Considerations for Food-Grade Storage — unibox

Thank you!

Awesome! Thanks for choosing us. Our team will contact you right after we process your order. With best regards, the Unibox team

GET A QUOTE




    Considerations for Food-Grade Storage

    There are rigorous guidelines for food storage and transportation. Moving food from the farm to the processor, to the store, can be quite the process. A food-grade warehouse brings a much-needed link between these steps. When deciding which of the three types of warehouses you might need (Cold or Frozen Storage, Dry Storage, Chilled or Refrigerated Storage), and establishing a connection with a specific warehouse, there are some aspects to look at before making the final decision.


    Temperature Controlled Storage

    The fact that your food products need to be stored and shipped at specific temperatures is obvious. Some aspects, however, aren’t so easy. For instance, did you know that the ideal temperature for ice cream to be stored according to the International Ice Cream Association (IICA) is -20° F? There are also so many different types of products that may require cold storage like artwork, candles, plants, film, cologne, cosmetics, and seeds. When these products can be stored together and when they need to be kept separate from certain foods is something food-grade warehouse experts can help with.


    Timing & Distribution

    Some foods and beverages can stay in dry storage for years, and others will need to be refrigerated and shipped within a few days. With the many differences involved in food grade storage, a warehouse will bring a helpful expertise when it comes to creating a storage and distribution plan. Every food-grade warehouse should have a system in place for tracking “first in, first out” to ensure inventory is rotated properly.


    Dedicated Transportation

    Time management in the food industry is extremely important, which means that the correct means of transportation must be always ready. Fleets of dedicated dry van and refrigerated options are an essential part of what makes a food-grade warehouse successful. From storage, to cross-docking, to final delivery, there’s no time to waste trying to procure transportation options from someone else’s fleet. Set up a food-grade transportation system with a warehouse that has specific dedicated assets of their own.


    Cross-Docking

    Many fruits and vegetables won’t be stored at all. They will go from one truck to another using a cross-dock to reach their final destination in the least amount of time. This requires a system that keeps track of what is being unloaded and what is being loaded. There are laws in place that require certain foods do not travel with other foods. Moving food is more than just efficiency. The cross-docking warehouse needs to be an expert in food moving of all kinds.


    Food retailers know the seasonal fluctuations involved with the industry. Whether that be the increase of certain beverages during the summer, or the decrease of certain fruits in the winter, certain aspects of the food selling cycle will always repeat themselves (unless of course a world-wide pandemic occurs). Utilizing a food-grade warehouse to weather the different seasons can be extremely cost effective and eliminate a lot of the stressors that may come.