The city of Adelaide recently played host to the Drinks Association Supply Chain Forum, a two-day event filled with insightful presentations, industry discussions, and engaging tours. Held on May 15th and 16th, the Forum gathered Supply Chain and Logistics leaders, industry experts, and Drinks Association partners to discuss current trends, challenges, and innovations in the drinks industry.
Day One: Engaging Presentations at Penfolds Magill Estate
Complexica - AI in Supply Chain
The Forum commenced with Arvind Mohais, Director of Delivery at Complexica, presenting on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in supply chain management. Mohais demonstrated how the AI algorithm, Cognitive Computing, is optimising processes from vineyard practices to inventory management, forecasting demand, and enhancing decision-making processes by replicating the reasoning and logic that exists in the human mind. The session was a highlight, showcasing practical applications and future possibilities of AI to make better decisions and yield greater value for suppliers in the Supply Chain space.
Henning Harders - Current Supply Chain Challenges in Freight Forwarding
Nathan Arneil, National Key Accounts Manager, and Jacques Roux, Chief Commercial Officer at Henning Harders, tackled the pressing challenges in freight forwarding. Their presentation highlighted the impact of global disruptions on freight logistics, particularly around the Suez & Panama Canals with many suppliers now turning to airfreight to ensure the steady flow of orders. This has resulted in a sharp increase in air freight rates and a demand of 11+% for the past four months. They also discussed the importance of agility and proactive planning in maintaining supply chain continuity with some shipping carriers taking some larger vessels out of rotation from the Asia-AU market and replacing them with smaller capacity vessels, resulting in a reduction of 40% capacity from the Australian market. Suppliers should allow additional lead times to cater for the potential delays.
Participants enjoyed a delightful lunch at Magill, offering a perfect opportunity for networking and informal discussions.
GS1 - 2D Barcode Update & Perfect Delivery
Our final presenter of the day was Peter Davenport, Principal Advisor at GS1. Davenport highlighted three key areas, including the transformative potential of 2D barcodes in the retail supply chain and how 2D barcodes are revolutionising product tracking and improving accuracy in logistics, leading to more efficient and transparent supply chains. The ambition is for all retail point-of-sale systems globally to be capable of scanning 2D barcodes by 2027.
The freight and logistics sector are beginning to adopt 2D barcodes, with the introduction of a new global standard, Scan4Transport. This allows key transport data to be encoded into a 2D barcode on the transport label, supporting companies across the transport process to meet their customers' growing needs.
In addition, the National Location Registry (NLR) was discussed. This initiative, supported by the Commonwealth Government and industry, is designed to facilitate the aggregation, and sharing of accurate and up-to-date information about locations. Access to this location data aids in improving freight pick-up and delivery processes, further enhancing supply chain efficiencies.
Drinks Association’s NEW Sustainability Council
The newly formed Drinks Association Sustainability Council was introduced by Drinks Association General Manager, Rachel Wormald, outlining the Council's aim to promote sustainable practices within the drinks industry under the pillars of People, Planet & Progress. The presentation underscored the Association's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable growth. The Drinks Association Sustainability Council met formally for the first time on 23rd May.
Penfolds Magill Estate Tour
Forum delegates were treated to an exclusive heritage tour and tasting at the renowned Penfolds Magill site, located just 20 mins from Adelaide’s CBD. The experience not only provided a taste of some of Australia's finest wines but also offered insights into Penfolds' rich heritage and innovative winemaking techniques.
The day concluded with a casual dinner at the Strathmore Hotel, providing an informal setting for attendees to unwind and socialise.
Day Two: Comprehensive Site Tours
Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal
The second day began with a site tour of the Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal (FACT) hosted by General Manager Trent Kolbig. The group was escorted by bus through the facility where they observed the massive container ship docked at the terminal. The view was awe-inspiring, with the sheer size of the vessel and the buzz of the loading activity.
One of the highlights was watching the Straddle Carriers move containers to giant ship-to-shore cranes. These cranes are responsible for lifting containers from the dock and placing them onto the ship. The precision and speed at which these carriers and cranes operate are impressive, with operators deftly maneuvering containers into position.
Chep Pallets - Site Tour
Following the container terminal visit, the group headed to a tour of the incredible new state-of-the-art CHEP Service Centre at Direk which opened in 2023. After a delicious lunch on arrival, the Forum was treated to a tour of the facility which showcased the innovative pallet solutions that are critical for efficient logistics and supply chain management.
Visy Board - Site Tour
The final tour took place at Visy Board in Gepps Cross with Caelum Cousins, Key Account Manager & Karen Ross, Sales Manager. Forum delegates learned about sustainable packaging solutions and the diverse manufacturing processes at the site. The visit highlighted the importance of sustainability in packaging and its impact on the supply chain and the group witnessed the efficiencies created by a recent $45 million upgrade.
Concluding the Forum
The Drinks Association Supply Chain & Logistics Forum in Adelaide successfully brought together member companies and strategic partners for two days of education, networking, and collaboration. The event's diverse agenda provided valuable insights into the current state and future of supply chain management in the drinks industry.
Thank you to everyone who joined us including Forum Chair, Jeff Harper (William Grant & Sons) along with Mark Alexander and Tim Green (AVL), Courtney Ribbons (Pernod-Ricard Winemakers), Daryl Mustard (Treasury Wine Estates), Kerstin Walker (Accolade Wines), Tara Hamilton (Campari), Jorge Jimenez (Brown-Forman) Mads Aaboe, Trent McLachlan, Glen Brown (Hillebrand Gori), Alfred Battiato, Hamish Cole (BevChain), Brad Greer and Tinika Tipene (Mainfreight), and Peter Davenport (GS1), Nathan Arneil, Jacques Roux (Henning Harders)
We look forward to seeing everyone at the next Supply Chain & Logistics Forum. If you’d like further information on how you can be involved, please contact Drinks Association General Manager, Rachel Wormald.