CBA & General Mills Chiefs Call for Office of Supply Chain
The heads of the Consumer Brands Association and General Mills published a joint piece in Fortune calling for the creation of a U.S. Office of Supply Chain.
Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills, noted that the U.S. CPG industry has dramatically ramped up production to meet the historic consumer demand spurred by the spread of the coronavirus.
While they support the CDC recommendations limiting gatherings, they note that a lack of uniformity and consistency in application of these recommendations is placing the industry’s ability to respond to consumer needs at risk.
The pair ask for all state and local governments to embrace the Department of Homeland Security’s standards for critical infrastructure. They also state the importance of keeping freight systems and the global supply chain operational and efficient.
They write: “Now more than ever, we need a central clearinghouse that oversees all elements of a high-functioning supply chain. We ask the administration to create an Office of Supply Chain to coordinate the work of federal agencies and state and local governments that are making decisions about the movement of goods as this crisis evolves. As more and more Americans are asked to self-quarantine, work from home, avoid mass gatherings, and observe bans or curfews, easing constraints on the supply chain will help ensure that necessary products get to consumers as quickly as possible.”
