LOGISTICS FORUM 2023 PANEL3 | LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN IN F&B

What we overlook is the fact that the food and beverage (F&B) business is highly reliant on the proper set of supply chains and logistical operations. A restaurateur may ensure that their patrons are satisfied by serving them food that is prepared with the freshest ingredients. This panel concentrated on the logistics and supply chain, a far less-discussed food and beverage ecosystem component.

6. What should one consider while selecting suppliers, clients, or partners?

7. What challenges do consumers face when choosing suppliers?

8. How can logistics firms and food and beverage establishments make sure the right product is available when it is needed while addressing environmental issues? (For example: How does the most recent news on a brief spike in the price of eggs and poultry products affect you?)

9. Can you describe the present food waste scenario from where you each operate?

10. The contribution that logistics makes to establishing food security.

11. Could you describe a few of your sustainable projects or plans?

Manufacturers of food and beverages are under pressure from several points throughout the value chain. The force that retailers are under the most strain is a direct outcome of the industry’s ongoing power transfer from producers to retailers. More and more market share and power are being concentrated in fewer retail chains due to ongoing grocery and other retail channel consolidation, giving them more clout when negotiating terms with their food and beverage suppliers regarding pricing, services, and supply chain technology. Companies in the food and beverage industries are aggressively battling for growth, market share, and profitability while dealing with this demand from their retail clients. Nevertheless, companies are engaged in fierce competition to wring out little market share gains, sometimes at great expense to marketing and developing novel products.

Seymone Moodley moderated this panel, which included several well-known industry figures like Sooraj Mathew, Marwan Khalife, and Tarek Almuhanna.

The conversation covered the following topics:

1. Let’s start by discussing your various responsibilities within the supply chain. What are you doing in the food and beverage industry’s logistics and supply chain ecosystem?

2. What are some of the main issues you encounter in the F&B business among all the diverse industries you serve? (Includes from the perspective of commercial and F&B project management)

3. From the perspective of company development, what are your plans to meet the industry’s escalating demands?

4. What facilities and systems are required to guarantee the highest food handling, safety, and storage levels?

5. Let’s talk about developing a supply chain for F&B businesses.

12. What technological changes have affected the logistics and supply chain sectors?

13. In the context of your various responsibilities, how will the future of food look?

MARWAN KHALIFE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

– MENA, LOGSQUARE, SAYS, “F&B handling is critical, especially from a hygiene perspective—the less human touches, the lesser the risk of contamination. Hence, the industry is converging towards automation. Even SMEs are initiating the automation of the production lines and all links of the supply chain such as storage and distribution.”

TAREK ALMUHANNA, OWNER AND FOUNDER OF SWISSKNIFE, COMMENTS, “Throughout the discussion, we covered various topics, from supply chain management to inventory control to transportation logistics. It was fascinating to hear about the challenges and opportunities faced by those in attendance and learn about the innovative solutions implemented to address them.”

SOORAJ MATHEW, HEAD OF COMMERCIAL AT AL FUTTAIM LOGISTICS, SAYS, “In the logistics industry, we don’t own the products, so we have to create strategies that help us across industries. Even in the food and beverage industry, there are a variety of temperatures to consider: frozen, refrigerated, fresh, finished, ready to eat, defrosting, etc. So, determining where we will be adding sustainability in return needs a substantial quantity of data, which we have been gathering over the previous few years with short-term gains.”