Forget watching paint dry. This year, the Supply Chain Excellence Awards APAC 2026 is snagging some serious talent for its judging panel. We’re talking heads from Disney, Unilever, Google. Yes, that Google. Apparently, evaluating supply chains is the new black. Who knew?
The entry deadline is August 14th, so if you’ve got a supply chain so shiny it blinds kittens, now’s your chance to get it noticed. Awards happen in Singapore, December 1st, 2026. Mark your calendars. Or don’t. It’s a long way off.
So, What’s the Big Deal?
Look, these awards have been around for 30 years globally. They’re not exactly new. But the APAC version is still finding its feet, this being only its second go-round after a decent debut in 2025. The idea is simple: celebrate supply chain rockstars. The ones who actually make things happen, not just talk about them in endless PowerPoint slides.
And this year’s judging panel? It’s a lineup that screams “we’re serious about this.” We’ve got Amit Garg from Google (supply chain planning, naturally), Amritpal Singh Bedi from SC Johnson (manufacturing director – so probably knows where the Pledge is kept), Chandranath Chakraborty from Disney (sourcing and procurement – likely haggles with Mickey Mouse himself), and Sharad Singla from Unilever (resilience program – probably stockpiles Dove bars). It’s a veritable United Nations of logistics nerds.
“Together, the panel reflects the awards’ focus on independent, practitioner-led assessment, with entries reviewed by senior professionals working across some of the region’s most important supply chain markets and industry sectors.”
This is the corporate spin. The reality? These people have jobs. Big ones. Their time is precious. If they’re lending their eyeballs to this, it means the awards probably have some actual teeth. Or at least, they’re trying to build some. It’s a good sign for anyone trying to get their innovative logistics strategy noticed. It’s not just going to be judged by some intern who thinks a forklift is a type of exotic dance.
Why Should You Care About Supply Chain Awards?
Honestly? Because someone has to. And because the people running these awards clearly believe there’s value in shouting about good supply chain work. It’s a crowded market out there for attention. Getting an award from a panel that includes people who manage supply chains for, you know, millions of products, gives you a certain cachet. It’s the digital equivalent of a firm handshake from a guy who smells like success and jet fuel.
Categories cover everything from sustainability (finally, someone’s asking if your trucks run on fairy dust and good intentions) to robotics (because who doesn’t love a robot that can stack boxes without complaining?) and digital transformation. They’re even throwing in sector-specific awards for food, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. So, whatever niche you’re carving out in the sprawling chaos of APAC supply chains, there’s probably a category for it. Unless your niche is “losing things,” in which case, good luck.
And it’s all happening the day before IntraLogisteX Singapore, a logistics exhibition. So, you can get your award, then go network with more people who understand your pain points. Or you can just go to the party and pretend you know what a pallet is.
The 2026 APAC awards ceremony will take place the night before IntraLogisteX Singapore, a focused exhibition for warehousing, logistics, fulfilment and automation that runs from 2-3 December at Singapore EXPO.
This isn’t just a party. It’s a platform. Akabo Media, the organizer, is clearly trying to build a whole ecosystem around supply chain excellence in APAC. Editorial, conferences, networking – you name it. It’s a smart move. Make it easy for people to engage, and they will. Especially if there’s free food and a chance to brag.
So, yes, it’s an award. But it’s also a signal. A signal that the supply chain game in Asia Pacific is getting serious. And if you’re playing, you might as well aim for the gold. Or at least, a really shiny trophy. Because in this business, sometimes that’s all the recognition you get before the next crisis hits.
Entries close August 14th. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Go win something.
