Supply Chain
MicroStar Logistics | March 10, 2023
MicroStar Logistics, one of the global leaders in outsourced keg management solutions, announced the expansion into new international markets through its Kegstar Division. MicroStar maintains a total float of more than 6 million kegs and is the sole player to offer seamless global solutions to large international brewers.
Since MicroStar's 2021 acquisition of Kegstar, its international fleet of premium European-made kegs has increased to over one million, with global reach in North America, the UK, Western Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, MicroStar is the only pay-per-fill supplier to support international partners it continues to support its expansion of significant keg float. As a result, UK and European breweries can now take advantage of Kegstar's growing network of export markets, which opens up growth opportunities and lets breweries avoid inefficient empty keg returns and less-than-ideal single-use plastic options.
Kegstar customers can now access MicroStar's TAP keg management system. This eliminates the unnecessary need to scan or keep track of kegs. In addition, Doug Mellem, who formerly oversaw MicroStar's commercial activities in North America, will relocate to Sydney and assume the position of General Manager for Kegstar in Australia/New Zealand. Doug's leadership in the United States and in-depth knowledge of its model will further enable Kegstar to provide breweries with the benefits they value.
President, Kegstar Division, and Microstar’s longtime CFO, Bryan Place, said, “In North America, MicroStar serves some of the largest and most sophisticated brewers in the industry by providing them proven keg supply chain solutions that increase operational efficiency and quality while delivering the lowest total cost of ownership." He also added, "I am personally excited to leverage this market-leading expertise outside of the U.S.”
(Source – GlobeNewswire)
About MicroStar Logistics
MicroStar Logistics offers circular, outsourced supply chain solutions for the beer industry. The company was founded in 1996 and delivers highly efficient and sustainable shared keg programs, with over 6 million stainless steel kegs, including MicroStar-branded kegs in the US and Kegstar-branded kegs globally. In addition, its Network Services Division manages reusable assets such as returnable plastic pallets. At the same time, its Quality Services division ensures maximum utilization of finite resources by extending the life of reusable assets.
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Logistics
Inspectorio | March 09, 2023
Inspectorio, a cloud-based SaaS solution provider and a supplier performance management platform powered by AI, has recently expanded its all-in-one supply chain sustainability and compliance solution, Inspectorio Rise. The solution provides suppliers, retailers and brands with a centralized platform to make production transparent, efficient and beneficial for people and the planet.
Inspectorio Rise facilitates the management and streamlining of due diligence and reporting processes and offers insights for making evidence-based decisions in response to new business challenges. With an increase in environmental and social regulations worldwide, such as the European Due Diligence Directive and the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, global companies must adapt to the new context by ensuring compliance and expanding sustainability throughout the supply chain.
Inspectorio Rise enables retailers, brands, and suppliers to manage their end-to-end compliance, sustainability, and responsible sourcing activities. The platform allows collaboration with more than 8,000 supply chain partners on a single platform, simplifying data collection and sharing by eliminating manual work. In addition, it facilitates supply chain mapping to increase visibility and transparency and identify potential risks.
Additionally, the solution provider centralizes supply chain communications and collaboration to manage sustainability, and compliance documentation, data collection, analytics, reporting, and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans across teams, departments, and partners, creating a sustainable ecosystem. It lets customers set standards for document control, environmental data collection, and GHG emissions calculation. Automated workflows enable digital collaboration while securing and governing data.
About Inspectorio
Founded in 2015, Inspectorio is a cloud-based SaaS solution provider that helps brands, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers manage risk through digitalized compliance, quality, and production tracking programs. It aims to build an interconnected, sustainable and transparent supply chain. The company is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is used by more than 7000 customers, including the top brands and retailers worldwide. In addition, it provides brands, retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers with the means to predict high-risk areas and automate risk-based interventions throughout the supply chain.
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Freight
Fourkites, Inc. | March 08, 2023
FourKites, one of the leading supply chain visibility platforms globally, recently released in its new survey that ocean freight stakeholders are under pressure in 2023 from geopolitical influences, changing economic conditions and labor challenges after a turbulent three years for global supply chains.
The survey polled more than 350 supply chain professionals to illuminate the most critical issues confronting the ocean shipping industry. The last few years of supply chain disruptions, including market volatility, COVID-19, global political conflict, material shortages, and extreme weather events, have prompted 73% of respondents to invest in supply chain visibility, with 46% planning to increase investment in 2023.
Additionally, the survey finding includes over 20% of respondents rely on manual track-and-trace processes to track their ocean freight, while 50% have no visibility into their ocean freight. Over half of the respondents were concerned about labor issues, high shipping costs, and customer service, with 35% found to be also concerned about port congestion, and 73% had visibility into their over-the-road shipping.
The survey results have been compiled in a report titled The Great Reset: Ocean Shipping in a Post-Pandemic World. The report contains an expert analysis of the current state of ocean shipping, forecasts for 2023, and strategies for shippers to fortify their supply chains to build future resilience.
About Fourkites, Inc.
FourKites, Inc. based in Chicago (Illinois), is the leading supply chain visibility platform worldwide, extending visibility beyond transportation into yards, warehouses, stores and more. The company tracks more than 3 million daily shipments across the road, rail, ocean, air, parcel, and last mile and reaches over 200 countries and territories. It combines real-time data and powerful machine learning to assist businesses in digitizing their end-to-end supply chains. Additionally, over 1200 world’s top brands, including 9 out of the top 10 CPG and 18 of the top 20 food and beverage companies, have been trusting FourKites as a platform to transform their business and create swifter, sustainable and more efficient supply chains.
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