Supply Chain Management: We better HOP to it!

We may be paying 30 to 50 cents more per six pack and several microbrewers will not survive the year due to the recent shortage of hops. Bad weather and poor planning left growers short on supply ratcheting-up the price of the little flowers that make beer taste good. All this goes to show that even small business players need to be concerned about supply chain management. Are you in touch with your suppliers issues? What contingencies do you have in place to ensure that you have the raw materials you need to ensure your market success? If not, you better hop to it!