UPS is getting "ready to rock and roll" in order rev up for a 60 percent increase in shipping expected over the holiday season, CMO Kevin Warren told Cheddar Tuesday.
On Thanksgiving Day alone, almost 40 million people are expected to shop. The National Retail Federation, a trade group, said holiday retail sales could reach as much as $730.7 billion. After shoppers take advantage of retailer sales, shipping companies like UPS have to transport goods from buyer to seller.
"Normally, on average, we do about 20 million packages a day … but during the peak season, peak up to about 32 million," Warren said.
Warren said the company has to scale up in terms of technology and manpower to take on the influx of orders.
Though UPS has to focus on getting orders out and delivering them on time, the company is also investing in new technology to stay ahead of the curve, Warren said.
In addition to speeding up ground shipping and offering extended weekend hours to handle the holiday shopping, UPS is developing better ways to use sensors and data analytics. With new sensor technology, Warren said the company will be able to track packages that are "time-sensitive," such as medicine
UPS also obtained the FAA's first full approval for drone deliveries in early October. Last month, the company completed its first successful drone delivery of a medical prescription from a CVS. Warren says the company plans to launch the new service next year.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
