The vertically integrated agriculture and food producer takes on the job of overhauling its supply, demand and logistics-planning systems, while opening a major new production plant.

Connell Limited Partnership, a global manufacturer serving the automobile, appliance, mining, rail and industrial equipment industries, has completed its acquisition of SencorpWhite, a provider of automated systems for the packaging industry through its Sencorp, Ceratek and Cerapak product lines.

The food industry has a lot on its plate these days.

"Planning for disruption" can seem like a contradiction in terms, but there are measures that food companies can take to protect themselves from the inevitable crises that threaten to derail their supply chains, however unpredictable they might be, says Brian Benjamin, senior director of strategic accounts with Havi Global Solutions.