Food & Beverage

Advances in food science and technology, both in-sector and beyond, are presenting exciting opportunities but a step-change in innovation is needed if companies are to prosper. Our expertise and ingenuity in this field is bringing real solutions to life.

The food supply chain continues to grow rapidly, with consumers now expecting exotic foods, fresh on their plates, year round. This has extended the supply chain geographically and across many more parties, making the supply chain longer and more complicated than ever. Across the supply chain, various internal and external pressures will continue challenging F&B companies to increase operational efficiency, performance and resilience. Fortunately, those that respond proactively can dramatically reduce costs.

Producers, manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers and other parties are under pressure to get their products to the market quickly, safely, and in the best possible condition. That’s a major challenge. Beyond the near-term gain in profits, F&B companies that go beyond the competition can position themselves for long-term success, sustainability and industry recognition.

A typical food supply chain is made up of six stages:

• Sourcing of raw materials
• Production
• Processing and packaging
• Storage
• Wholesale distribution
• Retail redistribution to consumers

If any one of these stages is compromised, a variety of issues will arise and the whole supply chain will be in jeopardy.

As manufacturing processes become more complex, so too does the importance of a customized handling fleet. This is a growing trend in the industry as businesses look to materials handling suppliers for methods that suits their needs specifically.

One of the biggest challenges is traceability, or the ability to track the food product through all stages of the supply chain, is now more of a demand rather than a request among many consumers today. Many consumers now want to know where all products and their ingredients, even the trace ones, come from.

This makes it more important than ever to have good data on food products and your supply chain. Having and sharing authentic information from each and every step of the food supply chain enhances food safety, strengthens brand integrity, and increases customer loyalty.