Not, not impending.

Greg White (00:45:32):

Yep. I wanna be clear on that because everybody gets really uptight. Right. And especially people in the trucking industry, they wanna believe that it could never happen. Yep. It can. And it will trucking will change dramatically. But, and we can talk about how offline. Yep. Um, but you know, it is those kind of roles. It is some jobs in factories that are yet to be automated. It is robotic process automation, entering invoices and things like that that are done by humans. Often, Scott, the cause of our pain is not necessarily the automation. It, it is humans who don’t know how to operate their procurement system and they, and they cause this pain for us and in for themselves. So there are ways to solve this. And as the incoming generations don’t want these jobs anyway, they want something more mentally stimulating, something more meaningful in their mind, something more purpose driven. Uh, it’s inevitable that this automation will happen

Kelly Barner (00:46:28):

And it creates opportunities for differentiation, right? That think about like craft beer. She, you can buy, you know, Budweiser produced at scale. In some factory someplace, people are lining up to pay craft beer prices because there’s a perceived improvement in value. And you’re not gonna buy maybe all your beer, you drink over the course of the year, but for special occasions or if it’s something you really wanna try. Right. I think the same thing, true. You could have an upscale McDonald’s where right. Come on in and we’ll do it a fancier way. The same we in, you know, corporations, you can either do it the low cost automated way, or somebody will find a way to express enough value to do it in sort of a boutique delivery kind of fashion. Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:47:11):

You could be drinking. We

Greg White (00:47:12):

Have never had more human beings employed than we do right now. Yep. And we have never had more automation in the workplace than we do right now. It is not a zero sum game.

Scott Luton (00:47:23):

All right. So I’m back on beer. I’m back on beer, no games back on beer. We could all be drinking Sam Adams from Boston. Is that goes, Kelly, can you say that for us?

Greg White (00:47:33):

My

Kelly Barner (00:47:33):

Cousin from Boston.

Scott Luton (00:47:36):

All right. So, uh, Greg, as you were sharing your, um, your hot take, I was looking around for my helmet and my Bulletproof vest and it, it was not within not within reach, uh, but I bet folks are going

Greg White (00:47:49):

McDonald’s is coming after

Scott Luton (00:47:50):

That’s right. And by the way, that was Victor Kelly spoke about McDonald’s, but Victor was talking about that large $1 cup of coffee. So we’ll get his take, uh, as long as the robots don’t mess up my chicken nuggets at, uh McDonald’s. Right. All right. So, um, let’s share a couple comments here, going back all the way to the Audubon. Sylvie says, if you ever to go to Berlin, you notice just how wide the roads are,

Greg White (00:48:17):

Uh, also between, uh, Frankfurt. And Stutgart very wide, really graduated speed limit. As you go farther to the left lanes. And in certain areas, it used to be that the speed limit, there was no limit. Now it’s only in certain areas. And boy is that fun to watch what cars come blowing by you when the speed limit goes off. I

Scott Luton (00:48:36):

Bet I have never experienced that Greg white, but I bet you’re one of those cars that going flying past folks, no

Greg White (00:48:43):

Volkswagen Passat station wagon. That was me nice with thes in the, that’d be the right

Kelly Barner (00:48:47):

Hand lane.

Greg White (00:48:50):

You’d be amazed. Kelly. Those cars are super fast. Oh, are they? I mean, they all, yes. They they’re geared for the Autobahn in a lot of cases.

Scott Luton (00:48:58):

Well, also Sylvie talks about, uh, that she is attending attended the college Charleston job fair last week, 110 organizations competing for that talent there. Uh, big shout out to a couple of COC students, CFC that join us along with, um, Keith Keith’s last name is escaping me right now, but Amanda and Chantel and Catherine, first off, thanks for what y’all do behind the scenes in production. If we could drop that episode to the COC episode, uh, last week, that would be wonderful. Um, Rhonda says so many job openings here, but people don’t wanna see him the work for $15 an hour. It seems that way to her at least, uh, Tom’s talking pizza, my kind of my kind of guy here, pizza plug, check out our new customer crew pizza, outdoor pizza ovens, crew ovens.com. So Tom, on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most electable pizza that you can ever put in your mouth, uh, Greg kinda like that. Um, what was that pizza? You and I got, we met at vector and, um, it’s an

Greg White (00:50:03):

Oh, Antico. Yeah, an

Scott Luton (00:50:05):

That’s right. Anti Antico. Yeah. Antico. However, so Tom, on a scale of one to 10, let us know what this, uh, outdoor pizza oven in the a crew company can do. If 10, 10 being the, the standard Antico delicious and one being maybe the cardboard box mess, you get for a buck at your local, um, discount store. Uh, Sylvia is seriously thinking of getting her CDL and Hey, it, Sylvia’s kinda like a, a fourth co-host here today. Uh, I have to tell you I’d feel safer if, if she was driving, frankly, I would too. Mohe says, Hey, did you hear anyone complain about automating the toll booth? Could, could the toll booth booth excellent point. That’s true. Could a toll booth attendant not find another boring job? Me bring, I bet. I bet the toll booth workers of America were like, oh, thank goodness. Right?

Scott Luton (00:51:00):

Wow. Zero sum gain, hashtag gain theory. Uh, we’ll have to bring him back for another discussion there. Victor still with us, uh, Victor, Hey, if your team chicken nugget, let me know. Uh, as long as robots don’t mess that up. And finally Tom says, amen, brother, Greg on automation, mod ex has just half a dozen robotic vendors just six years ago. Oh six of those six years ago. And last week over 96 robotic vendors and ask and you shall receive, Tom says eight to 10 on that pizza score, depending on the user. Uh, love that. Okay. And the team has dropped that, um, brilliant episode with Keith and a couple of college of Charleston students in the comments. Okay. We’ve got one more story to get to today. Kelly and Greg and this pro perhaps is one that is universally relatable, right? Cause as all of us are consumers, all of us navigating through these last couple years, um, you know, we’ve had to make some decisions when it comes to inflation and shortages product shortages in particular, uh, impacting brands of all, uh, all sorts and consumers again have had to make a lot of tough and new decisions according to this article from the wall street journal.

Scott Luton (00:52:14):

So Kelly tee it up. What are we talking about here?

Kelly Barner (00:52:17):

So historically the best defense against the effects of inflation on consumer goods was brand loyalty. The problem is when you combine prices going up because of inflation with, uh, supply shortages because of supply chain disruptions, it’s not enough. The brand loyalty is not enough. And so we got some really interesting information about the behavioral change that consumers have embraced over the last couple of years. Um, 70% of us shoppers say that they tried at least one brand new during the pandemic. And as of today, Kroger actually ran this study 90% of consumers. If they get to the store and they don’t have their brand of product, they don’t wait and come back. They don’t try to go someplace else. They pick a different brand. And a lot of it just comes down to, to inventory. Greg, you and I started kind of exchanging about this on link di this morning that even if your item is in stock, on the shelf between 72 to 85% of the time, you are losing a share of the customer’s wallet. It’s apparently what was the percent you had Greg it’s incredibly high. How in stock your product has to be?

Greg White (00:53:27):

Yeah, I mean, it, it has to be about 98% in, in stock to, to be available. That’s really, especially for the fast moving consumer goods, your Cheerios, Hines, ketchup, you know, milk. Yeah. Eggs, things like that. So, uh, it, the, the expect of the consumer for those particular items has always been extremely high, which is why margins in the grocery industry yeah. Are so tight to begin

Kelly Barner (00:53:52):

With, but the pandemic changed us as shoppers. Now we know there’s no reason to wait cuz no one else is gonna have it either. Right? I might as well just buy some other brand of, of cereal, but of course companies are also responding. So this all kind of kicks off a cycle, we’re willing to buy anything. So companies are saying, all right, rather than lose share of consumer wallet, I’d rather produce less varieties, less pack sizes, less, you know, different kinds of things. I’m gonna have way less skews, but they’re going to be in stock closer to that 98% of the time.

Scott Luton (00:54:24):

So whatever you do, whatever you do, fake Oreos don’t work. You gotta have the real deal. You can substitute plenty of things, Greg, but I can taste a fake Oreo from three miles away. Don’t try to fool anybody with that. Right, Greg,

Greg White (00:54:40):

I think we’ve had the discussion right here, Scott, about Hydrox cookies. And um, while I do not to cry them, they are not my style. And, and I have implored the great supply chain master Sandra McQuillan to assure that that Oreos are constantly on shelf on the shelf. She’s the chief supply chain officer at Mondelez. She has done hell of a job in every store that I have been in, but I want to, I want to say again, keep up the good work, please. If only for those of us who love those disgusting, hardly food and totally delicious cookies. Um, but yeah, I mean I think, you know, the thing we have to think about and you know, I’m a retailer, so I’m used to looking at this from the consumer and the retail angle and um, that in stock percentage is it used to just be the retailer’s brand equity that it was at play then, oh, you know, Kroger is out or oh, Publix or Wegmans or, you know, rays, Roys, whatever, uh, is out.

Greg White (00:55:45):

Um, but now can see all the way through the supply chain. And we talked about this a lot last week and it’s a matter of fact, purely coincidentally, I talked about this with Reese’s the Hershey company in my supply chain summary today. And a couple thousand people have, have viewed and, and talked about it in the last four hours. But, um, uh, you know, the supply chain is so unintentionally, it’s transparent now that people know that it is, you know, he’s fault craft he’s fault. Who in the article that we were talking, we were talking about acknowledge that they had some, some difficulties keeping products on the shelf, not just theirs, you know, there’s, there are shortages of vegetables from around the world, obviously shipping backlogs and things like that. And, but companies have, uh, really changed their perspective. Having been a merchandiser before being in supply chain, the person who selects the products and how many of those products we might buy from craft.

Greg White (00:56:50):

Heines or whomever previously, when someone would present us with new products, we would select about 70% of those products. Now retailers, and present it with the opportunity to add skews, add items to their product mix. They’re rejecting 70% of those items and saying, we’re gonna stay with the core. Yeah. That’s that provides the volume, the stability, um, you know, and the production volumes that allow us to count on it being in and the profit that we can count on because we don’t want to take a risk on putting something on valuable shelf space that may not sell. Hmm. Right. Blood orange, uh, Oreos could be a risk,

Scott Luton (00:57:35):

Major, risk, major risk, and very valuable

Greg White (00:57:39):

Oreos is a risk as far as I’m concerned. But I do applaud the, the variations, um, that then people who’ve commented on my commentary of have identified a few. Yep. Um, I think Larry Young is fine. As long as kit cats are in stock. Yes. So that that’s,

Scott Luton (00:57:57):

We mess with kit, cats chain

Greg White (00:57:59):

Go to,

Scott Luton (00:57:59):

Right. It’s a really quick, we’re talking about this article via the wall street journal brand loyalty takes a hit from inflation and, and shortages, and we’re all dealing with it as consumers. And of course, uh, enterprises are figuring out different ways of protecting the resources. They do have to ma maximize and optimize the products are putting on that valuable store shelf space. Okay. We’re gotta leave it there. Cause I wanna get to, uh, next steps with both of y’all. But first folks, we, I, we got a big thing to celebrate today. Big thing. Our dear friend Enrique Alvarez is in the cheap seats here today. And after three year after only three years of having invited him to be my friend today, he accepted my Facebook friend invite. So Enrique, Facebook, really?

Greg White (00:58:43):

Yeah.

Scott Luton (00:58:44):

Okay. No, we’re we’re like second cousins on already. Right? Uh, and now we’re, we’re Facebook officials. So Enrique, great to see here. He says some companies trader Joe’s do a good job with the vanilla ones though. Question mark. I’ll

Greg White (00:58:57):

Just their own brand, their own brand of sandwich cookies is

Scott Luton (00:58:59):

That I

Kelly Barner (00:59:00):

Think they only sell their own brand of stuff.

Greg White (00:59:02):

Yeah, that’s right. That’s right.

Scott Luton (00:59:03):

I I’m you, we were just there Sunday, the trader Joe’s and Athens. And I’m not sure Amanda is there. I’m sure she can tell us, but I believe trader Joe’s does some licensing and, and does some white labeling, but who knows? Uh, um, we’ll find out really quick. So Kelly, you have got, um, not only did you get the call, uh, and we’re folks, we’re gonna go over just a couple minutes here today. Um, you got the call from the team here. Holy natural dial P is back for season two. Uh, it’s setting the market on fire season one. We had everybody including, uh, paramount plus calling us for, uh, the rights to put it in their channel. I’m only kidding. I told

Kelly Barner (00:59:41):

Them, get out your wallet.

Scott Luton (00:59:43):

Sorry. All those attorneys at paramount. I’m just, just kidding. I promise. But kidding aside, it’s been well received. We’ve got tons of feedback, tons of consumption, tons, tons of, um, even anecdotal feedback from the market. Season two is here. So tell us about what’s going on with dial P for procurement.

Kelly Barner (00:59:59):

So the big thing is we’re now we right, every single Thursday, a new episode hits the next two this week coming out. Uh, it’s everything you ever wanted to know and more about how inflation works, why it’s caused, where we’re going with it. Um, so definitely check that out. And then the Thursday after really in good interview, in fact, Greg, you gonna wanna hear this one? I spoke to a guy named Jeffrey Goldstein. His job is that he is boots on the ground in China for Western based companies who cannot get there to be, to work with their suppliers. And his background is in ethics. So very interesting interview with him, definitely pushed against some, some edges of asking some really tough questions, but there was a lot to learn from talking to him in that interview.

Greg White (01:00:50):

I bet he learned a lot about ethics in China.

Kelly Barner (01:00:54):

I have a feeling and he obviously couldn’t say everything right. We had conversation on camera and

Greg White (01:00:59):

Obligated, not to I’m sure.

Scott Luton (01:01:01):

Stop. Come on, uh, get with the program, lay it all out there. Be Frank with us. Nah, I’m kidding. Of course. Well looking forward to that and love

Greg White (01:01:09):

That. Yeah, that is fantastic. Also. I mean, I think both of those are really compelling issues. None of us understand inflation. I literally, I mean, again, last week, the more I think about that, the more compelled that that meeting was met with economists who completely baffled by what’s going on with inflation recession, whatever’s going on. So any insight that you can get take it. Uh, so I appreciate you putting that out there also. Absolutely.

Scott Luton (01:01:38):

So folks sign up for dial P for procurement, wherever you get your, uh, from it’s in it’s own channel now. So if you want all procurement all the time, weekly episodes and content thought leadership been there, done that, uh, with practitioner perspective, check out, dial P for procurement, Greg you’re make

Greg White (01:01:57):

Sure people see the phone. Kelly. Yeah.

Scott Luton (01:01:59):

Where’s that phone?

Greg White (01:02:00):

Yeah, it’s right back there. I see it

Scott Luton (01:02:02):

There it’s IY something. Okay. Um, let’s also, let’s also talk about this upcoming event. You’ve got, uh, uh, coming up, uh, April 14th and look it’s at 10:00 AM. 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM. Oh, just kidding. It’s all. That’s the same time. Kelly’s like, wait a second. We’re doing free shows. No, no. Uh, but Kelly, talk about this, uh, free live event with our friend, uh, Jeanette.

Kelly Barner (01:02:27):

Yeah. So, um, she asked me, why don’t you come do this live event? We’re gonna let people ask you anything they want about inflation. And I thought uhoh so really what you’re getting on this Thursday’s dial P is they boiled down all of the research I had to do. It’s been a very long time since I was in business school. So I went all the way back to the beginning. I dug through everything. I’ve been reading every single business article. I can find about inflation. I’m gonna do my best to answer all of those questions, but this Thursday’s dial P is sort of like encapsulated all the most interesting stuff that I pulled together. And I will tell you little teaser, the main source of inflation is us. Hmm that’s that’s my little teaser inflation is a self-fulfilling prophecy. So definitely both checkout DLP on Thursday and join Jeanette. And I, and I, if you can, on 14,

Scott Luton (01:03:18):

Well, doesn’t really surprise of me because if Lil laughing dog on a coin can drive, you know, the popularity of that can wait a second.

Greg White (01:03:26):

Cancel all my Amazon orders, please.

Scott Luton (01:03:29):

I was about to say either Greg’s got a really important call or that’s my cue that he’s got something to add dramatically

Kelly Barner (01:03:36):

Ringing.

Scott Luton (01:03:39):

Don’t Greg told miss what would be a great event. April 14th. I think the Link’s already been dropped into comments. Yes. Uh, Jeanette has been with us on doop P previous had a chance to meet her and she’s a dynamo just like Kelly B. So y’all check. She’s amazing back out. Uh, before we talk about Greg Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, his supply chain summaries. A great one again today. Let’s say look, just, let’s take a couple quick comments. I’m gonna wrap with Greg Victor. Heck yeah. Says only coffee from MCDS these days. He’s gotta treat my body more as a temple,

Greg White (01:04:09):

Uh, Victor, unless like a tent. That’s

Scott Luton (01:04:11):

Right. That is right. Victor I’m with you. Uh, T square says gen Xers are also missing from the workforce, but job quality is a major factor. Excellent point. Uh, Greg and Kelly Boward speaking towards that, uh, and he adds that job mismatch misalignment is also a factor. Excellent point.

Greg White (01:04:30):

I can verify that. Uh, if you are older than 55 this year, you are a gen Xer. Hey, if you were older than 55 last year, you were a boom.

Scott Luton (01:04:44):

Okay. So,

Greg White (01:04:45):

Well, there you go.

Scott Luton (01:04:46):

There you go. It’s official. It is Greg white official here today.

Greg White (01:04:49):

Believe me, I checked for that line, especially when that okay. Boomer thing came out. I was really looking for that line.

Scott Luton (01:04:55):

I dare anybody to use that phrase, uh, with our, our team here. Um, right. So Jose, uh, is talking about trader Joe here and talking about lots of weight, white labeling. So excellent point there, Jose, sorry to miss you. Jose was in Atlanta with Mox and, and uh, I believe we missed him there. We’ll have to have you on a future episode, Jose, but great to see you. Um, there was something here I thought from, I thought Enrique had responded to my, uh, my, my Facebook mention, but I think maybe

Kelly Barner (01:05:26):

He was sharing that he also is team chicken nugget.

Scott Luton (01:05:28):

Oh yes, that’s right. Uh, if S Sylvia says that is Enrique about the, the three year lapse between the invite and the accept it’s there. Uh, Mohe just noticed that supply chain now reach 50,000 followers on LinkedIn. Wow. So thank you, uh, to all of y’all. I mean, that’s, it is very rewarding, right? Um, Mohe says those of us who have been following you since less than 5,000, expecting one of those $1 nasty coffee gift cards as a token of brand loyalty, it’s

Kelly Barner (01:06:00):

Not nasty.

Scott Luton (01:06:01):

That is so funny. I can warm up

Greg White (01:06:03):

With their coffee Mohe. Next, next time. I’m in Wichita. I will buy you a cup of coffee. All right.

Kelly Barner (01:06:07):

From

Scott Luton (01:06:07):

Donald’s

Greg White (01:06:08):

Maybe even lunch.

Scott Luton (01:06:10):

So let’s Greg let’s book that trip. Let let’s take, uh, let’s take you and me and maybe a videographer head to Wichita. Let’s sit down and, and, and maybe we can, I’d love to sit down with, uh, some of the maintainers from McConnell air force base and get their take, maybe on an episode of veteran voices with, uh, Mary Kay. And we can talk with some of the supply chain, uh, entrepreneurial, you name it, some of the stuff. Yeah.

Greg White (01:06:33):

I mean, Wichita state has a supply chain master’s program now, so we could meet with the, the, the leaders of that as well. Let’s let, let’s it. Maybe even get a sit down with Rick MoMA. Love it. President of WITA state levy, outstanding guy

Scott Luton (01:06:48):

Own a jet plane. Uh, I’ll finish that next week, uh, at the buzz here, but you have to Greg. Uh, no, no. Uh, but let’s talk about really quick as we wrap here one oh it or a couple minutes over Monday, Wednesday and Friday supply chain summaries, uh, um, you don’t fake the funk ever. You always bring it. You bring what folks need to know. You bring the real story, not the popular narrative that some PR team somewhere in, you know, corner office, somewhere around the world wants you to know, wants you to think, you know, you’re bringing the real stuff. So tell, tell us about what your angle is every Monday, Wednesday, Friday on LinkedIn,

Greg White (01:07:26):

E E every, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I, I get an article and, and if I don’t discuss specifically the topic in the article, which seems frequent more frequent lately, doesn’t it Scott it’s, at least the article is an igniter of ideas or thoughts, maybe on a broader perspective around what’s going on in supply chain or over the last few weeks, occasionally the world. Um, as we talk about, um, the illegal dictator of, of Russia and his, uh, unchecked aggression, um, usually, and, and even then it’s, it’s often a topic of how that impacts supply chain or how supply chain impacts, uh, situations like that, which I became, again, more keenly aware of last week at the, at the upstate international conference. But, um, every, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I want to just take some opportunity to enlighten people, to help them think, to help them learn, have some hope, maybe even some forewarning about what is coming. I am a firm believer in forewarned is forearmed. And I think that’s a critical aspect that has been missing as we use all of the things being equal too often in supply chain. And we all know that all of the things are never equal. So, um, you know, really what I wanna do is just help inspire, inform enlighten people, uh, in, in, and about supply chain. When, when I give a commentary on some of these articles,

Scott Luton (01:08:56):

You enlighten should start with an eye too, then you’d be on something, you know,

Greg White (01:09:00):

You know, there’s another eye that I use frequently, and I cannot remember what it is,

Scott Luton (01:09:04):

Fire and fire. Well, don’t miss it. Don’t miss it. Make sure you follow or connect with Greg on, on LinkedIn. Of course, he’s on Twitter, he’s across all social. And of course you can find here on supply chain now along the same veins, uh, veins in same vein, I don’t know, Kelly, Kelly Barner, uh, where can folks connect with you? And then we’re gonna rap.

Kelly Barner (01:09:26):

Definitely LinkedIn is the best place to find me. And also definitely Reed. Greg’s three times a week summaries. I respect the fact that it’s not a ton of words, but is a ton of meeting and ideas. So real easy to read real hard to think about. Definitely don’t miss them.

Scott Luton (01:09:45):

Love it. Thanks gal. You bet. Lot of good stuff there. All right. So, and Rick Kay did respond. He respond to guys. He respond, oh, uh, count me in texting one day.

Kelly Barner (01:09:55):

Now

Scott Luton (01:09:55):

We’re real friends. I promise. Wow. It’s official. Uh, no. Enrique is also all about that truck to Wichita. So who knows? Uh, he says he’s never on Facebook seriously. Yeah,

Greg White (01:10:05):

That would be awesome.

Scott Luton (01:10:06):

Wouldn’t it though? Wouldn’t it though? Yeah. He says he is never on Facebook and he was catch catching up on his invites in the last five years. Uh, so I, I can only imagine, uh, Enrique, but Hey, kidding aside. Join this Wednesday 3:00 PM. Eastern time, as we mentioned, uh, leveraging logistics and supply chain for our friends in Ukraine and beyond, uh, April 6th, 3:00 PM. And we’ve got the link for that in the comments as well. Okay. We gotta leave it there. Kelly. We

Greg White (01:10:32):

Do. How did we go so far over? I mean it,

Scott Luton (01:10:34):

Well, think about, we talked pizza, we talked Mickey, we talked taxes and we talked lots and lots of supply chains. So we had, and we enjoyed each other’s company and a ton of folks in the sky, uh, sky boxes here today. It’s a perfect formula for going over, but Hey, be sure folks join us back next Monday, 12 noon Eastern time, never late. Right on time with stuff. You need to know some new stories, leading developments across global, uh, industry, really the supply chain buzz. Uh, big thanks to Kelly Barner. Big, thanks to Greg white. Again, big. Thanks to Catherine. Amanda Chantelle, all the folks behind the scenes to help make this production happen. Uh, thanks to all y’all coming out. We had a ton of comments we couldn’t get to here today. Safe travel, wherever you are, have a wonderful wonderful week and whatever you do folks on behalf of our entire team here, do good give forward and be the change that’s needed on that note. We see next time, right back here on supply chain. Thanks.

Intro/Outro (01:11:29):

Thanks for being a part of our supply chain. Now community check out all of our programming@supplychainnow.com and make sure you subscribe to supply chain. Now anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. See you next time on supply chain. Now.