In the food and beverage industry, maintaining food quality means building customer trust and loyalty. This starts right with having warehouses with sufficient space and specialised staff who understand the best way of handling low-shelf life food products.
However, renting a warehouse or renovating the existing one is expensive. For that matter, outsourcing warehousing, transportation, managing the right stock levels, fulfilling orders, and deliveries to 3PL services in Melbourne is one the most cost-effective solutions.
In this blog, we will discuss more about how third-party logistic providers extend their support in maintaining food quality with their high-end warehousing and transportation facilities.
1. Temperature-Controlled Storage and Transportation
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Refrigerated Warehouses
Third-party logistic providers have large and refrigerated warehouses that make them ideal partners in maintaining large food quality. Since some food products like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other items require consistent cooling temperatures, 3PL warehouses are designed to maintain suitable temperatures.
Having refrigerated warehouses for all your food products will eventually extend the product life. Additionally, when food is kept at the right temperatures, it enhances the food’s nutritional value, taste, and texture.
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Deep-freeze Vehicles
The use of deep-freeze vehicles is another reason why you must use 3PL services in Melbourne for their services to transport perishable goods at the right temperatures. The interesting fact is you can easily track and monitor the temperatures used in warehouses and vehicles through smart temperature control devices. Make sure your partner gives you real-time access to every cloud-based software they are using in their warehouses and vehicles.
Maintaining the right temperatures ensures that products remain safe and consumable and maintain their freshness throughout the transit.
2. Compliance with Food Safety Regulations
Complying with applicable food safety and quality standards is crucial to protecting food quality, avoiding legal penalties, and establishing a positive brand image. It is another way of promising customers that the products you sell are fresh, high-quality and safe to consume. Food safety regulations are beyond a legal obligation– instead, a mandatory aspect of enhancing the customer’s faith in your products.
If obtaining certifications from major regulatory bodies becomes difficult, companies assisting with 3PL services in Melbourne come across as a partner that complies with all local, state, and international food regulations. For this reason, they conduct regular food safety audits and keep temperature logs, cleaning schedules, and transportation records. This ensures quick access to records whenever any issues arise.
3. Inventory Management and Tracking
Third party logistic providers practise FIFO and FEFO methods to manage different types of stocks. In the FIFO method, products are used or sold in the order they were received, reducing the risk of spoilage. On the other hand, FEFO method utilises selling the products with the nearest expiration on priority.
Providers offering 3PL services in Melbourne use inventory management software that tracks the quantities, the movement of goods, and precise locations to avoid any issues in satisfying your customers.
Some of the most common technologies that help in this case are barcodes that scan and record product information at various stages. Using RFID tags to transmit product information is another way.
4. Specialised Handling and Packaging
3PL service providers have a reliable workforce that understands the importance of safe and robust packaging when it comes to food safety. For this reason, 3PL logistic companies regularly train their employees to maintain the right temperatures, moisture, and rotation practices. If food fragility is a concern, 3PL providers ensure gentle handling with pick and ballet systems and padded containers.
Product packaging is another significant measure that external logistics companies pay attention to, either through sealed containers, utilising eco-friendly packaging materials, or hygienic practices to keep the food fresh and intact.
5. Value-Added Services
Apart from reliable warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and product handling, providers specialising in 3PL services in Melbourne provide customized solutions. This can depend on the current product requirements and seasonal needs.
Besides that, these companies provide direct access to all the data held in their software systems, which makes you feel like your products are stored in your warehouse.
Final Words
We hope you liked this blog. As you see, 3PL services in Melbourne are gaining attention due to their immense support and working process in managing large stocks of fresh food products.
We learnt their assistance in providing temperature-controlled warehouses and vehicles, complying with food safety regulations, utilising technologies in inventory management, specialising in product handling and packaging, and offering value-added services.
If you are leaning towards serving your customers best with cost-efficient food solutions, then partnering with Carrabbas Group should be your focus.
