What’s the current state of our global supply chain and what’s driving costs, efficiencies and risk to the maritime shipping network?   The Smart Acids return to navigate what's happening at sea with Jeff “Starbuck” Dixon, Director of International Trade Services for Univar Solutions. Listen now as Dixon discusses how carriers are withstanding disruptions such as the Baltimore Key Bridge incident, how the supply chain is impacted by geopolitical factors, climate change and associated regulations, artificial intelligence, and more. 3:10 - Bonus game: Chris and Andy put Jeff to the test o ..read more

What's shaping the future of food and beverage markets? Chef Mike Haracz brings his corporate chef expertise to the Smart Acids table to discuss the innovative landscape of the food industry and culinary product development. Let's dig into top food trends of 2024, including cost engineering, manufacturing better-for-you products, and reformulating with wholesome, healthier ingredients for health and nutrition. As Smart Acids host Andy Erickson says, "give it a tasty!  Bonus game: Do you know your dining table etiquette? Chef Mike Haracz is an R&D professional with more than 18 years ..read more

"Everything in our world is chemistry and chemistry is everywhere in our lives," - David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute This episode is one for the history books. Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome "The Historian" David Allen Cole, CEO of the Science History Institute, to share stories and historical context around the perception of chemicals, areas of upcoming chemistry innovation, historical scares and advances within chemistry, and how the chemical industry's past informs our present as we innovate and solve for the future.  Bonus: Dwayne "The R ..read more

Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Detroit native and BASF Key Account Manager Jarrett "Hustle" Russell to share a global outlook about what’s happening with production and demand across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America. Tune in for a chemical industry insider’s take on potential challenges associated with economic recovery and the value of the producer/distributor relationship.  BASF is a European multinational company and the largest chemical producer in the world, with headquarters located in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Smart Acids™ is the source for product ins ..read more

Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome Chris "The Foreman" McAfee, Senior Director of Energy Upstream at Univar Solutions, for a view on the oil and gas industry landscape, what’s ahead for commodities, and the rising price per barrel. But first, see if an un-caffeinated Chris lives up to his Energy Director credentials when he takes the Smart Acids Energy Drink quiz.    4:58 – Energy sector breakdown: Upstream, Downstream, Midstream   5:43 – Energy market overview  6:53 – Oil & gas outlook   8:14 – Green energy movement and its impact on oil & gas ..read more

Smart Acids hosts Andy and Chris welcome back our resident expert of alcohol (the alcohol with two carbons, aka ethanol), Product Director Duane "Papa Z" Ziolkowski, for a quick rundown of the different classifications and regulatory requirements of ethanol products. 1:33 - Differences among ethanol classifications  2:00 - Undenatured ethanol 2:14 - Specially denatured alcohol  3:30 - Distilled spirits permit 4:25 - Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB.gov) and SDA formulations 5:45 - How Univar Solutions can help you navigate this product market intel Smart Acids™ is the s ..read more

Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson and Chris Ernst welcome Univar Solutions VP Industrial Solutions Michael ‘Diamond Delli’ DelliCompagni to talk about the industrial side of specialty chemicals, market moves in this segment, how the cost of borrowing is impacting manufacturers, and what’s most exciting about upcoming trends. Also, find out how you measure up against our guest in the ‘rhymes with gritty’ game. Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and current market moves related to chemical and specialty ingredient distribution—breaking it all down one boron at a time. Join hosts Andy ..read more

Smart Acids hosts Andy Erickson, Chris Ernst and special guest host Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark welcome CEO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), Eric ‘the filibuster’ Byer, to talk critical policy issues facing the chemical distribution industry and the role that NACD is playing. Special guest host intro, Dwayne ‘the self-proclaimed Rock’ Roark (1:55) Welcome Eric ‘the fillibuster’ Byer (3:25) Bonus round: Do you know your fictional CEOs? (5:03) Current political climate in Washington, D.C. (7:25) Railway Safety Act – the junction of union + pro-business NA ..read more

Let’s talk all things ag – seasons, cycles, and other organic matters. Special guest Christian Jeuris, Agriculture Business Development Manager at Univar Solutions, helps us get to the bottom of Agriculture’s cyclical market, the state of the upcoming season, current industry challenges, and the latest innovations. Think product synergies and soil health. Why are players in the Ag space bullish on our present market? We’ve got you covered but not before the Smart Acids Ag Quiz puts Christian’s and our listeners’ knowledge to the test.   Smart Acids™ is the source for product insights and ..read more

Breaker-Breaker...Transportation Leader Rob McRae knows what’s driving the future of distribution. In this episode, McRae takes a comparative look at the truck transportation subsector and current state of today's carriers, and why our very own Univar Solutions fleet – the largest private fleet inside the chemical industry – can go the distance for customers. 10-4. "It's a hyper inflated or hyper deflated market," McRae reports. "Only if you have good predictive analytics can you afford to do an annual bid. But an annual bid will really help to mitigate some of those cost inflation points. So ..read more