United States

Strategic Sourcing

Kraft Heinz taps Cantillo as NAZ supply chain chief

Kraft Heinz has appointed Alvaro Cantillo as Chief Supply Chain & Procurement Officer – NAZ, according to hrtoday.in. Cantillo brings nearly 30 years of experience and joins from Haleon, where he led North America supply and quality operations supporting approximately $6 billion in sales across five factories, four distribution centers and more than 30 co-packers. He previously spent over four years at Reckitt, leading North American supply operations backing more than $3 billion in annual revenue, and built an 18+ year career at Colgate-Palmolive. Kraft Heinz reports roughly $25 billion in global sales, more than 37,000 employees and operations in over 40 countries.

2026-10-03

Manufacturing

PlusAI to close $800M SPAC merger by year-end

PlusAI expects to close its $800 million SPAC merger with Texas Ventures Acquisition III Corp. by year-end, securing up to $300 million in proceeds—including $60 million in committed financing and a $236 million SPAC trust—to fund operations through 2027. Its HyperFoundry platform generated $25 million in revenue this year and targets $40–$50 million in contracted revenue for 2026. Commercial pilots run daily in Texas with International and Ryder, while OEM partnerships with TRATON, Hyundai, and IVECO pave the way for SuperDrive deployment. Driverless truck commercialization is slated for 2027.

2026-10-02

Technology

CMA CGM acquires FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion

CMA CGM has completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain, gaining control of more than 20 U.S. distribution centers and 13,000 employees. The deal, approved by U.S. antitrust regulators in August 2026, expands CMA CGM’s logistics footprint across North America. FedEx Supply Chain reported $2.1 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year. CMA CGM plans to invest $180 million over two years to upgrade automation and IT systems. Integration is scheduled for completion by end-2026.

2026-10-02

Benchmark Practices

CMA CGM acquires FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4bn

The CMA CGM Group has completed its $1.4bn acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain, unlocking multi-year air and ocean freight agreements with FedEx. The deal triples CEVA Logistics’ North American footprint, adding ~34 million sq ft of warehouse space and expanding operations to over 240 locations with ~20,000 employees. As of 31 May 2025, FedEx operated 698 freighters, while CMA CGM Air Cargo flew five Boeing 777Fs and one Airbus A330-200F. The integration accelerates automation deployment and deepens sector expertise in healthcare, tech, and retail across the US and Canada.

2026-10-02

North America Supply Chain

CMA CGM completes $1.4bn FedEx Supply Chain acquisition

CMA CGM completed its $1.4bn acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain on 1 October 2026, integrating the business into CEVA Logistics. The deal expands CEVA’s North American presence to approximately 150 warehouses and 20,000 employees, adding 34 million square feet of warehouse space. Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM’s chairman and CEO, called it a pivotal step toward integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions. The transaction also includes multi-year commercial agreements, making CMA CGM a preferred ocean carrier for FedEx and enabling air cargo collaboration on Asia-Europe routes.

2026-10-02

Inventory & Fulfillment

Walmart to build $300M Ohio fulfillment center for oversized goods

Walmart plans a $300 million fulfillment center in Turtlecreek Township, Ohio, to handle oversized goods like televisions and furniture. Announced Oct. 1, 2026, the facility will create over 300 jobs and complement Walmart’s existing Monroe, Ohio, site — which employs more than 200 associates. The project follows Walmart’s purchase of nearly 100 acres in Warren County and forms part of its broader warehouse network adjustments in 2026.

2026-10-02

Procurement

Port Houston container volumes edge higher as steel imports surge 54%

Port Houston container volumes edged higher as steel imports surged 54% year on year, lifting total TEU throughput to 1.2 million. Steel now comprises 14.7% of import tonnage, up from 9.8% a year earlier. The port expanded its steel staging area by 28 acres in June 2026 and deployed new cranes and rail siding for 10,000-ton unit trains. Its digital cargo tracking system processes 42,000 steel-related container movements monthly — a 39% rise since January 2026. CEO Ricardo S. Maldonado credited the growth to 18 months of targeted infrastructure and software investments.

2026-10-01

Risk & Resilience

National cargo theft blitz leads to arrests, $635K in recovered freight

A nationwide cargo theft enforcement operation led to 14 arrests and the recovery of $635,000 in stolen freight. Conducted in October 2026, the initiative involved federal and state agencies across seven U.S. states. Cargo theft incidents rose 22% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2026, per NICB data. The operation coincided with the F3: Future of Freight Festival on October 27–28, 2026. Industry groups cited enhanced coordination and real-time risk tools like SONAR as vital to prevention efforts.

2026-10-01

Supply Chain

Ross to build $500M, 1.75M-sq-ft CA distribution center

Ross Stores is building a 1.75 million-square-foot distribution center in Bakersfield, California, backed by a $500 million investment set to break ground in 2027. The facility will be the retailer’s 10th distribution center and is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs. Ross currently operates three other distribution centers in California, plus facilities in Buckeye, Arizona; Brookshire, Texas; Pennsylvania; and two in South Carolina. The project supports Ross’ broader brick-and-mortar expansion, which includes plans for 47 new stores in 2026.

2026-10-01

Supply Chain Finance

US-China Tariff Relief Covers $30B Goods, Alters Logistics Math

The latest U.S.-China tariff agreement covers $30 billion of imports in each direction, with the U.S. listing 77 Chinese product categories and China listing 1,619 U.S. categories. Over 90% of covered Chinese-listed goods may return to most-favored-nation rates, though implementation remains pending. U.S. containerized imports hit 2.6 million TEUs in August, with China contributing 884,000 TEUs — the largest origin but with a declining share. The shift underscores a move from country-level sourcing decisions to SKU- and component-level logistics economics, embedding trade policy directly into freight demand, inventory planning, and network design.

2026-10-01

Inventory & Fulfillment

Amazon plans Kapolei warehouse amid Oahu next-day delivery anniversary

Amazon is planning a new warehouse and order fulfillment center in Kapolei, Hawaii, pending permitting approvals. The announcement coincides with the company’s first anniversary of offering next-day delivery on Oahu. Operations Manager Eric Pak was photographed working at Amazon’s existing Sand Island distribution facility in Honolulu on Monday. The report was published on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and references historical rainfall of 50 inches on Kauai in August 1950. All named locations — Kapolei, Oahu, Honolulu, Sand Island, and Kauai — are within Hawaii.

2026-10-01

Warehousing & Transport

Lowe’s launches drone delivery in NC; 20-minute arrivals, 2.5-lb limit

Lowe’s has launched a drone delivery pilot in Matthews, North Carolina, on Sept. 24, offering deliveries in as little as 20 minutes for lightweight items up to 2.5 pounds. Partnering with Wing and DoorDash, the program targets urgent micro-orders like batteries and tape — not bulk goods. With $86 billion in fiscal 2025 sales and 1,750+ stores, Lowe’s treats this as a focused test of operational utility. Wing’s network — already responsible for over 1 million deliveries and slated to serve 40 million Americans via 270+ Walmart locations by 2027 — underscores the growing role of shared drone infrastructure in retail logistics.

2026-10-01