JAVIER CARNEVALI PENELLA
GRUPO HERDEZ key partners. For strategic suppliers, this means long-term contracts, transparent cost structures and collaborative innovation efforts.
Javier points to the COVID-19 pandemic as validation of this approach:“ During the pandemic, we could maintain our level of services to the plants without any change, with a KPI around the supplier performance evaluation.”
Remarkably, Grupo Herdez ® maintained this high standard throughout the crisis – a testament to the strength of its strategic supplier relationships.
Javier expands:“ Our policy is,‘ we have a strategic relationship,
JAVIER CARNEVALI PENELLA
TITLE: CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER
Javier Carnevali has over 25 years of experience leading consulting and management teams of strategic sourcing, procurement and spend management across various industries and countries. He is currently the Chief Procurement Officer at Grupo Herdez in Mexico City. Grupo Herdez is the leader in the processed food sector in Mexico as well as in the Mexican food segment in the United States. Javier is the author of a methodology to improve company’ s profits called“ Spend Lifecycle Management”. so I will do everything to not affect you during these difficult times’. And that’ s when you realise that all that time that you invest in creating these strategic relationships, it pays off.”
Leveraging technology and data analytics Technology forms a crucial part of Grupo Herdez ®’ s procurement strategy, with continuous investment in digital tools enhancing processes and decision-making.
Since 2016, the company has implemented the Coupa platform for strategic sourcing, procure-to-pay processes, contract management, travel and expenses and analytics.
“ Technology nowadays is key in order to make things happen in the right way,” Javier asserts.“ Of course, you can manage a tender process with email and spreadsheets and documents, but is that the best way to do it? No.”
The centralised procurement function at Grupo Herdez ® manages approximately 80 % of the company’ s spend, conducting more than 14,000 quoting events annually through the digital platform. This provides comprehensive visibility across all procurement activities, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Looking ahead, Javier notes that Grupo Herdez ® is exploring AI-powered applications, particularly in supply chain planning:“ Currently we are having the benefits of AI through those tools, but we will have direct investment in AI doing things that we directly develop.”
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