Supply Chain and Logistics

Neck Nosh Finds a Flexible Workforce with PRIDE Industries

Neck Nosh is a Sacramento-based manufacturer of pretzel necklaces worn at festivals, concerts, and outdoor events. This “foodie-fun” company’s necklaces have found their way to brewfests, from California to Florida. Erica Humphrey, the company’s owner, seeks to make Neck Nosh a “social purpose business.”

Situation

Due to both COVID-related worker shortages and the seasonal nature of Neck Nosh’s workload, the edible-necklace company needed a flexible, reliable workforce to build its product. Moreover, with long-term experience working with people of diverse abilities, Neck Nosh’s founder specifically sought to hire an inclusive workforce. Seeking a partner with a similar mission, Neck Nosh turned to PRIDE Industries to provide staffing solutions.

Solution

PRIDE Industries provided a flexible, reliable workforce to Neck Nosh, consisting of five employees—three with documented disabilities and one PRIDE Industries job coach. These employees make between 2,000 and 3,000 pretzel necklaces per month—95% of Neck Nosh’s production—allowing the company’s owner to focus on running the business. The consistency of PRIDE Industries’ workforce has also allowed Neck Nosh the time and forethought to streamline their processes.

Services Provided

Pretzel necklace building
5 employees, 3 with a disability
Recruiting

Results

2,000 to 3,000 necklaces made per month
Flexible workforce has provided business stability
Skilled and reliable employees with low turnover
Meeting of Neck Nosh’s goal for a diverse and inclusive workforce

Highlights

60%

employees with documented disability

3,000

necklaces made per month

“I can't stress enough how important PRIDE Industries’ reliable workforce is and how much stability that has given my business.”

— Erica Humphrey, Owner of Neck Nosh

From labeling laws to refillable containers, sustainability continues to impact the way packagers do business. We’ve looked to the experts, gleaned their expertise, and compiled our picks—packaging trends to look for in the coming year.

Trend # 1: More laws like California’s “Truth in Labeling” will be passed.

Last year, California passed an unprecedented Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials law. A similar New Jersey bill was passed into law this January, and New York is expected to follow suit with a bill already on its books. Until now, there has been no enforceable federal standard when it comes to displaying the “chasing arrows” on labels and packaging materials. Expect this to change, country-wide, in the coming years.

Trend # 2: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) will gain more traction.

A concept that sees manufacturers bearing responsibility for the long-term environmental impacts of their products, extended producer responsibility has long been the norm in Canada and Europe—with other countries soon to follow suit. Here in the U.S., with the passage of EPR laws in Oregon and Maine, this level of product stewardship and environmental responsibility is destined to become the standard.

Trend # 3: More companies will commit to removing toxins from their packaging.

From McDonald’s to Home Depot to Amazon, a growing number of companies are phasing out polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) from their packaging products. With mounting evidence that these, and other chemicals, are finding their way into drinking water, regulatory agencies and consumers are demanding their elimination. An increase in public awareness, regarding both the environment and social equity, is also normalizing this trend.

Trend # 4: Sustainable packaging practices will become more holistic.

The sustainable packaging conversation will shift beyond recyclability—and more toward “low impact.” This means that greater attention will be paid to the front end of a product’s life cycle. Responsible companies will source materials whose environmental impact is low to begin with. Looking to the future, sustainable packaging will factor in smaller containers, plant-based packaging and inks, and lower impact manufacturing processes.

Trend # 5: The use of reusable, refillable containers will continue to grow.

With major organizations like PepsiCo and PG&E supporting returnable, reusable packaging, this trend will continue to expand. Already, from the US to Canada; Europe to Brazil, wholesalers are requesting that retailers bring in containers and have them filled. Even in the realm of e-commerce, waste-free services like Olive and Loop are already revolutionizing the packaging industry. Expect to see more brands embrace this approach in the coming year.

Flexible packaging services

Find out how we can create a turnkey packaging and distribution plan suited to your specific needs.

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WestPack
APRIL 12-14, 2022
Anaheim Convention Center, Los Angeles CA

California’s largest packing event, WestPack has continually united the entire packaging community to find the most creative packaging solutions and efficient automation systems.

American Packaging Summit
June 2-3, 2022
Westin Chicago Lombard, Chicago IL

Join packaging executives to catch up with current trends, strategic insights, and best practices in packaging innovation, design, materials, and branding.

Home Delivery World
August 31-September 1, 2022
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA

The industry-defining conference and exhibition for last-mile logistics in the U.S. and abroad.

InterPACK®International Conference
October 25 – 27, 2022
Anaheim, CA

Exchange state-of-the-art knowledge in research, development, manufacturing, and applications of electronics packaging and heterogeneous integration.

MINNPACK 2022
November 2-3, 2022
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN

Check out the latest products and technologies, including containers, contract services, custom automation, equipment and components, machinery and machinery components, and materials.

Flexible packaging services

Find out how we can create a turnkey packaging and distribution plan suited to your specific needs.

Learn More

America is Getting Fit with the Help of PRIDE Industries

Heart Zones is a pioneer in the field of science-based heart rate training programs and devices. Founded by Sal Edwards and headquartered in Sacramento, Calif, Heart Zones sells wearable technology, including the Blink Armband ™, a lightweight heart rate monitor that converts data into individualized, actionable exercise prescriptions.

Situation

When Heart Zones wanted to reshore assembly and packaging services for the Blink Armband ™, they immediately thought of PRIDE Industries. Back in 1990, PRIDE Industries had successfully manufactured Sal Edwards’s Fleet-Feet branded snowshoes. So, when Heart Zones ran up against an irregular order pattern for their armband, necessitating an agile supply chain, Sal knew PRIDE Industries would be able to do it all—with an emphasis on quality control.

Solution

The PRIDE Industries manufacturing team was able and equipped to address Heart Zone’s needs from start to finish, assembling the Blink Armband ™, buying the raw goods, cutting, packaging, and even storing Heart Zones’ parts and products on-site in the U.S. as opposed to overseas. This holistic approach allowed Heart Zones to maintain an agile supply chain and focus on doing what they do best: get their product to market.

Services Provided

Raw goods purchasing
Cutting and Assembly
Component Building
Packaging
Storing Inventory for Heart Zones
Employs 10 People with Disabilities
Between 2M and 3M in Sales Annually

Highlights

$2-3M

in sales annually

people with disabilities employed

“How they build things and how they think through it and their willingness to support—We’re thrilled to work with a company that’s headquartered near us, that supports our community, and that can make a quality product.”

— Sal Edwards

Supply Chain is now a household name

Last year, as grocery store and retail shelves went empty, “supply chain” became a household name. In 2022, this new level of visibility will influence the way supply chain and logistics managers approach their jobs. We’ve looked to the experts and, from their wealth of knowledge, compiled our picks—trends to look for in the coming year.

Trend #1: Recruiting will become more strategic.

A simple job posting isn’t enough to attract qualified candidates anymore. To find outstanding talent, hiring teams must be innovative.

Consider forging relationships with supply chain organizations, like APICS or CSCMP.
Why not partner with colleges that feature supply-chain-related degree programs?
Or how about advertising on a niche job board like supplychaincareers.com?
Start weighing the benefits of transferrable skills.
Create internships and make them available through local colleges and job centers.
Be forward thinking when it comes to recruiting qualified talent. This means reviewing your plans for targeted hiring, compensation planning, and retention strategies.

Trend #2: Supply chain agility will be an advantage.

To satisfy customer expectations and remain competitive, an agile supply chain will enable you to quickly react to delays and changes. Steps to boost your agility include:

A greater emphasis on risk management
Increased end-to-end visibility
Physical changes to the supply-chain footprint
Diversifying inventory storage
Automation of order processing and shipping
Data-driven decision making

Trend #3: ESG and sustainability practices will be imperative.

Since the early 2000s, stakeholders and consumers have looked to companies that proactively address environmental and social concerns. The pandemic accelerated this trend, moving sustainability from “good to do” to “imperative.” In 2022, this will include an increased emphasis on supply chain transparency, including:

How was a product sourced, handled, shipped, and delivered?
Were the manufacturing processes ethical?
Did they impact the environment?

Sustainability is now essential in creating supply chain processes, and all enterprises will eventually need to create programs to address these concerns.

Trend #4: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will continue.

AI and IoT technologies are on the rise, with AI playing a growing role in IoT applications and deployments. Able to perform tasks previously done only by human hands, these technologies have been especially useful in addressing the global worker shortage of the last two years. Major providers now offer integrated AI capabilities, such as machine learning-based analytics. The value of AI in this context is its ability to quickly wring insights from data.

Trend #5: Reverse logistics will play a critical role.

As online sales increase, the need for a robust reverse logistics process is imperative. This service directly supports all circular economy initiatives. Besides enhancing sustainability, a solid reverse logistics strategy and reuse offering will improve customer loyalty. It will also reduce cost, retain revenue, and allow for growth opportunities and custom integrations.

As fallout from the pandemic continues, savvy supply chain leaders will continue to keep an eye on trends, adapting and innovating as they look toward the future.

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

Partner with PRIDE Industries to streamline your operations, drive customer satisfaction, and improve your bottom line.

Learn More

From virtual, to hybrid, to in-person conferences, here are 10 events that supply chain and logistics managers should be aware of in 2022:

JumpStart 2022:
January 24-26, Atlanta, GA
(In-person)

Join in-depth panel discussions focused on supply chain trends, transportation regulations, emerging technologies, and infrastructure. The lineup is tailored to provide carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and other professionals with a full picture of the multimodal supply chain.

Manifest:
January 25-27, 2022, The Paris, Las Vegas, NV
(In-person)

Manifest 2022 will bring together the most comprehensive ecosystem of innovation and transformation in LogisticsTech and end-to-end supply chain.

18th Annual RLA Conference and Expo:
February 7-9, 2022, Las Vegas, NV
(In-person with pre-events starting the evening of February 6)

This conference is designed to bring RL professionals together for three days of powerful keynote speakers, content-driven panel discussions, and an ample amount of networking opportunities.

America’s Procurement Congress:
March 17-18, 2022, Eden Roc, Miami, FL
(In-person)

Embrace the new value drivers propelling the function to deliver business impact.

Modex 2022:
March 28-31, Atlanta, GA
(In-person)

From illuminating education to next-generation technology and equipment in action, MODEX lets you see what’s coming — and take advantage of it to power your supply chain with more possibilities for years to come.

American Supply Chain Summit 2022:
May 3-4, Dallas, TX
(In-person)

The Supply Chain Summit serves as an annual platform to exchange ideas and collaborate on the impact of market dynamics and new technologies for current and future supply chain and operations leaders.

Reuters Supply Chain Execution 2022:
June 2022, Chicago, IL
(Hybrid format. Check website for June date.)

With supply chain execution now central to business-success, supply chain executives must embrace a digital mindset and accept that this isn’t just a buzz phrase but a requirement for a modern, data-driven, customer-centric supply chain execution process.

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

Partner with PRIDE Industries to streamline your operations, drive customer satisfaction, and improve your bottom line.

Learn More

Supply Chain and Logistics

Neck Nosh Finds a Flexible Workforce with PRIDE Industries

Situation

Solution

Services Provided

Results

Highlights

Trend # 1: More laws like California’s “Truth in Labeling” will be passed.

Trend # 2: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) will gain more traction.

Trend # 3: More companies will commit to removing toxins from their packaging.

Trend # 4: Sustainable packaging practices will become more holistic.

Trend # 5: The use of reusable, refillable containers will continue to grow.

Flexible packaging services

American Packaging Summit June 2-3, 2022 Westin Chicago Lombard, Chicago IL

Flexible packaging services

America is Getting Fit with the Help of PRIDE Industries

Situation

Solution

Services Provided

Highlights

Supply Chain is now a household name

Trend #1: Recruiting will become more strategic.

Trend #2: Supply chain agility will be an advantage.

Trend #3: ESG and sustainability practices will be imperative.

Trend #4: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will continue.

Trend #5: Reverse logistics will play a critical role.

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

Ready to take your supply chain and logistics processes to the next level?

American Packaging Summit
June 2-3, 2022
Westin Chicago Lombard, Chicago IL