Food logistics is a constant balancing act between speed, accuracy, and traceability. For companies selling snacks, nuts, and other consumer goods, logistics can be crucial to the entire company’s profitability. Products often have shorter shelf lives, demand varies significantly throughout the year, and customers expect goods to always be available on the shelf when they want to shop.
When shelf life is ticking
One of the biggest challenges in snack and food logistics is the short shelf life. Snacks and nuts often have a limited best-before date, and if goods are not rotated correctly, they risk losing value or becoming completely unsellable. The answer to this lies in implementing clear FIFO routines – first in, first out – so that older goods are always sold first. With a modern WMS system, this happens automatically, where the system controls picking based on receipt date and eliminates the risk of human error.
Seasonal fluctuations and flexibility
Demand for snacks is anything but constant. During certain periods such as Christmas, Easter, or major sporting events, sales can skyrocket, while other months are significantly quieter. This creates a financial challenge – how do you have sufficient capacity for peaks without paying for unnecessary space during low season? The solution lies in choosing a logistics partner that offers flexible warehouse solutions and the ability to scale up capacity when it’s really needed. This way, you can adjust costs according to actual demand.
Hygiene as a foundation
Food products naturally place high demands on hygiene and handling, where a single mistake can have serious consequences for customer trust. It is therefore crucial that the warehouse has clear and well-defined routines for hygiene, labeling, and documentation. Traceability from producer to end customer must always be possible, which is not just about meeting legal requirements but also about being able to act quickly if something should go wrong.
Smart distribution and returns management
Many food products are now sold via e-commerce, which means that distribution must be both fast and secure. Although returns are less common in the food sector than, for example, in fashion, they can still occur – and then clear and smooth routines are required to handle them professionally. By working with carriers that can deliver within 24–48 hours, combined with a logistics partner that handles returns efficiently, you create a customer experience that builds loyalty.
From problem to success – the Tropic Snacks case
When Prima Food Group Sweden, with the Tropic Snacks brand, needed a new logistics partner for their natural snacks, they had outgrown their own warehouse. The company, which sells nuts, dried fruit, and other snacks both in bulk and pre-packaged to grocery retailers, needed a partner that could grow with them. Since March 2024, GP Last has been handling their entire finished goods warehouse – from incoming goods to picking and loading distribution trucks. The major advantage for Tropic Snacks has been the flexibility to easily scale up and down as needed, which is crucial for a growing company. Through professional handling with a focus on hygiene and efficient processes, they can now fully focus on their core business without worrying about warehousing and logistics.
Summary
Snack and food logistics requires a combination of precision, flexibility, and traceability. By using digital systems, working with a partner that can adapt to your needs, and maintaining high hygiene routines, companies can both save money and build stronger, more sustainable customer relationships. Would you like to know more about our solutions for snack and food companies? Please contact us for a conversation.