A significant proportion of food produce is lost to waste and with more emphasis being placed on reducing waste, businesses are looking for new ways to contribute to waste reduction initiatives. It is a problem that manufacturers and retailers have but also food transportation companies too. There have been many strategies introduced to help including:

Technology and the Supply Chain

Technology has completely transformed the way that we consume food products, particularly those that fall into the ‘fresh or frozen category. Through the use of temperature-controlled vehicles, perishable items can be quickly and easily transported at the right temperature, prolonging their shelf life and ensuring that they are safe for consumption. For many years, food products have been frozen because businesses have understood the benefits that this can bring. While cold storage is one of the most effective ways of preserving food, technology has advanced to make the process even easier than ever before. Although there isn’t a way to stop food from deteriorating in terms of the natural shelf life of food products, there are several ways that can slow the process down.

Blast Freezing

Blast freezing is a technique that uses blasts of cold air applied at high speed to rapidly freeze the product while retaining the quality and level of nutrients within the product. The quicker a product reaches the temperature considered to be ‘deep freeze’ the longer the lifespan of the product will be. This extends shelf life and also reduces waste. It also means that products can be prepared in bulk such as during harvest time or periods of demand. Products can then be safely stored away and then transported in a temperature-controlled vehicle until it reaches the retailer and then the consumer.

So, with all these new tactics and techniques used to prolong the shelf life of fresh goods, this has placed an increasing demand on businesses to transport these products to their required destinations while maintaining a consistent temperature. This has fuelled the rise in temperature-controlled logistics. Refrigerated vehicles, trained drivers and support staff are now needed to ensure that this happens. Whether it is a chilled food product, some medicine that has to be kept at a consistent temperature or veterinary products, keeping a consistent temperature in transit is one of the most significant challenges for many businesses.

A specialist company that specialises in temperature-controlled vehicles will be able to offer a variety of options for chilled and frozen products. These companies work frequently with the medical, pharmaceutical, food and veterinary sectors so they recognise the challenges that these industries face in terms of chilled and frozen distribution. The catering industry also benefits from this type of transportation too, ensuring that food items are transported to events at the right temperature. Even in the depths of the summer, it can be a particular challenge to keep food from spoiling which consequently results in waste and lost profits for business but when you work with a dedicated temperature-controlled distributor, you can rest assured that your food items will arrive at their destination in the best possible condition.

With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the industries that benefit from temperature-controlled logistics:

Food and Catering

Perhaps the most obvious, but food and catering are one of the most popular users of temperature controlled distributors. Any business or service provider requiring temperature-sensitive and perishable food items transporting would benefit from this type of vehicle. Products such as ready meals and sandwiches, fruit and vegetables and meat all need to be carefully controlled as they are transported from one place to another. Staff recognise the importance of getting these products collected and delivered to the destination maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the journey.

Health and Pharmaceuticals

Perhaps not an industry that you may not immediately think of, there are certain products within this industry that need to be kept at a certain temperature. Certain medicines, for example, need to be kept refrigerated. The same products are sometimes temperature and time-sensitive so it’s important that a temperature-controlled distributor are both reliable, efficient and skilled in temperature monitoring.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry also requires the transportation of temperature-sensitive products. With a manufacturing business, there may be a requirement for large scale deliveries, multi-drop and same day to meet client requirements so it is important that your provider can meet these demands before you start working with them.

When it comes to transporting food safely, the use of technology can significantly reduce the amount of waste that is produced. When products are stored at the right temperature it prevents them from being spoilt which extends their shelf life and reduces the likelihood of them becoming contaminated or unfit for human consumption. The use of a quality logistics firm who are skilled, experienced and knowledgeable in temperature control is crucial.