Anyone running a perishable food manufacturer knows there are thousands of things you must focus on in order to maintain a successful and productive company. From expediting delivery to staying up-to-date on all of the emerging technologies impacting the industry, you’ll need to constantly adapt to stay relevant and better….succeed.

And while all business owners in the food production world face constant pressure, delivering perishable goods is especially complex. Today, the average consumer’s dinner most likely contains food products from several different continents, yet they still expect the highest level of freshness. Here are some of the main things you should focus on throughout 2018 in order to succeed in the perishable food market:

• Delivering perishable goods— Delivering perishable goods as quickly and efficiently as possible is perhaps the most important aspect of this sector of the food industry. Since many of these products have such short shelf lives, they need to be delivered quickly in order to reach end consumers and end up on the dinner tables.

• Beware of allergic reactions— More than 160 food products can cause allergic reactions in individuals with food allergies, ranging from minor annoyances to severe health conditions. However, the law identifies the eight most common allergenic food products: dairy products, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, and fish. Food production companies must continue to be mindful of complying with label laws, while also taking extra care to avoid any cross contamination when handling food products.

• Innovation— If you’re trying to run a food manufacturer the way previous generations did, you’ll surely fall by the wayside after a short amount of time. In days gone by, the local milkman may have delivered dairy products harvested at a nearby farm. Today, grocery stores and food producers need to maintain a complex network of vendors, as well as cutting-edge food distribution software and logistics technology. You need to fully accept all the emerging technological innovations impacting the perishable food industry such as food ERP software (enterprise resource planning), DSD software (direct store delivery), and other innovative food solutions.

• Food Safety— From packaging and shipping to storage and production, food safety is essential for any food business to succeed. A single illness outbreak or negative news story can now spread like wildfire via social media, causing permanent brand damage. Unclean working conditions can ruin any kind of company — especially those working in food production and shipping. Implementing the mandatory FSMA required procedures will help you reduce the risk of any potential food safety threat.

While we wish your business luck as you navigate the second quarter and the rest of the year, we believe that food distribution software and direct store delivery apps are more useful than luck. If you want to learn more about delivering perishable goods through high-quality DSD software, give Harvest Food Solutions a call right away.

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