A startup dealing in perishable items should never play with fire or risk deterioration of valuable products. Entrepreneurs keen on recovering their investment should realise that severe environmental conditions have dire effects on meat, dairy products, seafood, fresh produce, and pharmaceuticals, among others.
The Road to the Consumer’s Table
Fish, fruits, and other perishables have a certain lifespan beyond which they are not safe to consume. Compounds and chemicals deteriorate when exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity. Before your products reach the consumers, they must often travel thousands of kilometres. Keeping these products intact from the farm to the table requires the effort of many people, and various systems must all be in place. Logistics companies have to ensure that the products retain the quality for which they will be purchased by the end user.
Finding the Right Logistics Service Provider
Maintaining a holding temperature is critical for perishable goods. For other items, isolation is necessary. Your first responsibility is to ensure that the logistics company can be trusted to accommodate products even in the harshest possible environments. Most European hauliers in the UK working with startups offer many possible options. You must find the right fit for the products that you need to transport. Your clients rely on you to provide them with quality products.
Ensuring Packaging Fit to Protect Products from Deterioration
The first line of defence is packaging, such as EPS foam—that is expanded polystyrene. This material offers adequate insulation, which decreases heat transfer and protects temperature-sensitive products. To keep perishable items cool, radiant barrier films, dry ice, wet ice, and gel coolants may be used.
In the transport of frozen items, additional considerations must be met. Paper towel and wads made from cellulose are some of the materials used for padding to absorb the melting liquid. Another type of product that needs special treatment is fresh meat. The risk of contamination is high for fresh meat. Thus, sterile packaging must be available. International requirements must be complied to ensure that perishable items do not rot and are still in viable condition.
An Unbroken Chain
The safety and viability of your products depend on the competence of the logistics company that you have chosen. The packaging, monitoring, and evaluation systems in place should be effective enough to maintain product integrity. The maintenance of certain temperature ranges in refrigerated vehicles is a primary concern for products, which do not tolerate warm temperatures even for a short time.
The spread of food-borne diseases is a huge concern in transporting perishables. Transport vehicles must be regularly sanitised and surfaces disinfected as recommended by health monitors. Recommended practices must be employed by staff who are assigned to handle products during transport.
When shelf like is at stake for the products that you sell, you must choose wisely. There are a host of issues to consider. Because of that, the success of your business depends on your choice of transport and handling services. Are you prepared to sign up a shipping partner today? Be informed and choose wisely.
