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A vast global
transportation network is required by the food industry in order to
connect its numerous parts. These include suppliers, manufacturers,
warehousing, retailers and the end consumers. There are also those
companies that, during the food processing process, add vitamins,
minerals, and other necessary requirements usually lost during
preparation. Wholesale markets for fresh food products have tended
to decline in importance in OECD countries as well as in Latin
America and some Asian countries as a result of the growth of
supermarkets, which procure directly from farmers or through
preferred suppliers, rather than going through markets.
The constant and uninterrupted flow
of product from distribution centers to store locations is a
critical link in food industry operations. Distribution centers run
more efficiently, throughput can be increased, costs can be lowered,
and manpower better utilized if the proper steps are taken when
setting up a material handling system in a warehouse. |
