Supply Chain & Merchandising

Disruption. A characterization of Coca-Cola's lower tech, but startling entry into fluid milk with its Fairlife brand -- presenting the potential to upend how business is done in the dairy case, but also in other highly commoditized supermarket categories like meat and produce.

The innovation engine for many companies is clearly sputtering. While improving consumer insight and portfolio management discipline is a clear necessity, Accenture believes equal focus should be put on improving R&D operations to become more effective and efficient.

J.M. Smucker Co. revealed a series of key executive promotions that will position the company for continued growth and success following its recent acquisition of Big Heart Pet Brands.

Global brewer Molson Coors Europe has selected Symphony EYC Assortment Management to compete more effectively by utilizing insights from performance data to generate sales opportunities for its retailer partners.

SC Johnson will acquire Deb Group, a global industrial company focused on hygiene and skin care systems for the industrial, commercial, healthcare and food markets.

Cole Haan will open its Innovation & Sports Lifestyle Design Center at its global headquarters in Greenland, New Hampshire, enabling the brand to aggressively expand its offering of ZeroGrand products for men and women.

The partnership with FLOCERT will provide a system to verify the Cocoa Life supply chain, completing the Cocoa Life verification framework alongside the Harvard University research team evaluating the program impact on the ground, announced in June 2014.

Mars Chocolate North America announces that all 10 of its manufacturing facilities are now certified landfill-free, representing a significant milestone in achieving Mars goal of zero-waste-to-landfill by 2015.