5 ways retailers can reduce food loss

In recent years there has been increased awareness around food waste, with articles and studies detailing the amount of food that consumers throw away from their fridges and pantries. In fact, the United Nations reported in 2019 that 17% of all food available at the consumer level was wasted. However, there remains hidden food loss in the upstream portion of the supply chain, before goods reach retailers' shelves and refrigerators. This kind of waste is defined as food loss by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and is known as ‘the decrease in edible food mass at the production, post-harvest, and processing stages of the food chain’.

Though less talked about, food loss contributes to a huge proportion of food that is thrown away, adding up to roughly $600 billion worth of food annually. This loss is not only financial, but has great negative effect on the environment, and actively works against retailers’ sustainability goals. A large contributor is the long value chain starting with growers based around the world, retailers have numerous hurdles to overcome when aiming to become more sustainable by reducing their food losses. So, what can retailers do? There are several ways that retailers can get food loss under control with the help of an integrated logistics partner.

Digital tools for remote management

With help from digital tools shippers can track the location of their refrigerated cargo throughout its entire transportation journey. Additionally, dedicated tools that can monitor the conditions of refrigerated goods, such as remote container management systems, allow visibility on the inside of the container. From locking the container, to delivery at the warehouse or supermarket, remote container management systems can provide visibility on the temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions inside the container. This allows shippers to monitor and manage the conditions of their cargo, meaning that goods arrive at their end destinations in fresh conditions, leading to higher profits and more sustainability.

Supply chain visibility for planning

One key way for retailers to avoid food loss is for them to know where their stock is, and when it will arrive. This visibility allows for proper planning when it comes to storage and sales, ensuring that they will always have the right kind of storage available when their goods arrive. For example, if retailers know that one refrigerated delivery is delayed, and will be arriving around the same time as another delivery; they can arrange additional cold storage or set up a sale to free up more space for the new product.