SugarCreek: Brandworthy Food Solutions

More than nearby suppliers, more than case pack options and even more than warehouse setup, time is the most precious commodity in the food supply chain. Therefore, using research and data-mining techniques to maximize efficiency in the least amount of time is a smart approach to improving fulfillment across the chain. With the right tools, data becomes just as valuable a commodity as a pound of meat or a crate of peppers — especially at the retailer level. 

Some supply chains have a bit of flexibility built into them, but that's a very rare trait in the food industry. When dealing with perishables, time is most decidedly of the essence, and a matter of an hour or two at the wrong temperature or location can mean the difference between a successful delivery and a huge liability. Meats, in particular, are very susceptible to these small fluctuations, which makes adding agility to supply chain technology within the food supply chain a challenge. Finding a distributor who not only takes food safety very seriously, but business-oriented agility as well will help you stay competitive in any market.

In the food industry, competitors with the same product or similar product lines have a number of comparison points to rest on — taste, quality, distribution and so on. Ultimately, however, cost savings at the manufacture point offer a tempting "leg up" that can free up budget to invest beyond the food supply chain. With this in mind, opting for a low-bid supplier or service provider seems to be the best way to increase margin — but is it really? The cheapest vendor can actually end up being a lot more expensive than their closest rival, even if it doesn't seem that way at a glance.

With the rise of social media, bad news in food safety has broken the speed of light and swiftly become a retailer's worst nightmare in the food industry. While potential issues can and should be communicated as quickly as possible to prevent illness, those conversations aren't limited to a single consumer-retailer sphere: the whole world is listening. An outbreak, or even a cautious recall, has the momentum to topple brand image and damage sales, if it's not closing doors entirely.

As 2016 marches steadily onward, three culprits lurk in the shadows, waiting for a gap in food handling and packaging procedures: e. coli, norovirus and salmonella. Here's how to learn from the mistakes of others, and prevent your brand from becoming an unfortunate infographic-bound statistic.

A single recall or health scandal can turn a household name and market darling into the low bar for their competitors, virtually overnight. Just ask a brand like Blue Bell or Jeni's. Food safety is swiftly becoming a focus and a need for informed consumers, who expect impeccable behaviors in every step of the supply chain — from the initial supplier to the final plate. Ingredient viability and safety is a vital component when they're voting with their dollar, which is why they reach for brands that emphasize trustworthy handling procedures and innovative packaging solutions. However, these two brand-boosting moves alone aren't enough to fully secure a supply chain, especially if they're applied after the fact. Recovery from a food safety scandal can be infinitely more expensive than preventative measures, which is why you need to carefully evaluate your supply chain.

Technology has revolutionized the warehouse, connecting the supply chain on levels that hadn't ever been considered even a few short years ago. It has also dramatically altered the supply and demand landscape outside of the warehouse walls, speeding up product cycles and popularity spikes. Customers now discuss and engage with brands and one another on social media and through mobile devices on the go. This means that in order to properly leverage opportunities, a food supply chain must be poised and ready to move, and it can't do that without transparency.

Imagine needing to harvest ice, pack it in sawdust and keep it in underground cellars over the warm months just to transport perishables a short distance. Without technology, this would be a reality of distributing edible goods, but, thankfully, supply chain management and technology has kept pace with society. Even advances we've come to rely on — refrigerated trucks and real-time GPS tracking — are becoming commonplace as new innovations like the Internet of Things, or IoT, emerge to revolutionize operational efficiency within the supply chain.

Today's supply chain data is incredible. It's rich with opportunities for companies of all sizes to become more efficient, protect product until it reaches the customer, and reduce costs. Yet, many times, the only thing the procurement process looks at when selecting a distributor is price. That's a mistake.

Turn back the clock a few decades and your options in distributors were less diverse. The risks to your supply chain seemed fewer and farther between, too—or at least unavoidable, no matter which distributor you chose. There were a limited number of companies that were globally connected, especially at the small to mid-size business range, too. Choosing the distributor who offered the best product at the lowest price was more straightforward.

Today's marketplace is constantly growing and changing. While price is an important factor, it is not the only factor to consider when selecting a distributor.

Legacy technology is easy and comfortable. It's what your organization has always used. It may be the affordable, simple thing to keep doing, but it is also costing your company more than you realize. If you haven't updated your technology in some time, it may no longer be functioning the way it should within your organization. With trends and technologies evolving at lightning speed within the food industry, it is critical to update and grow into new technologies. Not updating an underperforming legacy system can do a great deal of harm to your organization otherwise.

Every supply chain has its challenges. If the product you're moving is food, however, those challenges are multiplied. After all, food is often so fragile in a variety of complicated ways. Food products may need to be kept frozen, for instance, or protected from freezing. They may break easily, requiring specialized packaging and handling. And, almost all food, even the canned variety, comes with an expiration date. Expiration dates which can be — especially with products like berries, lettuce or seafood — alarmingly short.