Thanksgiving: The 'Ultimate Test' and Competitive Advantage for Food and Bev

Thanksgiving: The 'Ultimate Test' and Competitive Advantage for Food and Bev

Thanksgiving – arguably the most food-centric holiday in the United States – is upon us. While families plan to share a dinner table, supply chain professionals and major grocery brands are preparing for the inevitable capacity spikes. This annual event is an 'overhaul' moment for many, testing the very fabric of their logistics and cold chain strategies.

Capacity crunches like Thanksgiving put grocers and supply chain professionals in a vulnerable position, creating challenges reminiscent of those faced during natural disasters or unexpected disruptions. Supply chain, cold chain, and logistics teams know that in such moments of risk, deep intelligence and visibility, coupled with quick decision-making, can be the difference-maker between On-Time and In-Full (OTIF) and “late and unfulfilled.” (OTIF meaning: A key supply chain KPI measuring delivery timeliness and completeness.)

When leveraged strategically, Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity to test response scenarios, such as managing port diversions, tracking MSC, and adapting to capacity spikes. This creates not just a safety net but a competitive advantage and learning environment for future disruptions. Let’s explore how Thanksgiving mirrors common supply chain risk scenarios and how the Food and Beverage industry can maximize the opportunity year after year.

Travel Delays

Known for creating one of the busiest travel days of the year, it’s no surprise that supply chain professionals and grocers face similar transportation challenges. Whether it’s holiday-induced traffic jams or hurricanes, relying on a single mode of transport leaves you vulnerable to disruptions.

To avoid bottlenecks, incorporate multiple pre-approved routing options, creating a more resilient supply chain that adapts to travel changes. Leveraging visibility tools that give you multimodal insights to track shipments enables exception management and can enhance situational awareness. 

Diversify The Menu

When planning a meal for a large group of people, it’s safest to bring lots of options to the table – and supply chains operate the same way. Relying on a single port or transportation route leaves you exposed in times of disruption.

Instead, diversify your logistics networks, incorporating multiple ports, shipping methods, and alternative suppliers. By doing so, you reduce risk and ensure no single point in the supply chain becomes a critical vulnerability.

Invite Technology to The Table

Even your aunt might be using ChatGPT to plan this year’s menu. Today’s supply chains are similarly more connected and data-driven than ever before.

Forward-thinking companies are turning to IoT devices, data loggers like TempTale or Libero, and analytics platforms to transform raw data into actionable insights. This baseline visibility layer provides the raw data on which intelligence can be built.

Tying this sensor data to internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other external risk dat enables supply chain managers to proactively identify potential delays and adjust shipments before disruptions escalate. The ability to track shipments, make instant tradeoff decisions, and optimize supply chain management performance indicators such as OTIF gives businesses a measurable edge.

The Proof Is in The Pudding

Natural disasters, labor shortages, geopolitical issues, and cyberattacks are not going away, but by creating contingency plans, diversifying logistics, and investing in intelligence-driven insights, you can build resilience and adaptability into your operations.

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to come and go. Contact us to learn how PAXAFE can help overhaul your supply chain and transform it into a resilient, data-driven powerhouse that ensures success, On-Time and In-Full—every time.