Chain Reaction - The Supply Chain and Logistics Podcast

Manufacturing is changing rapidly as AI, robotics, and intelligent automation move from theory into everyday operations. But successful transformation isn't driven by technology alone. It depends on clean data, continuous improvement, strong leadership, and a culture that embraces change. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: How AI employees and robotics are transforming manufacturing operations Why people,...

Most supply chains are designed to survive disruption. Very few are designed to improve because of it. As volatility, uncertainty, geopolitical pressure, and technological change continue to accelerate, resilience alone is no longer enough. Businesses now need systems that can adapt, evolve, and become stronger under stress. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: The difference between resilience and anti-fragilit...

Road freight keeps the UK economy moving, but much of the industry remains invisible until something goes wrong. Behind every delivery sits a complex network of operators, drivers, SMEs, regulations, infrastructure pressures, and commercial trade-offs that most people never see. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - Why road freight is critical but often under-recognised - The pressures facing UK hauliers: cost...

Overproduction isn't a fashion trend. It's a design flaw. Batch LDN built the opposite: made-to-order production, low inventory, local manufacturing - and a supply chain that only moves when demand does. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - How made-to-order fashion reduces waste, overstock, and returns - Why local manufacturing changes lead times, risk, and operational control - How logistics becomes...

Most companies invest heavily in forecasting, planning systems, and technology. Yet service levels still struggle, costs stay high, and planners spend their time firefighting. The problem isn't just bad forecasts - it's how those forecasts are being used. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - Why forecast-driven planning creates instability, cost, and inefficiency - The difference between forecast push and dema...

Most training budgets get spent. Most behaviour never changes. In logistics and supply chain - where time is the one thing nobody has - that gap is not just a learning problem. It's a cost problem nobody's naming. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - How digital learning has evolved from static content to blended, personalised learning - Why logistics needs structured skills pathways, not just one-off courses...

E-commerce fulfillment is no longer just about storing stock and shipping parcels. Customer expectations are higher, delivery windows are tighter, and fulfillment partners are now expected to operate as an embedded part of the brand experience. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - How fulfillment providers differentiate beyond price and basic service - Why customer expectations are reshaping e-commerce logisti...

Logistics is one of the most critical sectors in the global economy, yet it remains one of the most male-dominated professions. As International Women's Day shines a spotlight on the industry's diversity gap, the question isn't just about representation - it's about how the sector attracts, develops, and retains the next generation of leaders.  Helen Hardy, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Logist...

Most logistics software still feels slow, complex, and painful to implement. It's not a technology shortage - it's a design problem. This episode breaks down what changes when you build logistics tech around operators instead of infrastructure. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - Human-first product design vs tech-first enterprise systems - Cloud architecture and shared operational truth - AI in logistics as...

Most consumer products are discarded long before they lose their usefulness. This episode explores what it would take to redesign retail so products don't just get sold - they come back. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: - Circular retail and closed-loop product life cycles - Reverse logistics beyond traditional returns - The commercial shift from maximising volume to maximising value In this episode of Chain...

Road freight doesn't run on technology alone. It runs on people - and the human cost of keeping goods moving is still largely ignored. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: The human reality behind road freight operations Driver respect, working conditions, and industry perception Why logistics progress still depends on people, not just automation In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov is joined by...

Automation doesn’t fail because of technology - it fails because of data quality, unclear processes, and misaligned teams. In this episode, Michael Ostroumov sits down with Rosana Fuentes (Implementation Consultant at Baxter Planning) to unpack the reality of supply chain automation beyond the sales pitch. They discuss the tension between speed and accuracy, and why implementing forecasting softwa...

Logistics didn't stabilise in 2025 - it adapted. The question now is whether the industry is prepared to survive 2026 or position itself to lead when growth returns. KEY CONCEPTS COVERED: The state of logistics volumes, volatility, and resilience Asset ownership vs flexibility in modern supply chains The future of 3PL, 4PL, and virtual logistics models In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Os...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov from FLOX is joined by Ross Jermy, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Move Parcel, to unpack the realities of last-mile delivery in a post-COVID world. From shifting consumer expectations and first-time delivery failures to courier fragmentation and rising congestion, Ross explains why moving parcels is no longer the hard part — managing inform...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Michael Ostroumov from FLOX sits down with Oisin Hanrahan, founder and CEO of Keychain, to explore how AI is transforming CPG and FMCG supply chains. From private label growth and the decline of traditional big CPG advantages to the rise of third-party manufacturing and rapid product innovation, Oisin shares why the next decade will belong to brands that mov...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov speaks with Keiran Hewkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Swyft Home, about how intentional supply chain design enabled next-day sofa delivery at scale. Keiran shares his journey from heavy industry into furniture, explains why Swyft chose an inventory-led model, and breaks down the operational “ballet” behind modular design, technology-driven fulfillmen...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov speaks with Marloes Wanrooij, a senior supply chain and cold chain operations expert whose career spans more than 16 years across container leasing, quality leadership, and temperature-controlled logistics. Marloes shares her accidental entry into logistics, how operational experience shaped her perspective on quality, and why quality functions...

Rob also dives deep into diagnosing broken supply chains: where to begin, why data quality is a persistent barrier, and how upstream supplier constraints can quietly cripple downstream service performance. With practical examples from high-pressure turnaround environments, he illustrates the importance of simplicity in inventory design, rigorous data cleansing, and leadership that listens before a...

If you operate in craft / batch production, logistics becomes a cashflow and service-level problem, not just transport. This episode covers how to scale without losing quality. In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov sits down with Jonathan Hope, co-founder of Slow Sauce, a Scotland-based miso and soy sauce brewery built on tradition, craftsmanship, and patience. Jonathan describes hi...

Multi-carrier is only “cheaper” when you control service, exceptions, and customer communication. This episode is about how to structure carrier strategy and governance. In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Michael Ostroumov sits down with Bobbie Ttooulis, Group Marketing Director at GFS, to explore how multi-carrier management is transforming modern delivery operations. Bobbie shares how her t...

In this episode of Chain Reaction , Michael sits down with Leanne Parkin , Operations Director at Ramsden International, for a deep dive into the world of global export logistics. From accidental beginnings in criminology to leading complex warehousing, compliance, and logistics functions, Leanne Parkin recounts her progression into a role that now oversees one of the most intricate export operati...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, Michael Ostroumov sits down with Natalia Gandara Vilas, Head of Supply Chain Europe at HCT Group, one of the world’s leading cosmetic and packaging manufacturers. Natalia shares her remarkable journey across fashion, food, and beauty industries, explaining how agility and innovation now define the modern supply chain. From established giants like L’Oréal and Esté...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Michael Ostroumov sits down with Johannes Kloess, Head of Operations at Thortful, the UK-based online greeting cards and gifts marketplace. With a background in microbiology and vaccine research, Johannes brings a scientist’s mindset to the complex world of seasonal logistics, where Valentine's and Mother’s Day can transform daily operations overnight. Johan...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Michael Ostroumov sits down with Max Adorian, Head of Operations at Living Things Soda, one of the UK’s fastest-growing functional beverage startups. Max shares his unconventional journey from e-commerce entrepreneur to operations leader, revealing how curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving led him into the dynamic world of supply chains. The conversatio...

In this episode of Chain Reaction, host Michael Ostroumov welcomes Alberto Borge Corral, General Manager of Tast Cuina Catalana, a Catalonian restaurant in Manchester, for an eye-opening conversation on how global supply chain disruptions have reshaped the hospitality industry. From Brexit’s trade barriers to COVID’s operational lockdowns, Alberto shares first-hand stories of navigating chaos in s...