There is no doubt, according to recent sound research evidence, that organizations must believe in constant improvement and constant change, and need to gain a clear perspective on how to approach the changing landscape and to organize for innovation, developing talent and skills, building on strengths, digitizing their core businesses and innovating with new digital ones, evaluating new technologies and digital advances, while better understanding the link between creative destruction, disruptive innovation, digital disruption, digital transformation, and delivering the change through an ecosystem of partners at the confluence between Supply Chain Management and Demand Chain Management, trying to go beyond visibility, to a Digital Supply Chain that detects and responds to changes, benefitting from new waves of innovation in Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain etc., while considering the convergence of Digital & Marketing, followed by better increasingly seamless Digital Brand Experiences.

The Academic & Business Partnership 2017 SCM 4 ECR Conference, 19-21 October, Târgovişte, Romania – with the theme “Physical Internet and New Challenges in Supply Chain Management: Rethinking the Supply Chain 4.0 for Consumer Value” – was organized by the SCM-ECR Laboratory, The Faculty of Economic Sciences, Valahia University of Târgovişte – in collaboration with The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF – the Global Network Serving Shopper & Consumer Needs) E2E Value Chain & Standards Pillar, Paris, Czestochowa University of Technology (Poland), Romanian Logistics Association – ARILOG, Romanian-American University (Faculty of Management-Marketing), University Politehnica of Bucharest (Faculty of Transports), Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Faculty of Business and Tourism), University of Piteşti (Faculty of Mechanics and Technology), and Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti (UPG, Faculty of Economic Sciences).

This year’s SCM 4 ECR Conference was attended by the globally recognised Keynote Speaker Ruediger Hagedorn  –Senior Manager, Collaborative Value Chain Initiatives & Projects, The Consumer Goods Forum, Paris – who delivered again a high-profile talk of real interest to everyone, reconfirming his usual aplomb and consciousness while revealing experience, expertise and wisdom. Another special guest was Dr. Gerd Wolfram, (Founder of) IOT Innovation & Consult – Germany. For example, he contributed to the prestigious book “Retailing in the 21st Century. Current and Future Trends ”, Springer Berlin • Heidelberg 2006, Editors: Prof. Dr. Manfred Krafft (University of Muenster, Institute of Marketing) and Prof. Murali K. Mantrala, PhD, University of Missouri – Columbia. At that time he was Managing Director of MGI Metro Group Information Technology GmbH, being: responsible for innovation and advanced technologies, and also for the corporate IT strategy within the Metro Group, one hand; and on the other hand, Executive Project Manager of the Metro Group Future Store Initiative; Co-chair of standardization working groups in EPC global, GCI and GS1 Germany. After that, he was Senior Vice President and Head of Systems and Solutions at SMARTRAC Technology Group. Recently he participated in the QVC-study “shopping 2036 (2)” as expert (https://zukunftdeseinkaufens.com/shopping-2036-2-shopping-between-individualization-fragmentation/ ), and he was moderator at POPAI Forum, March 7, 2017 (at EuroShop, The World’s No. 1 Retail Trade Fair), while on March 8, 2017 he approached the challenging topic “Future Shopping 2030+” at the same Forum. EuroShop (held 16th-20th February in Düsseldorf, Germany) was also attended by Ruediger Hagedorn, who presented the CGF’s work on the Future Value Network to attending delegates and joined the (above mentioned Forum) POPAI D-A-CH Awards jury (http://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/e2e-value-chain-news/955-q1-2017-update-ruediger-hagedorn-attends-euroshop-2017 ). It is also worth mentioning within this context that RAU Professor Theodor Purcarea joined EuroShop 2011 following the invitation of Prof. Dr. Bernd Hallier as Chairman of the Advisory Board of EuroShop, and EHI Retail Institute’s Managing Director (https://www.crd-aida.ro/2011/03/the-european-retail-academy-met-for-its-annual-meeting-2011-at-the-ehi-retail-institute-gs1-germany-and-the-world-leading-exhibition-for-retail-technology-euroshop-main-special-issue-for-era-was-lif-2/ ).

The wonderful 2017 SCM 4 ECR Conference addressed a number of topics around the current new challenges –  Digital Supply Chain and Consumer Engagement; Future Value Chain – Rethinking Networks through Omni-Channel for Consumer; The Inflection Point: Demand Chain Management vs. Supply Chain Management; Physical Internet in Supply Chain Management; Industry 4.0 and Rethinking Supply Chain 4.0 – being well-attended. It is well-known that every step that occurred in SCM 4 ECR Conference’s history (1996-2017) was in its own way unique, also considering the recent confirmation of the inclusion of the Supply Chain Management Journal in Top 100. These achievements are incontestable proofs of the passion, competence and perseverance of Professor Virgil Popa, Conference Founder and Chairman, the builder of this true brand – Supply Chain Management (SCM) for Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) Conference.

It is also worth highlighting the launch within this special context of the new book “SCM4ECR” (822 pages, 557 references etc.) of Professor Virgil Popa, a great work speaking for itself. It is our pleasure to make reference to the distinctive stamp put by the reputed Ruediger Hagedorn in his Foreword: “… it contains the experience of a lifetime… is both a future classic and a treasure…” written by a “… dear friend, admired professor and renowned expert Prof. Virgil Popa”.

It is well-known that Professor Virgil Popa is Vice President of the Executive College of SSMAR, and Director of ECR Department (since 1996) of the Romanian Distribution Committee.

Le Président de la France, Emmanuel Macron, a fait une visite en Roumanie le 24 août, à l’invitation du Président de la Roumanie, Klaus Iohannis. L’accueille a eu lieu au Palais présidentiel Cotroceni de Bucarest. Cette visite a été considéré “une excellente occasion de travailler ensemble pour renforcer notre relation et pour améliorer le projet européen” (http://www.presidency.ro/ro/media/agenda-presedintelui/conferinta-de-presa-comuna-a-presedintelui-romaniei-domnul-klaus-iohannis-cu-presedintele-republicii-franceze-domnul-emmanuel-macron ).

De la délégation conduite par le Président de la République français, ont fait partie la Ministre des Affaires Européennes, Madame Nathalie Loiseau, l’Ambassadeur de France en Roumanie, Madame Michèle Ramis, le Chef d’Etat-major du Président, l’Amiral Bernard Rogel, et les Conseillers Monsieur Philippe Etienne, Monsieur Clément Beaune, Madame Barbara Frugier, Monsieur Nicolas Jégou. Permettez-nous d’ajouter dans la perspective de la Saison culturelle Roumanie – France, qui aura lieu entre le 1er décembre 2018 – 30 juin 2019, marquant le Centenaire de la création de la Roumanie moderne, un élément ayant un caractère particulier: dans un livre (“Usages diplomatiques et protocole”) présenté dans “La Gazette Diplomatique” de Bruxelles, No. 45, décembre 2004, nous avons eu l’honneur et le plaisir de témoigner les discussions avec Son Excellence Monsieur Philippe Etienne, (ancient) Ambassadeur de France en Roumanie (à present Conseiller diplomatique du Président de la République français). Homme de vaste culture, Monsieur Philippe Etienne parle très bien la langue roumaine, ce qui lui a permis d’approfondir la culture, l’histoire et la philosophie de la Roumanie, faisant preuve de la capabilite de distinguer au-delà des apparences, construisant des ponts, fournisant des outils pour le dialogue et le développement des relations bilatérales.

     Nicholas Dima (who currently lectures and is a contributor to Selous Foundation for Public Policy Research – SFPPR– News & Analysis of the online-conservative-journalism center at the Washington-based SFPPR) wrote an article entitled “Trump hosts Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis”, and posted on June 20, 2017 on the prestigious Selous Foundation website. SFPPR think tank was founded in 1985 during the height of the President Ronald Reagan years, whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies based on the American values and benefits derived from the Founding Fathers and the Constitution, including limited government, individual liberty, freedom, opportunity, economic prosperity and the primacy of national sovereignty.

Link: http://sfppr.org/2017/06/trump-hosts-romanias-president-klaus-iohannis/

     Let us recall the wise words of the President Ronald Reagan: “What makes our revolution unique and so exciting, then, is that it changed the very concept of government. Here was a new nation telling the world that it was conceived in liberty; that all men are created equal with God-given rights, and that power ultimately resides in “We the people.” We sometimes forget this great truth, and we never should, because putting people first has always been America’s secret weapon. It’s the way we’ve kept the spirit of our revolution alive—a spirit that drives us to dream and dare, and take great risks for a greater good” (Ronald Reagan: “Message on the Observance of Independence Day ,” July 3, 1981. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=44039).

     It is also worth recalling what was underlined, from the very beginning, on July 4, 2017 by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the celebration of the Independence Day organized by the Embassy of the United States of America in Romania: “On behalf of the Romanian people, I warmly congratulate all of you present here today, and the entire American nation, on this special occasion. 241 years after the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, the 4th of July is fundamental not only for the American people, but for the entire world. Indeed, the world we live in today would not have been the same without this historic milestone. This should remind us, once more, that we – on both sides of the Atlantic – have to stand closer than ever to defend our core values and our collective security.” (http://www.presidency.ro/ro/media/discursuri/participare-la-receptia-oferita-de-ambasada-sua-cu-ocazia-celei-de-a-241-a-aniversari-a-zilei-independentei).

     Nicholas Dima – also a visiting professor at the Romanian-American University – is a strong advocate of freedom of learning, of education, of seeking knowledge. His American professional career (he received a doctoral degree from Columbia University in New York) includes working 20 years for Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, and teaching college, university and US Military schools for another ten years. Among his most rewarding achievements were meeting Kings, Presidents, and Prime ministers as a VOA reporter and editor, teaching American officers up to the rank of full colonel (for example, Professor and Director for European Studies at the US Army, J.F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC., 1985-1988), teaching in the US and Africa, and promoting democracy, education, and human values world-wide.  All this time, Dr. Dima defended tirelessly the rights of Romania and the Romanian people in the US and promoted a better Romanian-American understanding. Dr. Dima also helped the cause of the Romanian-American University in the US and contributed to its cooperation with James Mason University of Virginia. He has received numerous Academic Honors, Grants, and Awards.

An Honorary Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee, John L. Stanton – Professor of Food Marketing at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, USA, and Honored Personality 2016 of the European Retail Academy (included in the ERA Hall of Fame; other distinguished personalities who have been honored by ERA in the last years: Philip Alexander Nobel, Léon F. Wegnez, Romano Prodi, Klaus Toepfer, Robert Aumann) – is a well-known food marketing practitioner. He was founding editor and Editor-in-Chief of the „Journal of Food Products Marketing”, Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of International Food and Agribusiness”, and an editorial advisor of the British Food Journal.

He was the Chair of the Department of Food Marketing (the first endowed chair in food marketing in the USA), Saint Joseph’s University. Dr. Stanton held positions in different companies’ boards, and was expert and expert witness to many food and beverage companies, being regularly quoted in the news media including CNN, the Today Show and NBC Nightly News, and also in Forbes, Fortune, Advertising Age, Brand Week, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many others. He also hosted an episode of the History Channel’s Modern Marvels entitled, “The History of the Supermarket.” Dr. Stanton was also among the first to author articles on health and nutrition advertising claims with articles in the Journal of Advertising Research as early as 1987.

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It is our pleasure to announce the official publication of Volume 7 (Number 1) of Supply Chain Management Journal (Editor-in-chief: Prof. Virgil Popa, PhD), edited by the SCM – ECR Laboratory and the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Valahia University of Târgovişte. The new issue starts out by presenting the “Latest E2E News & Updates from the Consumer Goods Forum, Paris” relating to the Academic Partnership 2016 SCM4ECR Conference (organized by the SCM-ECR Laboratory, The Faculty of Economic Sciences, Valahia University of Târgovişte – in collaboration with Czestochowa University of Technology/Poland, Romanian Logistics Association/ARILOG, University Politehnica of Bucharest/Faculty of Transports, Bucharest University of Economic Studies/Faculty of Marketing & Faculty of Business and Tourism, and Romanian-American University/Faculty of Management-Marketing), where the Keynote Speaker Ruediger Hagedorn, Senior Manager, Collaborative Value Chain Initiatives & Projects, The Consumer Goods Forum, delivered a high-profile talk of real interest to everyone.

Allow us within this context to remember three valuable books published the previous years by the distinguished Editor-in-chief: Prof. Virgil Popa, PhD: “Supply Chain Management in Consumer Goods Industry & Retail” – „SCM for ECR”, Valahia University Press, 2009; “Supply Chain Management. Fundamental and Support Elements”, edited by Virgil Popa & Marta Starostka-Patyk, and published by Czestochova University of Technology, Poland, 2013 (Reviewers: Janusz Krzysztof Grabara, Theodor Valentin Purcarea and Gheorghe Gh. Ionescu); “Project Management. Standards and Good Practices”, Valahia University Press, 2014. And as a picture is worth a thousand words, it is also worth remembering some pictures from the above mentioned Academic Partnership 2016 SCM4ECR Conference.