The food industry is fast paced and requires attention to detail to ensure smooth operations. But it all starts with a reliable inventory management system that helps cut down waste and increase profitability for a win-win situation. Managing inventory alongside your dairy and milk supplier is especially crucial as these items spoil easily, so mapping out your orders, necessary quantities and having flexible agreements in place can all help you to better manage your produce.
Use Forecasting to Predict Demand
One of the best ways to avoid wastage is by using past data to forecast trends; it can be combined with seasonal trends and market analysis to predict the quantity of products required. A trusted milk suppliers can help you access data so you can understand how much dairy is best to order.
Why a Strong Supplier Relationship Matters
Good communication with your suppliers helps build a client relationship with mutual trust and respect. A reliable dairy supplier means timely deliveries and less chance of spoilage. After all, fresh, tasty dairy is important to keep your employees or customers happy. By having a healthy relationship with your suppliers, there’s more likely room for understanding in case of an order fluctuation and the insurance of some flexibility.
Ask your milk supplier if they offer a subscription service and what their order adjustment policies are to avoid the risk of over-ordering or not having enough stock to meet your needs. Trust also leads to transparency, so you know that your supplier is providing you with up-do-date information on the produce they are selling, ensuring that it’s fresh. Look for a milk supplier near you–keeping it local can help improve response and delivery times.
Make the Most of Technology
By leveraging technology in your daily operations, you can help keep an eye on your stock in real time. An IMS (inventory management system) is a great tool, especially for catering businesses or restaurants that depend on an accurate report of stock. You can set alerts to let you know if certain products are low in quantity, as well as alerts for expiration dates. These simple tactics can help you stay organised and reduce food waste, increasing your profit and sustainability practices.
Reduce the Need for Bulk Orders
Bulk orders can be necessary for larger companies that rely on a constant stream of milk and fresh produce, but for small to medium-sized businesses, scheduling a more frequent milk delivery service and smaller orders can help to ensure produce is fresh, less food is wasted, and storage facilities are not overcrowded, assisting operations to run smoothly. Working with a supplier for local dairy also helps reduce transport time, meaning your deliveries are always fresh.
Ensure Proper Storage & Handling
Storing perishable produce like dairy at the right temperature and in the right conditions can help extend its shelf life and maintain its quality. If you’re in doubt about how to store your produce, ask your supplier, as they can provide expert guidance. Getting staff to perform regular checks is also a great way to keep an eye on the quality of the items, cutting down potential waste.
Have You Tried FIFO?
FIFO, or first-in, first-out practice, is an easy-to-follow practice in which the oldest stock is used first. It helps mitigate the risk of spoilage and helps keep your costs down by using what you have. Using a tracking system or labelling products is the best way to implement FIFO. Local milk delivery is also a great way to know that you can access fresh milk and dairy when you need reducing the need for large orders.
By partnering with a trustworthy food service company, you help ensure smooth operations with high-quality fresh milk and produce. Asking key questions and using technology are great ways to cut down your business’ food wastage and increase your bottom line.
Here at MV Milk & Foodservice we work with our clients to help ensure timely deliveries, get in touch to find out more.
