From Toy Shelves to Grocery Aisles: Navigating Modern Supply Chain Challenges with Mike Griswold

Ever wondered how supply chains adapt in the face of global challenges and technological advancements?In this episode, host Scott W. Luton sits down with Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, to explore the dynamic world of supply chain management through the lens of current events and industry transformations. They dive deeply into Hasbro's strategic moves to tackle inventory challenges, navigate the shifting tides of global manufacturing, and leverage AI innovations in the grocery sector. Discover how Hasbro is balancing the rise in digital toy demand and the decline of physical toys, and how they are utilizing data analytics for effective supply and demand planning.Listeners will uncover a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape as nations like China, South Korea, and the US ramp up their investments in domestic manufacturing to secure market share. Learn about the surging importance of e-commerce, the controversial role of self-checkouts, and the potential retail repercussions of the Kroger-Albertsons merger. Don't miss out on key takeaways that can help you navigate and excel in this ever-evolving field.Jump into the conversation:00:00 Introduction with Mike Griswold07:30 How Hasbro has overcome recent challenges09:56 Forecasting digital versus physical products, sales planning nuances16:13 China’s investment of national income in manufacturing19:48 Why Western countries need to focus on competitiveness24:46 Should government run businesses?30:25 Preparing for potential outcomes while maintaining balance35:07 Diverse customer needs require balanced self-service options40:49 Seven burning questions for the grocery industryAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/ Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/ Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk WEBINAR- Tackling Manufacturing’s Billion-Dollar Parts Problem with AI: https://bit.ly/3YuxM5fWEBINAR- Beyond Resilience: Capitalizing on Supply Chain Uncertainty: https://bit.ly/46kdltYThis episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Amanda Luton and Joshua Miranda. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/toy-shelves-grocery-aisles-naviagting-modern-supply-chain-challenges-1312 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at [email protected]© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.