Supply Chain Resilience Now Top CEO Threat: 48% of Retail Leaders Concerned

Supply chain resilience has emerged as the dominant threat to growth for global consumer and retail CEOs, with 48 percent identifying it as a critical risk over the next three years, nearly triple the rate from 2023. This escalating concern is translating directly into investment, with 44 percent of retail CEOs prioritizing supply chain resilience and operational continuity investments, compared to just 25 percent across all sectors. The heightened focus reflects structural vulnerabilities in global distribution networks and the sector's exposure to cascading disruptions.

Paradoxically, this pessimism about supply chain stability coexists with growing confidence in sector prospects and organizational performance. Eighty-four percent of consumer and retail CEOs report confidence in industry growth, with 37 percent expressing very high confidence, the highest among all surveyed sectors. This dual sentiment suggests that while CEOs believe the sector will grow, they recognize that supply chain disruptions pose the greatest barrier to capturing that growth and maintaining competitive advantage.

Investments are broadening beyond traditional supply chain resilience to encompass cybersecurity (44 percent) and AI-driven operational optimization. However, AI implementation is becoming more disciplined: 71 percent view AI as a top priority, but workflow AI integration spending has declined year-on-year. Meanwhile, nearly 72 percent of CEOs report redesigning employee training due to AI adoption, signaling that workforce capability gaps are becoming as critical as technology deployment itself.