Food industry

The facts

• Fresh products require very tight logistics windows between production and shelf placement
• Food waste represents a growing financial and reputational cost, with legal requirements (such as the AGEC law) increasing expectations
• FEFO (First Expired, First Out) management remains difficult to industrialize in multi-SKU warehouses

Les préconisations

• Optimize end-to-end flows to reduce transit times and maximize remaining shelf life upon receipt
• Implement automated FEFO management rules in WMS and order preparation systems
• Build loss-tracking indicators by SKU, warehouse, and customer to enable continuous improvement

The facts

• Agricultural and input costs (energy, packaging) are subject to unpredictable fluctuations that weaken margins
• Climate and geopolitical uncertainties disrupt supply chains over increasingly shorter time horizons
• Dependence on a limited number of suppliers creates disruption risks that are difficult to absorb

Les préconisations

• Build multi-sourcing strategies and strengthen supplier resilience
• Implement an S&OP process integrating upstream constraints (harvests, supplier lead times) to anticipate disruptions
• Develop substitution scenarios and safety stocks calibrated to the actual risk level of each material

The facts

• Retail chains require high service levels (often above 98%), with penalties applied in the event of stockouts
• Promotions and product launches create demand peaks that are difficult to absorb without overstocking or stockouts
• Sales price pressure leaves little room to absorb logistics inefficiencies

Les préconisations

• Improve service level reliability by developing collaborative forecasting with sales teams
• Anticipate promotional peaks through dedicated planning integrated into the S&OP process

The facts

• Traceability requirements are increasing (European regulations, CSRD): product origin, transportation, and carbon footprint
• Consumers and retail chains expect concrete commitments towards responsible sourcing
• Packaging reduction and transport optimization are becoming key drivers of competitiveness as well as compliance

Les préconisations

• Implement end-to-end traceability tools to meet regulatory requirements and audit expectations
• Integrate environmental criteria into procurement policies and supplier selection processes
• Optimize routes and load factors to reduce logistics emissions