One of my initial goals when I launched this blog in February of 2008 was to cite specific evidence where supply chain investments and business process excellence do add value to business. Thus spawned the name of this blog to be Supply Chain Matters. Since that time, I continue to search out evidence and stories that reinforce supply’s chain’s value.
The latest evidence of supply chain adding value comes from the Q3-2009 earnings results from The Hershey Company, a global provider of chocolates and sugar confections The company manufactures and distributes products related to the iconic brands of Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers, and recently Hershey’s Bliss chocolates..
For the first nine months of 2009, Hershey reported net income of $309.2 million, on sales of $3.9 billion. This compares to a net income of $229.2 million on sales of $3.8 billion in the first nine months of 2008. The ability of Hershey to generate increased profitability in such challenging times was directly attributed to supply chain and productivity performance, which is clearly stated in the details of its latest earnings conference call.Â
Hershey’s CFO, Humberto Alfonso, pointed to the fact that operating gross margins in the third quarter increased 480 basis points, driven by price realizations, supply chain efficiencies, and productivity gains. Margin gains more than offset higher raw material input costs of about 175 basis points. Inventory declined by $115 million and accounts payable declined by $32 million, representing 11 consecutive quarters of year-over-year reductions in net trading capital. Hershey expects this trend to continue in the fourth quarter, driven primarily by lower inventory. Keep in mind that Hershey’s product business model is highly seasonal in nature, with pre-holiday periods driving large volumes of order activities. The company, like many other confectioners has had to ovecome the challenge of large price increases in ingreedients such as sugar, cocoa, milk and other products. The price of sugar alone has doubled in the first nine months of this year.
David West, Hershey’s CEO and President cites the company’s Global Supply Chain Transformation Program, which was initiated in February 2007, as a key contributor to Hershey’s current business and productivity performance. The three year program had a goal to significantly increase manufacturing capacity utilization by reducing the number of total production lines, outsource production of low value-added items, and construct a flexible manufacturing operation in Mexico. From an overall supply chain network perspective, six facilities have now been closed and the brand new facility in Monterrey Mexico is ramping-up production. Hershey estimates 2009 savings of $60 million to $80 million as a result of the Global Supply Chain Transformation Program, bringing cumulative program savings to a range of $140 to $160 million.
Over and above plant closings, the company has also stressed investments in better planning and and supply chain efficiencies. Investments in inventory optimization tools have helped the company take advantage of inventory reductions in both sourcing and procurement, as well as distribution of product. In fact, CFO Alfonso responded to a research analyst’s question by noting the following: “I would say that our performance in supply chain overall was quite good, not just the Global Supply Chain Transformation Program….. So that (plant closings) combined with what I would say is also good performance, in just overall productivity within our supply chain is what was making the difference.” CEO West later noted: “I think I would tell you is that we continue to focus on productivity within the existing facilities. And that’s what any good supply chain organization does when- they know that they need to, at a minimum, offset their inflation with good basic kind of four-walls productivity, if you will. And that’s no different for us.”
These statements from both Hershey’s CEO and CFO in citing the benefits of supply chain initiatives to the business provides first-hand evidence of supply chain adding value.
Hershey is not curtailing its investments in supply chain business process and technology. Recent capital additions include software investments, and $40 to $50 million of future capital investments are related to the Global Supply Chain Transformation Program.
I do not want to, if you pardon this pun, place a full sugar coating to this posting. Obviously, the Global Supply Chain Transformation Program has caused some to lose their jobs and others to relocate. There may also be an argument that at the start of these initiatives, there was quite a green field of value-chain inefficiency that needed to be taken on. Regardless, these challenges were taken on, and the results to date seem to speak for themselves.
Join me in a shout out our collective congratulations to the entire Hershey supply chain team for an outstanding job, and proving that supply chain efforts do matter.
Disclosure: This author has received no monetary or other consideration from The Hershey Company, its investors or technology providers for publishing the above blog entry.
Excellent example of what can be done. Supply Chain staff and firms who support them thru consulting, tech, etc can work together to create substantial value! It frustrates us all why more firms do not reach out to their SCM folks and create programs like this.
Knowing manny of the folks involved in projects at Hershey, they are a company that does respect the potential of supply chain excellence; and they got the right people in their team who can make a difference!
Ann Grackin
Hi Ann,
Thanks for sharing your observations.
It certainly does point out how important it is to have a team with vision and willingness to make a difference for the business. Having senior executive support also helps immensely.
Bob Ferrari
I can only say they will need to have a great Global Supply chain to support the move to Mexico. I for one after reading this article will boycott Hershey. They could have consolidated in the states for about the same and saved many jobs. Working in the supply chain for over 26 years I see companies move off shore and not realise the costs associated with transportation, imports, exports taxes and duties. To manufacture food in another countries that don’t have our strict regulations and health resources although costly sometimes is the right thing to do. To me safety should come before profit and America should be taken care of its own. Informative article though, Thanks.
Great Hershey review! I know many people at Hershey and they continue to support on-going education for the SCM people. Our local APICS chapter has had excellent participation from Hershey, both as members and presenters at our PDM’s. They do seem to have good vision and obviously good results.
As far as Diana’s comment that cost in Mexico is the same as it would have been in the US, I have not seen this. While at York International (with 11 plants in our group, 7 in the US), we had excellent results in cost and quality in both Monterrey and Durango Mexico plants. The units built there have very tight quality requirements due to operational and safety needs. Since I have more than 10 years of food processing experience I believe I have the background to state that quality and safety in Mexico can easily meet US standards.