The food industry has always been evergreen. The Grocery eCommerce in the USA alone generated sales worth $100.7 billion in 2021, an increase of $20 billion from 2020.
It shouldn't come as a surprise; we all need food to survive!
But the industry is also rife with challenges. Food is a perishable commodity; even a slight misstep can cause spoilage. The short shelf life means the provider has to move fast to delight customers.
Seamless warehouse operations become critical for such ends. If you're in the food industry, it's important to be aware of common challenges that can arise during storage and be ready to tackle them head-on.
1. Incorrect Temperature or Humidity Control
A frequent problem that regularly surfaces in food warehouses is the operator failing to set the temperature correctly in the storage area.
At times, humidity may also build up. These issues cause food to deteriorate rapidly.
There are various reasons why such problems occur.
1. The door sealing is improper or developing faults.
2. Blocked ventilation systems.
3. Technical snags with the freezer systems.
4. Improper insulation.
5. Wall cracks and roof leaks.
6. Faulty plumbing leading to leaks and water seepage.
Never assume the temperature is correct just because the indicator says so. Conduct periodic checks on the doors, freezers, ventilation systems, roofs, and plumbing to pre-empt issues.
Read more about the various ways to ensure proper temperature and humidity control in a food-grade warehouse.
2. Improper Sanitation Procedures
When it comes to food, you definitely want to handle it with care.
Maintaining personal hygiene and ensuring warehouse sanitation are critical for ensuring food safety.
Clear guidelines for handling food in the warehouse ensure the warehouse's steps are consistent and methodical.
For example, you can institute detailed protocols for accepting, storing, and delivering food through the warehouse. By creating structured workflows and checklists, there will be a systematic approach to the entire food-handling process in the warehouse.
Maintaining proper sanitation also includes effective pest control. Poor pest control can cause food spoilage and also spread diseases.
It is essential to conduct pest control regularly to prevent such problems.
3. Storage issues
The way in which food is stored also requires careful consideration.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of every six Americans gets sick yearly from food or beverage contamination.
Warehouses come with the risk of cross-contamination of food in case of improper storage. Food such as cheeses, deli meat, poultry, and seafood are at the highest risk of cross-contamination if not correctly stored.
Follow guidelines on the type of food stored to avoid such situations. Also, as a general rule, cover food with polyolefin shrink wrap or other suitable wrapping to eliminate cross-contamination.
Another critical storage consideration is managing allergens.
About 10% of the global population has some food allergy. The impact of consuming such substances ranges from minor annoyances to life-threatening circumstances.
Have a system to categorize goods by lots and potentially problematic ingredients. Flag goods that carry allergens or have other food safety concerns.
Yet another storage-related challenge is product rotation.
Ensure every product has clear labelling, showing production and expiry dates. Ensure FIFO (First-in-first-out) to prevent certain packs of food from being at the back of the storage unit and nearing or exceeding their expiry dates.
4. Optimizing inventory levels
Most food businesses struggle to right-size their inventory.
With food and ingredients having a short shelf life, overstocking could lead to losing the investment in materials. Under-stocking could mean losing out on sales.
Use production planning software or inventory management software to manage your inventory. These solutions leverage data analytics to forecast demand and align the supply chain with customer demand.
A good forecast considers historical sales data, seasonality, and other variables to create reliable predictions.
5. Adherence to safety and compliance norms
The high risks associated with food make it a regulated industry. Several regulations guide food labelling, packaging, storage, handling, and distribution.
Often, the onus falls on warehouses to comply with these regulations.
Automate routine warehouse processes to improve accuracy and reliability. It makes it easier to enforce the correct storage conditions for different foods.
Perform regular inspections and audits to control the environment better.
Train employees on safety procedures and warehouse operations to reduce the risk of human errors.
Stay abreast of the latest food safety regulations, especially the changes. Make changes in the processes to ensure compliance.
6. Improving efficiency and accuracy
A sound warehouse management system offers a "single source of truth" that help warehouse managers make quick and informed decisions. The warehouse management system improves process integrity, speeds up processes, and improves efficiency.
Gadgets like handheld barcode scanners make updating real-time information effortless.
Managers can use dashboards to constantly track their warehouse staff and monitor warehouse activities as they happen.
As a warehouse manager, you can use the warehouse management suite to conduct inspections and audits. The suite includes integrated forms and checklists that allow for automatic data collection.
By using checklists and workflows with step-by-step instructions, you can ensure the accuracy of safety audits. Additionally, auto-generated reports with appended images can help improve reporting and ensure compliance.
Apart from these specific challenges, food warehouse also faces several challenges all warehouses face. These challenges include staffing challenges, problems of erratic demand, and so on.
A sound warehouse management system helps to overcome these challenges and improve efficiency.
Why On-Demand Warehousing?
The food storage industry is constantly evolving, and warehouses must be prepared to adopt new technologies to stay competitive. On-demand warehousing can be the solution to most challenges faced by food businesses.
When you opt for storage as a service, you can rent warehouses explicitly designed for food storage. The warehouse's running, and maintenance is the warehouse provider's responsibility. You don't have to invest time and money to stay competent with the latest technologies in the industry.
Businesses can benefit from the flexibility of space and pay-as-you-go storage options, allowing them to have warehousing facilities closer to their market. This leads to faster deliveries and reduces transit time.
The cost of acquiring such warehouses is much, much less, as compared to long-term leases.
Here is everything you need to know about third-party food-grade warehouses.
If you work in the food industry and need secure storage options for your goods in the UAE, we've got you covered! Cargoz has partnered with over 300 warehouses across the country, offering top-notch storage options for businesses of all types. We can assist you in managing your storage needs by locating the perfect food storage facility for your business.
Get in touch with our team to know more.