Archive for July, 2025

Is the price of beef affecting your summer?

Tuesday, July 29th, 2025

 

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

Summers here and with that a lot of us like to hang outside and do a lot of grilling.  If you are one of the people that enjoy grilling, you may have noticed the price of beef is reaching record high prices.  The average price for a pound of ground beef just before the Fourth of July was $6.67 a pound, which is about seventy cents more than May and 50 percent more than five years ago.  One of the main factors behind the rising prices is the shrinking cattle population.  According to experts, the national herd has declined to around eighty-seven million, which is the lowest recorded since 1951.  Part of the problem is the prolonged droughts which devastated grazing pastures in the cattle producing states such as Nebraska, Texas, and Kansas.  These droughts have forced many farmers to cull their herds which account for the lower population.   Another issue that also affected the cattle is growing cases of the New World Screwworm which is a parasitic fly whose maggots burrow into and feed on the flesh of the cattle.  This led to the halts of imports from Mexico to the U.S., but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently stated that some of the ports could reopen soon.  Unfortunately, the USDA predicts that cattle prices will remain elevated into 2026, which means the retail beef prices probably won’t drop for several years. Even with the high prices, it remains Americans’ second-favorite choice of meat, according to the USDA, with nearly fifty-seven pounds of it being consumed per person annually. Until the prices start to come down you may want to look into some of the following options to reduce your costs.

  • Choose the Right Cuts
  • Buy Whole Cuts and Trim Yourself
  • Stretch your Meat with Fillers
  • Buy in Bulk and Freeze
  • Consider other Grilling Options like Chicken and Pork
  • Make your own Rubs and Sauces

If you need help sourcing items for your company, feel free to contact SafeSourcing.   We can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which company and product meets your needs.  If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.  We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

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Procurement and Artificial Intelligence (Ai)

Monday, July 28th, 2025

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Director of HR and Administration at SafeSourcing

Procurement and many other industries are undergoing a radical transformation, thanks to artificial intelligence. Specifically, procurement has been able to utilize ai tools in its sown unique way. In fact, procurement is now becoming a strategic driver of value and innovation with AI tools lending an ability  to play a central role in this evolution. From automating routine tasks to enabling predictive analytics and strategic sourcing, AI helps procurement teams save time, reduce costs, and make smarter decisions.

AI can analyze large datasets to uncover hidden patterns in spending. These tools consolidate data across departments, identify maverick spend, and highlight opportunities for savings. These tools can offer ai-powered spend analytics and can combine machine learning and data cleansing for added insight. AI tools continuously monitor supplier performance, financial health, geopolitical risks, and compliance issues. They can alert procurement professionals to potential disruptions before they happen.

Ai can also assist in other ways. Reviewing contracts manually is time-consuming, but AI tools can read and extract key terms, flag risky clauses, and ensure compliance with internal policies and regulations. These tools can assist in contract visibility and risk mitigation along with contract management.

AI may also lend a hand in supplier selection based on price, quality, lead time, and other variables, while some ai tools even simulate negotiation scenarios and recommend optimal outcomes. AI chatbots, virtual assistants, and robotic process automation can handle customer facing questions, purchase requisitions, invoice processing, and some follow-ups.

While AI tools offer major advantages, implementation can be complex. Organizations must ensure high-quality data, employee training, and system integration. Ethical AI use, transparency, and change management are also key concerns.

AI tools in procurement are not just a trend; they’re a necessity for organizations that want to stay competitive in a data-driven world. Whether you’re aiming to boost efficiency, reduce risk, or gain deeper insights, AI can empower procurement teams to deliver more strategic value than ever before. The future of procurement is intelligent and it’s happening now.

For more information on how the SafeSourcing can help your e-procurement needs, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

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