On 26 May, Gartner released its annual ranking of global supply chains, which identifies leaders across industries and spotlights those forging the way in creating digital and sustainable supply chains.
In this, the 18th edition of the research firm’s Supply Chain Top 25, we retained our spot in the exclusive ‘Masters’ category for the fourth consecutive year, alongside Amazon, Apple, P&G and McDonald’s.
The ranking looks at overall business and corporate responsibility metrics, how peers rate each other, and how Gartner analysts also view and rank these companies. The Masters category acknowledges sustained supply chain excellence. To be considered Masters, companies must have attained top-five composite scores for at least seven out of the past ten years. As such, it is a highly prestigious and much coveted recognition.
This year – according to the analysts who compile the list – our Masters status was secured by our continued transformation for a purpose-led supply chain that leverages agility and resilience for competitive differentiation, heavy investment in analytics to drive real-time decision making, and scouting sustainability opportunities through smaller, diverse, start-up suppliers and ecosystems with competitors.
The past few years have been incredibly difficult for supply chains all over the world, keeping factories running while countries are moving in and out of lockdown, as well as having to deal with high inflation and shipping congestion.
In a message to all employees, our Chief Supply Chain and Business Operations Officer, Reggie Ecclissato wrote: “We have achieved this recognition due to the dedication and passion of the many thousands of people who work across Unilever’s global supply chain. It is through your tireless efforts to keep people safe, to ensure that the communities we operate in continue to receive essential goods and services every day, everywhere, and to consistently push the boundaries in the sustainability and digital realms, to build a future-fit, purpose-driven supply chain that delivers today and transforms tomorrow.”
About the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25
The Supply Chain Top 25 ranking comprises two main components: business performance and opinion. Business performance in the form of public financial and ESG (environmental, social, governance) data provides a view into how companies have performed in the past. The opinion component offers an eye to future potential and reflects leadership in the supply chain community. These two components are combined into a total composite score.