Podcast Summary: Supply Chain Now
Episode: Supply Chain Leadership: Transforming Africa's Industry
Date: April 6, 2026
Host: Scott Lewton (Supply Chain Now)
Guest: Tato Malloy (President of SAPICS; Area Head, Contract Logistics, Southern Africa)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Scott Lewton sits down with Tato Malloy, a veteran supply chain leader and president of SAPICS, for a deep dive into the transformation, challenges, and opportunities shaping African supply chains today. The conversation explores the continent’s unique context, six top trends, the pivotal role of SAPICS and its annual conference, and Tato’s guiding leadership principles. The dialogue is rich with actionable insights and optimism about African industry’s current vibrancy and global relevance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The SAPICS Mission & Networking Powerhouses
[02:31] – [03:40]
- SAPICS serves as a hub for supply chain professionals in Africa, facilitating idea exchange and partnerships across the industry.
- The organization’s annual conference in Cape Town is not just an educational event but a space for business development and lifelong professional connections.
Quote:
"It's always a busy time...for the community it's a time for us to connect and that's why our platform exists and that's why SAPICS exists—to bring supply chain professionals together."
— Tato Malloy [02:31]
2. Tato’s Career & African Cold Chain Logistics
[06:36] – [11:21]
- Tato’s journey spans distribution, warehousing, general management, and technical solution development with major brands (Unilever, Nike, Checkers).
- He highlights the immense complexity and investment involved in African cold chain: from exporting fruit to port and weather-related disruptions.
- Designing resilient cold chains translates well to other industries due to their operational complexity.
Quote:
"The complexity of that supply chain network is quite dynamic and very seasonal because you’re so dependent on...weather...but again, you think about the fruit in itself, it needs to move, right? It’s a high throughput product. So dealing with all of that complexity...before your fruit deteriorates, there’s quite a lot of planning that goes into managing each and every single category of food."
— Tato Malloy [09:00]
3. Six Defining Trends for African Supply Chains
[12:18] – [36:18]
Tato and Scott explore six key trends highlighted by SAPICS.
1. Perma-Crisis & Agility
[12:18]
- Disruptions are now constant; supply chains must be designed for resilience and quick adaptation.
- Data-driven, rapid, and informed decision-making is a must.
Quote:
"We’re in a current state where these global shocks...are becoming a permanent world that we actually live in. How do you design a supply chain that can effectively respond...?"
— Tato Malloy [12:18]
2. AI Moves from Experimental to Essential
[16:55]
- Practical adoption of AI—including warehouse automation, route optimization, inventory management, and safety—is advancing rapidly across Africa.
- AI and technology should be seen as job-enablers, not just job replacers.
Quote:
"It's not just about the buzzwords...What’s relevant now is how do we practically apply technology in our world. And what we've seen over the past couple of years is the practical application of AI tools in logistics and supply chain.'
— Tato Malloy [16:55]
3. Workforce Evolution
[24:52]
- Supply chain education is booming; more graduates than ever are entering the field.
- The challenge is to curate professional growth paths and develop both technical and leadership skills, especially in areas like engineering and systems development.
- Scarce technical talent leads to global competition for skills.
Quote:
"We have this big...quantum of supply chain graduates coming out...Now, how do we curate that journey for them...what does a typical career look like? We're still organizing, we’re trying to professionalize what a supply chain individual looks like in this field."
— Tato Malloy [24:52]
4. Geopolitics, Regionalization, and "Anywhere but China"
[29:21]
- The need for resilient, diversified supply networks is paramount.
- Broad-based scenario planning and decentralization are vital.
Memorable Insight:
"In preparing for battle, he found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." — quoting Eisenhower [29:21]
"Planning...in itself...is more valuable than the outcome itself."
— Scott Lewton [34:15]
5. Climate, Circularity, & Cost Precision
[29:21]
- Supply chains must adapt to environmental challenges while optimizing costs and maintaining resilience.
6. 2026: A Defining Year for African Supply Chains
[35:06]
- Africa’s supply chains are at a pivotal growth point, with infrastructure, education, and innovation driving immense opportunities.
- International organizations increasingly recognize Africa’s market potential, but sustainable infrastructure is critical.
Quote:
"It's all about growth. All about innovation...the opportunity for that growth and transformation across the continent, it's big, it's immense."
— Tato Malloy [35:06]
4. SAPICS Annual Conference & 60 Years of Legacy
[37:03] – [41:04]
- This year’s theme is “Legacy to Leadership,” celebrating both the pioneers and the next generation.
- The program features strategic, technological, and operational tracks, with robust local and global speaker lineups.
Quote:
"It's about recognizing how we got here...celebrating the supply chain professionals and saying, look, we've done so much to get to where we are. Now we need to actually take what we have...and grow it beyond what we've seen over many years."
— Tato Malloy [37:03]
- Attendees can connect with supply chain leaders from over 50 countries.
5. Core Principles of Supply Chain Leadership
[42:02]
- Constant learning: "You will never reach a point where you can...be saturated with supply chain knowledge."
- Benchmarking and adaptability: Leaders must stay updated with global trends and actively evolve their approach.
- Self-reflection and context: Understand your environment and be willing to reinvent yourself.
Quote:
"For you to lead, you have to be continuously learning...You’re not going to change anything by using the same mentality, the same thinking and the same knowledge that you've had for the past 20 years."
— Tato Malloy [42:02]
6. Africa Is Not "Catching Up"—It’s Competitive
[46:14]
- Africa is now in business, not just ready for business. Many African operations are globally competitive and even ahead of the curve.
- Supply chain advancement in Africa is accelerating.
Quote:
"We are in business...In some instances, the world could also learn from some of the activities and what we're doing in Africa. I think we progressing and...at a very rapid rate."
— Tato Malloy [46:14]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On lifelong learning:
“You will never reach a point where you can, cannot learn or be saturated with supply chain knowledge.”
— Tato Malloy [42:02] -
On resilience and scenario planning:
“It used to be about black swans and white swans. Now, you must be ready to respond to any shock.”
— Tato Malloy [29:21] -
On technological adoption:
“We gotta move away from thinking that technology and responsible automation is here to take away jobs. It’s actually here to create jobs and we need to embrace it.”
— Tato Malloy [22:00] -
On Africa’s role:
“I actually need to update ‘ready for business’ because we are in business.”
— Tato Malloy [46:14]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:31]: SAPICS’ role as a community builder
- [06:36]: Tato’s professional journey
- [09:00]: Cold chain complexities in African exports
- [12:18]: The 'perma crisis' trend and building agility
- [16:55]: Real-world AI applications in African supply chains
- [24:52]: Workforce evolution, supply chain education trends
- [29:21]: Geopolitics, resilience, and scenario planning
- [35:06]: Why 2026 is pivotal for African supply chains
- [37:03]: SAPICS’s 60th anniversary, annual conference agenda
- [42:02]: Leadership essentials: continuous learning, adaptability
- [46:14]: Africa is “in business” globally
- [49:28]: How to connect with Tato Malloy (LinkedIn)
Final Reflections
Tato Malloy’s message is one of practical optimism: Africa is not on the sidelines but actively shaping global supply chain innovation. Supply chain professionals everywhere can learn from the continent's progress and resilience, and SAPICS provides a leading platform for this continual professional growth.
To connect with Tato Malloy:
- LinkedIn Profile (as suggested in the episode)
Learn more: