Provident - Spend Management

US demand for converted flexible packaging to exceed $18 billion in 2015

editor — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:48:06 +0000

Demand for converted flexible packaging is projected to increase 3.8% annually to $18.2 billion in 2015. Gains will be similar to the pace of the 2005-2010 period based on the well-established presence of pouches in a number of food and nonfood markets coupled with overall deceleration in raw material price growth.

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US Govt. Expects Bigger Corn Surplus in 2012

editor — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:35:00 +0000

US gov’t expects bigger corn surplus in ‘12; could lower corn prices and slow food inflation

The Department of Agriculture estimated Wednesday that farmers have 206 million more bushels of surplus corn on hand at the start of this year’s harvest. That means farmers will have 866 million bushels of corn on hand at the end of next summer, which is higher than last month’s forecast of 672 million bushels.

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Peanut Butter Prices Set to Soar

editor — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:55:29 +0000

According to The Wall Street Journal, a hot, dry summer has devastated this year’s peanut crop, sending prices skyrocketing and forcing peanut butter brands into startling price increases. Wholesale prices for J.M. Smucker’s Jif are going up 30% starting in November, while ConAgra Food’s Peter Pan will raise prices as much as 24% in a couple weeks. Kraft Foods Inc., which launched Planters peanut butter in June, is raising prices 40% on Oct. 31, a spokeswoman said.

17% Corrugated savings achieved utilizing Provident RightSourcing process

editor — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:07:42 +0000

A leading manufacturer of specialty cheeses engaged Provident to conduct a strategic sourcing review of their corrugated purchases. Using our Right Sourcing methodology Provident provided strong, viable award recommendations to the client. As a result of this recommendation, the client awarded the business and was able to realize immediate benefits of the significant savings.

20% savings achieved via Packaging RightSourcing

editor — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:45:37 +0000

Provident was engaged by a food service supplier to conduct a market review and strategic sourcing of their packaging requirements. This client was being pressured by their end customer to reduce costs via ingredient, packaging and logistics improvements. After a rigorous evaluation of supply proposals outlining service, quality and pricing using our Right Sourcing methodology, a business award was negotiated that provides our client with improved service & technical offerings, a vendor managed inventory system, an aggressive pricing structure, and methodology that will ensure that the pricing structure will remain competitive and viable for both the supplier and our client.

Plastic Packaging on the Way Out

editor — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:37:13 +0000

Devilish Packaging, Tamed

By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

Published: June 1, 2011

The Pyranna, the Jokari Deluxe, the Insta Slit, the ZipIt and the OpenIt apply blades and batteries to what should be a simple task: opening a retail package.

But the maddening — and nearly impenetrable — plastic packaging known as clamshells could become a welcome casualty of the difficult economy. High oil prices have manufacturers and big retailers reconsidering the use of so much plastic, and some are aggressively looking for cheaper substitutes.

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How Greed And Green Can Work Together To Produce Good

editor — Tue, 17 May 2011 20:48:03 +0000

How green initiatives can bring about more efficient, more profitable companies

by Richard Watson

Sustainability isn’t easy. It’s tough to implement, and the costs can be even more difficult to quantify, which is why it has taken so long for businesses to embrace the mission. Having developed many a new product over the years, I’ve observed, with a touch of cynicism, the evolving discourse around both the emotional and economic benefits of sustainability. Some of my cynicism stems from the overt greenwashing that has surrounded so many products, doing nothing but cloud the debate, confuse consumers, and ultimately slow the progress of economically viable sustainability. In many ways, it has actually sullied the term “green” to the extent that it pains me to use it when discussing sustainability with my clients.

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Sustainability goals accelerated for CPG company

editor — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:30:27 +0000

Provident Spend Management was recently asked by this client to help it accelerate and achieve their sustainability goals. Over the past few months, Provident Packaging Engineers, using our Right Pack methodology, reduced this client’s plastic consumption by over 150,000 pounds per year, while also increasing the amount of recycled materials used in their packaging by 16%.

Over $500,000 saved for mid-sized CPG company

editor — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:33:14 +0000

Provident Packaging Engineers saved over $500,000 using our proven “Right Pack” methodology. Savings came from lightweighting the material, optimizing the design, and improved pallet and shipping efficiencies.

Why Sustainability Is Winning Over CEOs

editor — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:46:47 +0000

By Duane Stanford

Long a cause célèbre of the eco crowd, sustainable business practices are yielding big savings at companies like PepsiCo and Wal-Mart.

At PepsiCo’s (PEP) Walkers potato chip plant in Leicester, England, steam from the fryers rises through exhaust stacks into the open sky. From his office window, Martyn Seal, the company’s European director of sustainability, watches the wispy clouds and sees nothing but lost resources and wasted cash. To change all that, Seal and his team are working to develop a manufacturing process that will allow them to suck water out of potatoes and even unplug the plant from the public water system.

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