References to supply chain and logistics within the filings of food manufacturers were more than two-thirds higher in the year to September 2021 than in 2016, according to newly-published analysis from GlobalData.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In the 12 months from October 2020 to September 2021, there was a 68% increase in how often the topic was mentioned by food manufacturers, compared to 2016, when GlobalData first began to track the key issues referred to in companies’ filings.

To assess whether supply chain and logistics is featuring more in the summaries and strategies of food manufacturers, GlobalData calculates two measures. It looked at the percentage of companies that have mentioned supply chain and logistics at least once in filings during the past twelve months – this was 88% compared to 77% in 2016. The research group also calculated the percentage of sentences that referred to supply chain and logistics.

Of the 50 biggest employers among the food manufacturers analysed, UK private-label supplier Bakkavor was the company that referred to supply chain and logistics the most between October 2020 and September 2021. GlobalData identified 63 related sentences in the company’s filings – 1.7% of all sentences. US group Hormel Foods mentioned supply chain and logistics the second-most often – the issue was referred to in 1.4% of sentences in the company's filings. Other top employers with a high  number of mentions included Mondelez International Inc and Turkey’ Yildiz Holding.

Across the food manufacturers analysed, the filing published in the third quarter of 2021 that exhibited the greatest focus on supply chain and logistics came from Australia-based nutrition group Blackmores. Of the document’s 1,650 sentences, 32 (1.9%) referred to supply chain and logistics.

In the third quarter of 2021, food manufacturers based in Oceania were most likely to mention supply chain and logistics with 1% of sentences in company filings referring to the issue. In contrast, companies with their headquarters in Asia mentioned supply chain and logistics in 0.35% of sentences.

When food manufacturers publish annual and quarterly reports, ESG reports and other filings, GlobalData analyses the text and identifies individual sentences that relate to disruptive forces facing companies in the coming years. Supply chain and logistics is one of these topics – companies that excel and invest in these areas are thought to be better prepared for the future business landscape and better equipped to survive unforeseen challenges.

This analysis provides an approximate indication of which food manufacturers are focusing on supply chain and logistics and how important the issue is considered within the beverages industry. However, a company mentioning the topic more regularly is not necessarily proof that they are using new techniques or prioritising the issue, nor does it indicate whether a manufacturer’s efforts have been successes or failures.