Fortune's 2026 America's Best Companies list highlights the top 500 large public and private companies in the US. This year's list is led by Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, Royal Caribbean, Morgan Stanley and Delta Air Lines. Technology, retail, and financial firms dominate the rankings, but several members of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors made the list. Member companies include Grainger, Wesco, TopBuild, Avnet, Henry Schein and ABC Supply.

Trade policies and cyberthreats are among the top supply chain challenges for 2026, according to Sedgwick's 2026 Forecasting Report. Two-thirds of executives report that US trade policies have had a negative impact on their business, while only 3% claim they have had a positive effect. Other risks include AI advancement, labor shortages and extreme weather.

Ongoing trade disruptions and tariffs have significantly influenced holiday shopping, according to the latest CNBC Supply Chain survey. However, 44% of respondents reported more items leaving warehouses compared with last year, with about one-third reporting fewer items. Housewares, apparel and promotional items are the top product categories, while luxury and furniture lag. Respondents say ecommerce volumes are up, and AI is increasingly being used for predictive analytics and inventory management.

Amazon Business has rolled out enhancements to its Business Prime membership, aiming to transform it from a procurement-focused program into a comprehensive platform for small and midsize businesses to help reduce costs, enhance cybersecurity and streamline operations. The benefits bundle fast, free shipping and analytics, as well as key business software solutions at significant discounts or no additional cost.

AI agents are transforming procurement by automating time-consuming tasks such as contract searches, RFP drafting, supplier identification and risk assessment, writes Stan Garber, the co-founder and president of Levelpath, who notes that unlike earlier AI tools that merely offered insights or answered questions, AI agents independently complete entire processes within defined workflows. This allows procurement professionals to dedicate more time to strategic activities, such as building supplier relationships and making high-stakes decisions, Garber writes.

Short-form video content is now essential for marketing, with 89% of businesses using it, with authentic, behind-the-scenes videos often outperform polished ones, writes Michelle Van Slyke, who leads sales and marketing for The UPS Store. Brands should use AI to enhance customer interactions while maintaining authenticity and also adapt to new search behaviors, as many younger consumers use social media and AI-powered tools for discovery, Van Slyke writes.

The rush to finish projects before the end of the year can hasten feelings of burnout and exhaustion, writes management consultant Marc Cugnon, who recommends helping your team identify and prioritize what needs to be done now and what can wait until next year. "We get ourselves into trouble when we start treating the end of the year like some big chasm that we can't see the other side of," Cugnon writes.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.

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