Nowadays, you can start an online store in almost any sector and sell a wide variety of products through it. The goal of an e-commerce business is always the same: to generate additional revenue. However, some industries believe that launching an online store is particularly complex—such as the food industry. But we assure you that there are tailored solutions for every sector. These solutions make it possible to launch and manage an online store seamlessly. Of course, when it comes to food product inventory management, there are some important factors to consider.
Permits for Managing Food Inventory
If you work with food products, you must obtain a permit, regardless of whether you are manufacturing, importing, selling, packaging, storing, or transporting food. The type of permit required is regulated by the FASFC (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain). There are three types of permits, each with a different control process: registration, authorization, and recognition. The permit you need depends on your activities.
If you sell organic (BIO) products, you will need not only a permit from the FASFC but also a BIO certificate. Organic products are easily recognizable by the well-known green leaf logo. Only certified organic businesses that comply with BIO regulations can use this logo on their products. If you plan to sell BIO products, your company must undergo inspections by one of the three authorized control bodies in Flanders.
Expiration Date
When dealing with food products, you must consider their expiration dates, as they are not indefinitely consumable. The packaging of food products typically includes a batch number and an expiration date. Many food products are produced in batches, and printing a batch number on the packaging allows companies to track exactly where a product comes from. Imagine discovering a problem with one of your products but not knowing which batch it belongs to—you would have to recall all products instead of just the affected batch.
Expiration dates on packaging can indicate different things. The two most common labels are:
- Use By (TGT – “Te Gebruiken Tot”): found on highly perishable products like meat or fish. Consuming these products after the date can pose serious health risks.
- Best Before (THT – “Ten minste Houdbaar Tot”): products remain safe to consume after this date, although their appearance or taste may change.
Additionally, the date applies only to unopened packages. Once the package is opened, the expiration date is no longer valid. It is wise to indicate on your packaging how long the product remains safe for consumption after opening.
Inventory Management Methods
As a business owner, you must avoid sending expired products or items that are close to their expiration date. The inventory management method plays a crucial role in this. You should choose a method that aligns with your products. If you handle perishable goods, you will likely use either the JIT or FIFO principle.
- Just in Time (JIT): This method is effective when supply and demand are perfectly synchronized. Goods are shipped to the customer as soon as they arrive, minimizing inventory levels and reducing storage costs.
- First In, First Out (FIFO): This method ensures that the oldest stock is sold first. It is the most widely used method for products with expiration dates. A variation of FIFO is FEFO (First Expired, First Out), which prioritizes products that expire the soonest.
The choice of method depends on various factors. It is critical that your warehouse is designed to support these methods. For example, if you choose FIFO, your warehouse should allow products to be restocked from the back, which is not always efficiently implemented.
Inventory Management System
If you work with expiration dates, an inventory management system can be a game-changer. With Webship Online, for example, you can input the expiration date and batch number when receiving inventory. Additionally, you can define the preferred inventory management method. A smart inventory system will then ensure that products are picked based on their chronological expiration dates, minimizing the risk of selling expired goods. When using this approach, your only concern is to generate enough orders to maintain a healthy inventory turnover.
Outsourcing Food Inventory Management
Managing food inventory is challenging. There are many aspects to consider, and if you are not a logistics expert, it can lead to serious issues. As an entrepreneur, you should focus on growing your business rather than spending excessive time in the warehouse. The solution? Fulfillment!
A fulfillment center can take over your inventory management and ensure flawless order processing. This allows you to save time, reduce logistical stress, and bring in specialized expertise.
Handling expiration dates and inventory methods is effortless for a fulfillment center like Webship. However, before outsourcing food inventory management, you must check whether the fulfillment center has the necessary permits. Webship holds an FASFC permit and a BIO certificate, making it an ideal partner for online stores selling food products.
💡 Interested? Contact Webship via hallo@webship.be!
