Afternoon Coffee Content

The country's biggest grocer has partnered up with a Texas cattle rancher and other businesses in its meat business. The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) and the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) — have entered into a collaboration aimed at bringing resources to shippers who want to optimize their supply chains. And construction company Bechtel has taken legal recourse to get the decision to give the £1.1 billion Old Oak station job in London, U.K., to the Balfour Beatty team reversed. Afternoon Coffee: always on the lookout for "good" — and "bad" — procurement news.

Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of 150 industry groups, called on President Trump in a letter earlier this week to end tariffs after a China trade deal is reached. Amazon announced the Key to Garage service earlier this year, but it’s now available for Prime customers to install in their homes. And IndustryWeek takes a look at Gartner's Top Supply Chains of 2018. Afternoon Coffee: get some procurement and supply chain news into your cup.

Kraft Heinz Co. named a new chief executive "amid weak sales and a federal investigation into the food giant’s procurement practices," reports the WSJ. Many federal agencies have changed their acquisition strategies in order to engage small businesses and the innovation community in a better manner. And Rutgers University and the Supply Chain Management Association team up. Afternoon Coffee: your source for procurement and supply chain news.

Workspend, a New Jersey-based managed service provider (MSP), has announced that it has acquired DCR Workforce’s MSP business. Reuters reports that the United States is set to ask buyers of Iranian oil to end imports soon or face sanctions themselves. And Japan’s defense minister has said his country was still firm on plans to buy the F-35A stealth fighter from the U.S., despite a crash of one of the jets a few days ago. Afternoon Coffee: hope you're reading this latest procurement and supply chain news at Chotchkie's on this Monday.

IT admins across the enterprise will now be able to wield more control over accessibility of apps, thanks to Google Private Catalog. A controversial bill that may give Duke Energy the leeway to hike rates multiple times in the next five years has been passed by the North Carolina Senate committee. And Volkswagen will now be part of a global blockchain-based supply network that includes Ford and IBM for responsible sourcing of strategic minerals, including cobalt. Afternoon Coffee: grab a cup and have a great weekend.

Aviation parts supplier Honeywell International Inc has been examining the revenue potential of supplying parts to Boeing’s next major aircraft program. Shiftgig, the Chicago-headquartered, digital platform-based intermediary that connects workers and local hospitality and event businesses, announced that it plans to become a pure-play technology business. And Walmart and HSBC come together on a sustainable supply chain finance program. Afternoon Coffee: shift to decaf if you must, but get your procurement and supply chain news here.

Beeline, the global vendor management system (VMS) provider, and Workspend, a managed service provider (MSP), have inked a partnership. Pipeline Talent Solutions has also announced a partnership with VectorVMS to offer clients a more flexible, seamless approach to strategic workforce program management. Koble has “undergone a bit of an exciting transformation," and Apple Inc continues its Project Titan by being on the lidar lookout. Afternoon Coffee: better late than never.

Turkey's defense minister adopts a conciliatory tone over a recent purchase. Coupa Software is buying Exari to gain its best-of-breed contract lifecycle management (CLM) offering, Coupa announced this morning. And TA Services’ acquisition of the Indianapolis-headquartered Celadon Logistics Services is now complete. Afternoon Coffee: your source for procurement and supply chain news.

TeleSense, an IoT technology solutions provider for grain storage, today said it had acquired Danish wireless sensor company Webstech. Spend Matters analyst Michael Lamoureux had boots on the ground at Europe’s version of Ivalua NOW and shares his findings. And Facebook shipped Oculus controllers with hidden messages. Afternoon Coffee: your source for procurement and supply chain news.

From the time it was enforced back in February 2018, the Bridgestone Group's Global Sustainable Procurement Policy has seen steady movement, according to a top executive. The world’s second-largest supermarket chain by sales, Albertsons Companies, now wants to improve its tracking of the farm-to-store supply of food. And an Amazon logistics service could be on the horizon. Afternoon Coffee: grab one more before the weekend.

Apple’s eventual goal is to ensure its entire supply chain ends up using clean energy. Tough times could be ahead for U.S. coal exporters. Ivalua, a spend management cloud solution provider, has announced a new range of products powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at its European event Ivalua Now. Meanwhile, more and more automotive companies are abandoning AI research in their vehicles. Afternoon Coffee: get a cup and catch up (on the news).

US sanctions depleted Venezuela's oil production to a new low last month, according to OPEC. Boeing failed to book any commercial orders for the best-selling passenger jet through March. And automaker Mercedes-Benz has two major investments in the works. Afternoon Coffee: your source for procurement and supply chain news.