The Logistics of Fresh Foods Retail Supply Chain
Entertainment
The Coronavirus crisis has redefined consumer shopping habits and established some new trends in retail and consumer goods markets. Stockpiling of essentials, online shopping of consumer goods, and convenient contactless deliveries are some of the most talked-about topics these days. One of the biggest trends seen in the retail market this year is the growing demand for fresh foods — fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, fish, dairy, baked goods, deli products, and more.
According to a Deloitte report titled The Future of Fresh, online food shop sales are an important growth driver for retailers and a priority for shoppers who want to ensure their household has ample fresh food in hand. Sales of fresh produce were up $4.5 billion between January and August 2020, compared to the same period last year. In terms of consumer preferences, fresh foods are more valued than ever; 9 in 10 respondents say it literally makes them happy.
Sheffield Magician, David Linacre is a very popular close-up magician in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
David Linacre started working as a magician in Sheffield holding a residency at the world-famous Gatecrasher nightclub. Here David worked within the club’s VIP areas and circulated around the club’s floors meeting and entertaining guests.
He went on to work with numerous organisations performing at a range of corporate events and functions and soon established himself amongst the top corporate entertainers in and around the area.
After 6 years working in the UK he then went on to gain experience across parts of the US, Europe and Dubai working at some of the most high profile events and functions.
Food Shop Online
The availability of fresh foods is a key driver of in-store traffic in supermarkets and convenience stores. The most important attributes shoppers say when selecting their primary stores include high-quality fruits and vegetables — 80%, high-quality meat — 77%, and fresh food deli — 53%.
Several fresh foods startups have sprung up since the onset of the pandemic, getting investor attention as well as popularity among consumers. Impossible Foods, Memphis Meats, Nature’s Fynd, Alpha Foods, and Kate Farms are some of the top fresh foods startups of 2020 in the United States. In India too, there has been a spike in sales and investor interest for businesses in the fresh food space such as FreshToHome, Country Delight, Gourmet Garden, and Licious.
While the shirts market is soaring high, it is also one of the most complex supply chains to manage. The perishable nature of fresh produce makes their storage, transportation, and shelf-management a tightrope walk for fresh foods retailers.
Suboptimal Sourcing
Many retailers approach procurement of fresh foods unsystematically and thus end up paying above-market prices. Retailers need to source fresh produce strategically, keeping in mind seasonal demand fluctuations, supplier costs, as well as supplier location.
Every supplier relationship should be based on the product’s supply volatility — in quality and volume. Products with high supply volatility are best sourced primarily through stable suppliers, whereas less volatile products, can be sourced through transactional or even spot-market purchasing, which allows retailers to respond to changes in coffee tables demand.
Here at Landscaping Supplies Direct, we stock a wide range of cheap block paving that provide an attractive and effective paving solution for driveways. Block paving differs from cobbles and setts due to the requirement of supporting the weight of vehicles for long periods of time. For this, you require durable paving that retains its strength and quality that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. We have great deals on cheap block paving that still has the stone quality needed for driveway use. We stock an extensive range of driveway block paving from top brands such as Bradstone, Hardstone, Stonemarket and more, all of which offer high quality paving at cheap prices.
We also stock thick Indian paving cobbles that come in a stunning range of colours and materials, giving an attractive look to your driveway without compromising on price or durability. The range of different types of block paving that we stock will help you create a design that is simple or as complex as you want. Many customers like to blend colours to create patterns, and some prefer uniformity. With this many options for cheap block paving, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Get in touch with our team today to find out more, ask for advice or to discuss your needs. We’re always happy to help.
Maintaining Freshness and Quality
From the minute meat is butchered, eggs are laid, milk is packaged, fruit and vegetables are harvested and a loaf of bread leaves the oven, the freshness and quality of fresh foods are at risk. It is important to keep fresh foods at the right levels of temperature and humidity throughout the supply chain. Fruits like oranges, grapes, and cherries need a temperature range of 0 to 2 degrees Celsius and 95% to 100% humidity. Items like garlic and onions, on the other hand, need to be stored at a similar temperature but humidity levels from 65% to 75%, as high humidity are harmful to them.
Other products like bananas, avocados, and mangos can be damaged by the cold, and they must be kept in the range of 13 to 15 degrees Celsius and between 85% to 90% humidity. Meat, poultry and dairy produce such as eggs, milk, yoghurt, and cheese need cold storage facilities. The storage and transportation of these temperature and time-sensitive fresh foods is therefore difficult, as compared to other durable products.
Packaging, Shipment, and Delivery Challenges
Fresh foods come in a variety of types and must be packaged and shipped according to their durability and nature. Fresh produce such as apples, pineapples, pears, watermelons, or onions can be easily packaged into wooden trays. Foods such as tomatoes, eggs, softer fruits, and leafy vegetables, on the other hand, must be packaged and handled carefully.
Once these foods are packaged, they must be shipped in ideal carriages, keeping in mind that some foods cannot be shipped together, some foods can travel longer, some foods need fast transportation, and some foods need a cold storage container. Delays in exterior cleaning can significantly reduce the available shelf life of fresh produce in stores which can be off-putting to customers and waste for retailers.
There’s no better way to enhance your home than with the addition of a beautiful conservatory. This extra living space can be enjoyed all year round… sunroom, dining room, playroom, office… conservatories can be exactly what you want them to be.
From an initial no-obligation survey, right through to planning, design, manufacture and installation you can expect the process to be just right. Hizzard Windows has many years of experience in the conservatory field and customer care is always our priority.
Our conservatories are tailor-made to suit your home, your style and your lifestyle requirements. All meet exacting quality standards, maintain high levels of warmth, security and noise reduction and are low maintenance or virtually maintenance-free.
Cosy in the winter, cool in the summer, we are confident that your conservatory will be a practical room that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.
A choice of glass designs and ventilation solutions ensure comfort whatever the weather. All glass, part-brick… the design and look is entirely up to you. We offer an extensive range of finishing touches including coloured glass, leaded lights and many door and windows choices. The result? A conservatory that enhances and adds value to your home.
All our conservatories are designed in the comfort of your home, with our expert design team, using a laptop computer, this then enables you our client, to see exactly what your dream conservatory will look like both on the outside & on the inside, please remember this is a FREE design service we offer here at Hizzard,s without any obligation.
Lack of Visibility in the Supply Chain
Did you know? Supermarkets throw away 43 billion pounds of stale food every year that remains unsold. Almost 30% of high-quality fruits and vegetables fall through the grid of trade chains and supermarket chains only because of optical flaws. Lack of supply chain visibility is one of the biggest logistical challenges in fresh foods retail.
We make the process of hiring mobile cranes with CPA hire simple & straightforward
The rising consumer demand for fresh and prepared food in grocery, convenience and additional retail is creating great new opportunities. Download our whitepaper 7 Ways to Grow Your Business with Fresh Food Management to discover how to improve your in-store fresh food operations, including preparation of food on the go.
- Don’t miss out on how to:
- Provide food traceability
- Reduce food waste
- Make food on the go a smooth operation
- Secure desired margins
- and more ways to stay on top of fresh food demands