2020 was a year of immense change and disruption, with the pandemic impacting the business transformation plans of consumer-products firms in terms of priorities and modernization schedules. This has brought conversation around supply and demand planning to the forefront.

The spikes in consumer demand brought about by the pandemic have forced many of you streamline your production and manufacturing efforts – with a shift in focus to SKUs and product lines that were easiest to manufacture and simply get out the door quickly. 2020 was also a year where, in many ways, forecasts were thrown out the window and companies being forced to react in real time to fast-changing consumer demand, meet retail customer needs, and ensure products are being properly allocated.  Looking ahead, organizations are rethinking their strategies that will allow them to more effectively manage supply chain risk, accurately forecast supply and demand planning, and become more agile in the future.

All of this said, I am excited to welcome Lisa Gibbons and Scott Shaw to this week’s edition of Taking Stock.  Both have vast Consumer Products experience, having served in industry for leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Keurig Dr. Pepper and Seventh Generation. Scott’s career has focused on supply chain and demand planning, while Lisa’s experiences have spanned across sales operations and trade planning. Together, we’ll discuss the topics outlined above, with a focus on why supply and demand planning is so important for companies to get right, especially right now.

You can download and listen to the Supply and Demand Planning: Taking Stock with Lisa Gibbons and Scott Shaw podcast episode here.

Taking Stock

In this podcast series, Clarkston Consulting Partner Steve Rosenstock sits down with experts and thought leaders from both within Clarkston and throughout its consumer products and life sciences client-base, covering a range of topics from industry trends and consumer dynamics, to organizational governance and business strategy. Steve provides you access into the passions of its guests and allows you to benefit from their stories, knowledge, and deep expertise.