Clothing retailers are turning to rapid response supply chains to deliver a cutting edge – leading to 50 per cent reduction in out-ofstocks and a three per cent improvement in margins. This, along with the rising importance of internet sales, is creating

Supply chain costs as a percentage of revenue are increasing for retailers. A new strategic approach is needed if costs are to be minimised and margins increased. So, what makes a winning retail supply chain?

What will the supply chain of the future look like? How will risks in the supply chain be addressed? Will global sourcing continue unabated? Our ‘Supply Chain Vision Group’ offered their best predictions.

Price deflation, globalisation, rising costs, increasing competition from online operations and supermarkets, and ever-more demanding consumers: it all adds up to an extremely tough trading environment for fashion retailers – but Europe offers significant

Interest in RFID has been preoccupied with stock keeping but signs of a more innovative approach are evolving.

The maxim ‘The customer is king’ has always held true in retailing. The problem is ‘the king’ is now more demanding than ever.

CH Jones has been acquired by Fleetcor, a US fuel supply and management business. Fleetcor has global fuel card aspirations and has selected CH Jones to be part of its global franchise.

Dubai Logistics City the multi-modal integrated logistics platform which is a key component of Dubai World Central which is being developed in Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates,

Hapag-Lloyd is set to begin a new weekly service from Europe to South Africa in October 2006. The South Africa Express service (SAX) will link Felixstowe, Hamburg, Antwerp and Le Havre with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban.

US group Sammons Enterprises has bought the materials handling division of Finning (UK), which distributes Caterpillar equipment. Dallas-based Sammons is one of the world’s largest privately owned companies with assets in excess of US$30 billion.