No one’s complaining about the convenience of getting food, groceries, and beverages delivered straight to their home just hours after ordering. With the increase in food and beverage eCommerce, it’s never been easier to get amazing cocktails, unique foods, and even full grocery trips expedited without ever leaving home. These developments are great for eCommerce businesses and consumers alike, but food and beverage fulfillment processes have unique challenges.
If you’re in the eCommerce food and beverage industry, keep reading. We’ll explore perishable shipping solutions for food and beverage orders and discuss how ShipCalm can help streamline food and beverage fulfillment logistics to ensure your customers receive their goods the way you intended.
Increase In Food and Beverage eCommerce Sales
There’s been a substantial increase in eCommerce food and beverage sales in recent years, and this growth is only projected to increase further. Partially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been turning to online shipping options more than ever, and eCommerce businesses have happily adjusted to accommodate the recent popularity. Food subscription boxes have played a massive role in this growth, as consumers enjoy receiving their favorite and new foods delivered straight to their door. Recent studies show that in 2020 alone, revenue from eCommerce food and beverage sales was 18.7 billion dollars, and by 2025 it’s estimated that this revenue will increase to 25.7 billion.
Grocery Subscription Box Increases
Similar to the increase in eCommerce grocery sales, there’s also been a predictable increase in non-alcoholic beverage eCommerce sales. As the pandemic limited access to coffee shops, there was a substantial increase in coffee and tea sales.
For perspective, studies show that the global market for non-alcoholic beverages is expected to grow from $923 billion to a whopping $1.7+ trillion by 2028. While non-alcoholic beverages have a bit less complicated shipping logistics, it’s still essential for eCommerce brands to ensure that food and beverages arrive on time and in perfect condition.
Online Alcohol Sales On The Rise
With the increase in food and beverage eCommerce sales, alcoholic beverages have predictably followed. Consumers love being able to get alcohol shipped straight to their door. Especially with the rise of cocktail and wine subscriptions, we’ve seen increased interest in having alcohol shipped from different areas of the country to consumers. As many bars and restaurants closed during the pandemic, alcohol eCommerce companies have been increasingly creative. This growth is so substantial that the US market was estimated to surpass China as the largest alcohol eCommerce market in the world by 2021.
Food and Beverage Fulfillment Services
Food and beverage fulfillment requires clean warehousing, accuracy within inventory management, and many other shipping logistics to guarantee a successful shipment. eCommerce businesses understand that the moment an order is placed, a lot goes into making sure product arrives on time and with integrity. This is why many eCommerce businesses turn to third-party logistics (3PL) companies like ShipCalm to enhance food and beverage fulfillment capabilities. ShipCalm offers services like:
- Warehousing
- Inventory Management
- Packaging and Assembly Services
- Reverse Logistics and Return Processing
- Customer Service and Support
We make product fulfillment services and food and beverage shipping simple, with logistics capabilities that allow your products to be delivered fresh and fast. We guarantee:
- Cold storage options
- Dry storage options
- Warehousing networks
- Inventory and order management tools
- Fulfillment and distribution services
Temperature-Controlled Fulfillment
Nothing is worse than ordering groceries only to open a package of spoiled food. Temperature-controlled and frozen food fulfillment services ensure that perishables are shipped properly. eCommerce companies must analyze and improve their cold chain logistics if they want their business to be successful long-term. ShipCalm has strong cold chain capabilities and extensive experience in making sure consumers receive their perishable goods fresh and in a digestible state.
Alcohol Shipping
Shipping alcohol poses its own issues, as purchasing alcohol is more complex than buying coffee or groceries at the store. Not only does shipping alcohol feature unique legal logistics, but it also needs to be packaged and shipped to ensure customers don’t open their package to a boozy mess. ShipCalm has extensive experience in product fulfillment services for shipping alcohol and can help eCommerce businesses streamline any food and beverage fulfillment processes.
Commons Challenges of Food and Beverage Fulfillment
The food and beverage industry has unique challenges when it comes to order fulfillment, and ShipCalm is here to help. Some of the most common challenges we see in food and beverage fulfillment include:
Product Perishability:
Food and beverage products have a limited shelf life, which means they must be delivered quickly and efficiently to ensure freshness. ShipCalm’s advanced tracking and monitoring systems help us ensure that perishable items are delivered in a timely manner, while our experienced team works to minimize any delays or issues that may arise.
Temperature Control:
Many food and beverage products require specific temperature control during storage and transit. ShipCalm’s state-of-the-art fulfillment center is equipped with climate-controlled storage and transport solutions, ensuring that your products stay fresh and safe throughout the fulfillment process.
Complex Packaging:
Food and beverage products often require specific packaging, including insulated containers, ice packs, and other specialized materials. Our team of experts can help you identify the best packaging solutions for your products, ensuring that they arrive at their destination in perfect condition.
Let ShipCalm Handle Your Food And Beverage Shipping Needs!
While the increase in online food and beverage sales is a welcomed sign of changing times, shipping these items requires more mindfulness. eCommerce food and beverage businesses must have accurate and ethical perishable shipping solutions in compliance with the FDA to continue operating as a company and ensure customers keep coming back. As a reputable and experienced 3PL, ShipCalm is excited to handle your food and beverage shipping needs. Explore ShipCalm’s pricing page to learn more!
