Top Problems Faced by Food Distribution Firms

With the shipping industry's structure continually evolving, it is only prudent to engage with a qualified and up-to-date 3PL supplier with sufficient supply chain experience

Fremont, CA: Food logistics may appear simple, but the process is complex. According to a study, a 33percent of food is wasted or discarded during transportation, and perishable items spend half of their shelf life in transit.

Food shipping firms' difficulties are only the tip of the iceberg. Every year, a billion dollars are lost when food spoils during transit, causing massive business costs.

With the shipping industry's structure continually evolving, engaging with a qualified and up-to-date 3PL supplier with sufficient supply chain experience is prudent. This enables businesses to utilize the company's resources while avoiding the obstacles other food transportation firms experience, putting business above the rest. Let's look at the top issues that food distribution firms face.

• Temperature & Humidity

Food fulfillment is critical to your company since it may make or destroy your brand. Getting perishable items from the maker to the customer is more complex than it sounds. A little error, such as the incorrect temperature and humidity, might cause all of the food to spoil or drastically limit its shelf life.

As a result, humidity and temperature should be managed and maintained at specific levels to keep items fresh throughout shipment. Fresh vegetables must be kept cold and refrigerated since germs thrive in hot environments.

• Technology Implementation

The usage of technology in the food distribution sector is rapidly increasing. Food shipping firms must always explore more cost-effective ways to convey their goods to retailers to remain competitive and decrease waste.

• Changes in Demand

A significant difficulty in food logistics involves ensuring sufficient stock to fulfill demand while having little stock remaining. Stock sitting for too long without being consumed will get thrown as waste.

However, due to seasonal fluctuations in food consumption, it is impossible to predict when customers will require big amounts of items and vice versa. Demand for specific items increases while they are in season and decreases when the season ends.

Such swings in food demand can significantly influence food transportation firms since they will have to use their warehouses and facilities for other purposes during low seasons. They will also need to guarantee they've got enough workers to satisfy peak demand in the warehouse & distribution.