Dale O’Brien & 7Eleven - More than $1 coffee

When COVID hit Australian shores back in March, one of the first things we noticed was toilet paper and staple food items like flour and oats being quickly grabbed off shelves in a buying frenzy.

Food supplies were being hit with high demand panic buying.

But the story behind how our food gets to our shops’ shelves is an interesting one, even as it was being pummelled by the uncertainty of how we first viewed COVID. 

Dale O’Brien, Supply Chain Manager at 7-Eleven had a front row seat to the runaway freight train of demand which COVID caused.  His role is to ensure the chain of food and products supplied to the shelves of the iconic convenience stores nationwide, is uninterrupted.  The management of these logistics highlighted some interesting dilemmas for the chain.

For example delivery trucks can be noisy. Many councils prohibit them from travelling on suburban roads at low peak times of the day to reduce noise levels for residents. Following COVID, and grocery stores being required to respond quickly to customer demands, some allowances were made for delivery vehicles to supply stores outside of regular hours.

Marcellin Old Collegian Dale O’Brien has over 15 years experience at a senior level in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and was well-placed to handle the challenges presented to 7Eleven’s supply chain.

Hear his insights on COVID and consumer patterns in our podcast on Monday 26 Oct. Only available to financial members. Join the Marcellin Business Network today.

www.marcellinbusinessnetwork.com.au