The 13th edition of ET Edge SCM Fest 2026 concluded after two days of discussions, bringing together over 1,250 delegates from manufacturing, logistics, procurement, healthcare, infrastructure, retail, and technology. Hosted at Taj Palace, New Delhi, the summit featured a conference, exhibition, and awards programme, focusing on building supply chains capable of navigating an uncertain global environment.
Summit Highlights and Key Messages
Co-Powered by Ascendas Firstspace and Bennett University, Supported by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and with PwC India as Knowledge Partner, the summit reinforced that efficiency alone is no longer sufficient. The future belongs to resilient, intelligent, and collaborative supply chains.
Arvind Bhandari, Chairman & Managing Director, Goodyear India, opened the summit, highlighting India's opportunity to become a trusted manufacturing and supply chain destination as global businesses prioritize resilience and diversification.
Chief Guest Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development, outlined the government's vision for strengthening agricultural supply chains, enhancing food security, and positioning India as a dependable partner in global food systems.
Shreyasi Singh, Hon'ble Minister of Industries & Sports, Government of Bihar, highlighted Bihar's expanding industrial and logistics ecosystem, showcasing the state's infrastructure pipeline and the growing role of regional manufacturing hubs.
Beyond Traditional Supply Chain Conversations
A spotlight session explored the coordination behind organ transplant logistics, where over fifty healthcare professionals worked within a narrow biological window to save lives through precision planning.
Former Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao provided insights into India's currency supply chain, emphasizing the secure network managing one of the country's critical physical infrastructures.
BigBasket shared the human side of supply chains, discussing traffic, weather, safety, and customer expectations in last-mile delivery.
On the Micro Stage, leaders from food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, logistics, and warehousing explored challenges like AI-enabled demand sensing, digital procurement, localization, sustainable logistics, supply chain visibility, and resilient supplier ecosystems. A real-world example highlighted how a viral social media trend unexpectedly transformed demand for a dairy product overnight, underscoring the need for agility and data-driven decision-making.
Awards Recognizing Excellence
ET Edge SCM Fest 2026 celebrated organizations and leaders driving transformation through its awards programme. Winners included:
- Excellence in Supplier Relationship Management: Platinum: Tata Steel; Gold: Boeing India; Silver: Page Industries; Bronze: SRF
- Pioneering Risk Mitigation Strategies: Platinum: Forbes Marshall; Gold: Lanxess India; Silver: Siemens Energy India; Bronze: Nestle India
- Champion of Sustainable Procurement Practices: Platinum: ITC; Gold: Hindustan Zinc; Silver: Siemens Energy India; Bronze: Mahindra & Mahindra
- Trailblazer in Procurement Transformation Initiatives: Platinum: Hindustan Zinc; Gold: Mankind Pharma
- Innovator in Digital Technology Integration: Platinum: TVS Motor; Gold: Tata Steel; Silver: Bharti Airtel; Bronze: Coromandel International
- Outstanding Achievement in Collaborative Teamwork: Platinum: IMS (Pharmapoint Group); Gold: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries; Silver: Hindustan Unilever; Bronze: Envision Energy India
- Excellence in Innovation Award for Startups: Platinum: Imagine Marketing; Gold: VilCart Solutions; Silver: Sweet Karam Coffee
- Jury Choice Awards: Platinum: Grasim Industries (Birla Opus); Gold: Abbott Healthcare; Silver: L&T Realty Properties; Bronze: Castrol India
Felicitations were also made for Impactful Supply Chain Leaders and the Sankalp Se Siddhi Infrastructure award.
Looking Ahead
ET Edge SCM Fest 2026 reaffirmed that supply chains have evolved from operational functions into strategic business differentiators, providing a platform for policymakers, business leaders, practitioners, and innovators to shape India's supply chain transformation. The summit was supported by partners including Welspun One, Allcargo Logistics, Arteria, V-Trans, StackBox, TRST01, LoRRI, and others.
ET Edge is a Times Group initiative that builds global business intelligence through forums, exhibitions, and community platforms across key sectors. Launched in 2013, it has grown into a multi-format knowledge and networking ecosystem with an expanding footprint in Southeast Asia.
