Freight and logistics companies in supply chain management business of food products face critical issues and are well aware of these locking down efficiencies coming to the food supply chain. There are many big and small issues but the major ones are safety and recalls, sustainability, costs and infrastructure making management of the supply chain management an important concern.
Safety for food products is mostly under inspection. The track-and-trace tasks are very important to confirm that the consumer knows the exact start point of the product – this helps to avoid unwanted recalls from happening, which may happen in the event of unknown actions handling. To ensure quick response rates to recalls and any issues, food companies are spending in exploring new processes and technologies for more processes inspections and frequent temperature monitoring .
These freight and logistics, supply chain management companies are investing in certifications such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), which could prove to carve a path to understand the current situation and foresee and prepare for future trends. A systemic preventative approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in places of food production or transportation will help in growth of the industry.
Another challenge that the food industry faces in both production and transportation is the issue of sustainability. Major companies in the food industry have recently announced that they will be planning to cut their carbon footprints, and attempt to "go green” with sustainable practices – especially when it comes to packaging, distribution, and logistics strategies. Meanwhile, other pressure from consumers also means that food companies are attempting to slim down on costs to their customers – companies are attempting to meet these needs by boosting efficiencies in their transportation and handling costs.
Those involved in food warehousing and handling are taking a fresh look at distribution patterns to better meet the new-age needs of the food industry. The supply chain of food products and finding efficiencies within the system is of utmost importance to the companies involved in food warehousing and handling to ensure best practices across the supply chain.