Big chains think global, but act local
Whether it is the Seafood Pizza from Dominos in Vietnam, the Criollo, the Argentinian version of the Whopper, or paneer-filled fajitas from Taco Bell in India, big fast food chains are taking the idea of thinking “local” to a whole new level. Most recently, McDonald’s announced a partnership with Barilla, an Italian pasta brand. The goal is to adapt the menu to the Italian culture. McDonald’s branches in Italy will now serve a pasta salad which will include tuna, tomatoes, peppers, capers and olives. This is not McDonald’s first attempt at trying to localize a menu the chain offers the Shogun burger in Hong Kong as well as the McArabia chicken burger in some Gulf States. Sourcing from local suppliers makes economic sense and allows restaurant-goers to experience more of the local culture. This has created a trend of big chain brands providing local specialties.
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ASOS recalls radioactive belts
Much like Tesco during the horse meat scandal, ASOS, an online fashion and beauty shop, has taken a hit to its reputation after selling belts that tested positive for Cobalt-60. According to the Guardian, these belts can pose health risks if worn for more than 500 hours. For this reason, the belts have been recalled by ASOS. A total of 49 radioactive belts were sold worldwide across 14 countries and it is still unclear as to how many belts have been returned. The belts were supplied to ASOS by Haq International, a supplier located in India that ASOS has used for about one year. According to the article, this is a common occurrence in India as metals become contaminated during the refining process. This article once again stresses the importance of transparency across the entire supply chain.
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Supply Chain expert FedEx turns to Social Media to keep customers happy
A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog entry about how social media is impacting the supply chain. A perfect example of this is laid out in Social Media Today where they present how FedEx is using social media to improve and enhance its customer service. Integrating social media into the company’s customer service policy has allowed FedEx to optimize its engagement time. By tracking online conversations, FedEx is able to respond to issues and provide follow up assistance within minutes. The customer service team interacts daily with customers that are initiating conversations across the various social platforms.
Click here to find out more about how FedEx is using Social Media to optimize its customer service.
Have a great weekend!
