Supply Chain by the Numbers for Week of Nov. 16 2012

Supply Chain by the Numbers

- Nov. 16, 2012

Will Consumers Pay More for Made in USA? Stock Up on Twinkies; Ryder Rides on with Natural Gas Trucks; Looking for Two Pallets of Apple iPad Minis



10-60%
Amount of price premium US consumers are will to pay on average for "made in USA goods" versus Chinese made goods, across 10 categories of products, ranging from baby food to appliances to electronics. This according to new research released this week by Boston Consulting Group. Key to us is that it appears the products had to be labeled "made in U"S and "made in China." The 10-60% is the premium that customers would pay depends on the category, so there was wide variation across product groups. We're getting more details on the data and methodology.

Number of bakery plants snack maker Hostess has shut down in the US over a labor battle. The maker of Twinkies and Home Pride breads claims if it cannot resolve a new labor contract in its favor it will simply go out of business, selling off its brands, bakeries and delivery trucks to someone else. The company does $2.5 billion in business annually. Bakers at a few plants went on strike last week, after they said Hostess insisted that a new contract drop workers' wages by some 8%, after the company had filed for bankruptcy earlier in the year. Hostess has files a petition with the bankruptcy court to allow it to wind itself down.



	6 Million
Number of miles 3PL and truck leasing firm Ryder says its fleet of 250 natural gas powered trucks has now surpassed. Since 2011, when the natural gas truck program began, the vehicles have replaced about 923,000 gallons of diesel fuel with domestically produced natural gas and reduced emissions by more than 2,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. It's coming readers, it is really coming.




$1.5 Million
Approximate worth of the 3600 Apple iPad Minis stolen this week at JFK Airport in New York City. The thieves used one of the airport's forklifts to move two pallets of the iPad Minis into a waiting white tractor trailer marked with the name CEVA (hmm, that seems like a good clue) on the side during the heist. It is believed an accomplice inside the airport let the two thieves inside the secured area. The goods had come in from China for US distribution. Three more pallets were left in the area after an airport employee stumbled on the scene. No arrests yet.