Examining Innovation

In conjunction with our first annual Growth & Innovation Forum this month, our September issue also is focused on innovation. Steve Jobs once said that "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." That thought is certainly evident throughout the pages of this issue, as executives from the leading consumer goods (CG) companies speak about their innovation strategies. Our cover story with Procter & Gamble (P&G) (Page 18), the mother of all innovators, gives a glimpse into the remarkable breadth of understanding the company possesses on what it takes to innovate, and illustrates the foresight that has taken them from a soap company in the 1800s to nearly $60 billion in sales last year. The latest example of its this came recently when, after a planned terror attack was uncovered, liquids were banned from aircrafts.

While this could have be seen as a blow to CG companies, it was an opportunity to P&G. Within the week, the company partnered with Avis to offer "smile packs" filled with needed toiletries to travelers renting cars from this company. You'll see that in every capacity, working for P&G is synonymous with being innovative. Other industry giants keep up the pace as well. In our "Innovation Roundtable," (Page 22) leaders from Kimberly-Clark, Campbell, Kraft Foods and The Kroger Co. define innovation, tell how their companies prioritize it and work with external partners to generate new ideas. Also showcased are some of their newest products. Helping to get new products where they need to go is covered in the special 2006 Supply Chain Execution Pull-Out Chart, featuring a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings; plus, commentary from industry thought leaders around the changing supply chain landscape.
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