Food supply chains have a proven history of transportation delays, spoiled food, and counterfeit food and beverages. In order to optimize the food supply chain, companies need to attain more knowledge about suppliers they collaborate with and devise effective supply chain strategies. If they fail to do so and issues arise, consumers will switch to different brands. Also, recalling the items triggers negative publicity and requires significant resources.  

Ways to Optimize the Food Supply Chain

Supplier monitoring and performance evaluation

Suppliers are an inevitable part of the food supply chain. There exists a process to properly monitor and audit prospective suppliers. As a retailer, you need to question them about food safety regulations, recall programs, and recordkeeping processes. Once suppliers meet these criteria, then you can proceed with the contract and auditing. Auditing could be performed internally by suppliers or a third party could be hired to perform an audit on your behalf. The latter is a better option as it keeps the evaluation unbiased.

Want to know how top companies in the market are evaluating their suppliers and improving the food supply chain? Request a free proposal and our experts will get back to you in 48 hours. 

Quality Analysis 

Quality of food products may become a major issue for companies. Vendors across the globe may offer cheap products due to cheap labor and lower compliance requirements. While it enables companies to make products affordable, quality becomes a major concern. The FDA tests a small portion of the food imported, leaving a major portion of food entering the food supply chain unchecked. Companies, therefore, must perform the safety of items imported to mitigate any unprecedented risk. 

Manage the budget 

Budget remains one of the top concerns for companies managing the food supply chain independently or with the aid of their party logistics (3PL) company. Even basic management software and technology may cost too much. Collaborating with a reputable third party service provider will allow companies to improve the food supply chain management for the growth of the business. They can align the entire supply chain process to meet the evolving business needs.

Inability to identify 3PL companies could lead to excess spend. Stay a step ahead by requesting a free demo of our procurement platform to gain exclusive insights and better manage the food supply chain.  

Keep a check on inventory

Refrigeration, condensation, and shipping timelines are crucial for companies managing a food supply chain. Some products require special storage and a particular kind of inventory management. Efficient processing of goods within a warehouse could help companies to effectively manage such products and delineate picking errors when it’s time to ship or deliver a product. Also, inventory could be moved quickly to avoid spoilage.

Improve the processing

The advent of technologies such as electronic data interchange (EDI) is gaining immense popularity in the food industry. It provides fast processing and speeds up deliveries and shipments, limiting clerical errors and improving time management for companies. Such technologies enhance the efficiency of the supply chain process and make it run smoothly.