UPS Gearing Up for Incredible Bulk?

UPS Gearing Up for Incredible Bulk?

May 14, 2018
Lisa M. Spencer

UPS is the world’s largest package deliverer, and it is on the brink of entering into home delivery of large, heavy packages.

In a significant strategic shift,  talks are in the works with potential delivery partner Werner Enterprises to help UPS compete in this area, possibly by year end.

Delivery of these purchases is now one of the fastest growing segments of online retail, and UPS wants a piece of the action. Younger consumers in particular want to buy their furniture online.  UPS currently has a maximum weight of 150 pounds for home delivery, but partnering with Werner would enable UPS to deliver for online retailers like Amazon, Wayfair, Ikea, and Target that are trying to compete with companies like Crate and Barrel and big-box stores.

This post is based on the CNBC article, UPS weighs strategy to deliver bulky goods to boost growth, by Andrew Harrar, May 2, 2018. Image source: © McGraw-Hill Education/Andrew Resek.

Discussion Questions:

1. How and why is UPS’s operation’s strategy changing?

Guidance: In the past, investing in speeding up its package-sorting operations has been a key strategy for UPS as it focuses on keeping its costs down.  UPS Continue reading →

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Recalls in the Food Chain

Recalls in the Food Chain

May 13, 2018
Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.

Problems in the delivery of safe food have been an issue this spring.  Over 200 million eggs were recalled in April over salmonella fears, and earlier in May, Kroger recalled over 35,000 pounds of ground beef contaminated with hard pieces of plastic.

But we’d have to say that one item has gone to the head of the list: Romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli.

The CDC has traced the problem to romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, Arizona area.  The recall includes all kinds of romaine lettuce, whether chopped, whole head, or lettuce included in salad mix.

Basically, check that your romaine wasn’t grown in Yuma until the situation is under control.

This post is based on the Washington Post article, 22 States Now Affected by Dangerous Outbreak of E. Coli Illness From Romaine Lettuce, by Lena H. Sun and Joel Achenbach, April 27, 2018. Image source: (c) George Doyle & Ciaran Griffin.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the characteristics that should drive a recall (especially one involving food)?

Guidance: Timeliness is important as people’s lives might be at stake.  Immediate information is important.  In this case contaminated food is a health risk. Continue reading →

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