distribution

Volvo Optimizes Customer Fulfillment for Truck Markets

The Volvo Group is investing in a new regional distribution center (RDC) in Washington state to optimize parts delivery and expand coverage in the northwestern US and Western Canada.

The $37.7 million facility will support dealers of Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Volvo Penta, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

According to Peter Andell, VP of Service Market Logistics for Volvo Group North America, “This facility represents a significant expansion to the Volvo Group’s parts distribution capabilities, allowing us to reduce transportation lead times and […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2026-02-01T09:34:46+00:00February 1, 2026|Tags: distribution, distribution centers, fulfillment, fulfillment centers, tariffs, trucking|

Home Depot’s Investments in Supply Chain Continue to Pay Dividends

Building, construction, and home improvement giant Home Depot continues to see gains from ongoing investments in its supply chain systems.

The company has seen progressive gains in the speed of fulfilling online customer orders, with 55% of deliveries for in-stock SKUs now made either the same day or the next day. That’s more than triple its 2022 amount.

Home Depot has added nearly 200 facilities over the past eight years to fill various roles in its supply chain, including 160 cross-dock facilities […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2026-01-25T04:35:28+00:00January 25, 2026|Tags: artificial intelligence, distribution, fulfillment, inventory, supply chain network design, technology|

Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s End Partnership

Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s have ended their partnership.

The original intent was to have Krispy Kreme doughnuts available at a large number of McDonald’s locations, significantly increasing their product availability. Initial tests in Lexington, Kentucky, were successful, and the rollout was planned to continue through 2026.

However, the partnership ended early, with Krispy Kreme citing “unsustainable operating costs.”

Krispy Kreme changed its production model partly in response to this partnership. Prior to March 2023, Krispy Kreme doughnuts were either prepackaged at its North […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2025-09-11T04:05:17+00:00September 10, 2025|Tags: distribution, product mix, production, quality, supply chain management|

How La-Z-Boy Plans to Improve Operating Margins

Home furnishings giant La-Z-Boy has kicked off a redesign of its distribution network and home delivery program as part of a multi-year growth strategy.

The redesign will lead to a leaner supply chain, helping generate improved operating margins. A large component of the strategy is optimizing its distribution system, which La-Z-Boy refers to as its Century Vision plan. The company plans to complete it in 2027, aligning with its 100^th year of operations.

La-Z-Boy leadership believes changes to distribution and home delivery […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2025-08-07T06:02:37+00:00August 6, 2025|Tags: distribution, logistics, network design, optimization, strategy|