< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net WAREHOUSING AND OPTIMISATION alternative is to look at ways to minimise the reliance on staff in the first place. Software, specifically Supply Chain Management Software, can help with cutting the need for employees as well as providing summation of stock incoming and outgoing. Any delays at the distribution part of the supply chain, especially if caused by not having the correct SCM in place can be catastrophic, as it is distribution centres which commonly deal with directly with the final client – introducing that age-old risk of failing to satisfy and thus losing a key contract. Combining SCM with AI is still in its infant stages, but certainly something to be explored. Early adopters will be the ones to enjoy the greatest benefits after all. Warehouse optimisation has also become increasingly important as of late due to a lack of quality warehouse space combined with markets becoming increasingly more focused on their supply chains and food scarcity. This has made the distribution game difficult, and competition high to have the most streamlined and efficient system possible. Following that with fuel shortages and increased costs of living and transport, not to mention geopolitical events and the dangers of sea shipping now, and the situation has only gotten worse – forcing food and drink companies to make the most out of the limited resources they have. So, what is holding companies back from looking to replace workers with machines and software systems? Cost remains an important factor, with a fully automated warehouse Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net WAREHOUSING AND OPTIMISATION © stock.adobe.com/warloka79 system requires not only specialist machinery and software, but also a lot of planning and preparation. For existing warehouses, it might mean alteration, or removal of all existing systems, which would lead to a lot of wastage. While for new builds, there is already such high investment being utilised for distribution centres that adding another facet to the mix in what is already a tough economic climate, simply isn’t desirable. Return on investment tends to be a little slower with fully automated systems, despite high labour costs. Naturally, all this is compounded thanks to the uncertainty of factors like the war in Ukraine, inflation and the cost of living. On top of that there are also concerns about the flexibility of automated systems vs their more standard counterparts. When creating a new warehouse there is always the possibility that sales fall, or the space is not fully utilised in some way. In the event that a warehouse suddenly finds itself only operating at 50% capacity for instance, it is a relatively simple affair to move the racking around, designate the space to a different sector, rent out the space – or even just cut down on the size of the workforce to save costs. With a fully automated system this just isn’t quite so simple. Excess equipment could be sold for some quick capital, but that just leaves the warehouse unable to pick back up if sales increase, while leaving half of the warehouse inoperable will only result in marginal savings in terms of energy costs.packaging designers and buyers than ever before. The Source Trade Show 4-5 February Exeter, UK he Source is the South West’s biggest and best show of its kind for good reason. No other event serves up such a rewarding and valuable mix of comparative tastings, innovative ideas, networking opportunities and inspirational experiences. Taking place at the start of February 2025 this well- established event is the ideal way to give your business fresh momentum as you gear up for the season ahead. IPPE 28-30 January Georgia, USA IPPE’s extensive range of solutions Organic Grower Summit 4 - 5 December Monterey, USA The Organic Grower Summit is a premier event that serves as a hub for organic producers and suppliers to come together and explore the latest trends, techniques and innovations in organic farming. Paris Packaging Week 28 - 29 January Paris, France At Paris Packaging Week, it’s all about making meaningful connections, learning something new, feeling inspired, and most importantly, investing in the future of your brand. The biggest innovation in the show’s history is coming for the 2025 edition. A range of new and enhanced features are planned that will attract more 42 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © stock.adobe.com/ajandali Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo 25-26 February London, UK Customers want faster delivery times and an easier return system. In order to deliver this, retailers need to adapt their supply chain and have a seamless warehousing and distribution system. The Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo provides a hub to help businesses meet these expectations and stay ahead in this demanding industry. draws industry leaders worldwide committed to business development, implementing best practices, updating operations and remaining competitive. Attending IPPE will allow you to build relationships, find new suppliers and © stock.adobe.com/ lenscap50Gulfood 17-21 February Dubai, UAE Celebrating its 30th year, Gulfood has been the driving force at the heart of global food commerce—igniting innovation, sparking cross-cultural collaboration, and redefining the future of food. As the world experiences a sweeping transformation in food systems—powered by groundbreaking technologies, sustainability breakthroughs, and visionary ideas—Gulfood 2025 will be the epicentre of this revolution. This is where the next era of food begins, and you’re invited to be at the forefront of these seismic shifts. Food & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net © stock.adobe.com/HollyHarry Sustainable Foods 2025 28 - 29 January London, UK Sustainable Foods returns for its 4th annual edition! Featuring a senior VIP summit, alongside a bustling side exhibition, Sustainable Foods convenes senior executives across the value chain working on the design and implementation of sustainable and regenerative food systems. Welcoming global policy makers, food and drink multinationals, agribusinesses, technology firms, financiers, and investors, Sustainable Foods is the primary platform to drive tangible change and decisive business outcomes for the sector. vendors, and connect with your colleagues in one place at one time. IPPE will welcome a global audience of meat, poultry and egg and animal food professionals together in Atlanta, Ga. USA, while once again showcasing the newest solutions, technologies, research, processes, services and products that the global animal food and protein industries has to offer. Packaging Innovations & Empack 12-13 February Birmingham, UK Taking place on 12 & 13 February 2025, Packaging Innovations & Empack brings together bold brands, industry leaders, and the latest advancements in packaging solutions. This event offers a prime opportunity to explore trends, network with key players, and discover cutting- edge technology within the industry. FEATURES Health, Safety and Hygiene Spotlight Cartoning and Sleeving Conveying Pumps and Fluids Sorting and Weighing Bakery and Confectionery New Year, New Suppliers Import and Export Next month in January 2025 - Deadline 4th December INTERNATIONAL Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues?Classified You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Angela Cooper on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Food & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net Depositors Manufacturers of depositors & filling machines for the food production industry Labels • Self adhesive Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels INDEX Online Directory Depositors Labels To Let www. fdiforum .net • Superb Location • Secure off street parking • High speed internet availability • A range of affordable office sizes Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby To Let Online Directory To advertise your services on the 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net FoodandDrinkInternational@fdiforum company/fdiforum Once more Food & Drink International provides your ultimate guide to the industry – making sure you’re informed on what’s going on and looking closer at what’s happening. Don’t forget to keep up to date via www.fdiforum.net! Diary Food & Drink Stay in touch with Food & Drink International For more up to the minute information from the food and drink industry, visit Food & Drink International online at www.fdiforum.net. Keep up to date with Food & Drink International, and let us know what you think, by following us on Twitter at @fdiforum, at www.facebook.com/FoodandDrink International or by searching for fdiforum on LinkedIn. December 4-5, Organic Grower Summit, USA January 28-29, Paris Packaging Week, France 28-29, Sustainable Foods 2025, UK 28-30, IPPA, USA February 4-5, The Source Trade Show, UK 12-13, Packaging Innovations & Empack, UK 17-21, Gulfood, UAE 25-26, Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo, UK Online this month… www.fdiforum.net is the best place to go for up-to-date food and drink industry news. Here’s a sneak peek at one of our latest stories. EXBERRY® color supplier GNT awarded gold medal for sustainability GNT has earned its first EcoVadis gold medal for environmental and ethical activities, ranking the company among the top 3% in the food manufacturing industry. GNT creates EXBERRY® colors from fruit, vegetables, and plants and has set out a commitment to lead the food coloring industry on sustainability. It has used EcoVadis, a globally recognized provider of business sustainability ratings, to verify its performance and identify areas for improvement since 2017. After achieving a silver medal last year, GNT has now secured a gold ranking for the first time. EcoVadis awarded a total of 78 out of 100 points, placing GNT in the 97th percentile among food manufacturing businesses to have undertaken the evaluation. EcoVadis assessed GNT’s performance across four key areas. It gave the highest scores for Environment and Labor & Human Rights and also increased its ratings on Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. The key factors in the gold ranking included: * Transparent reporting, including an independent Greenhouse Gas Verification Statement * New initiatives to support employee training, health and safety, and working conditions throughout the value chain * A new Code of Conduct and policy to support whistleblowers Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT Group, said: “We are delighted to have earned our first EcoVadis gold medal. This is an important industry benchmark that is used by many of the world’s leading companies to assess their suppliers’ sustainability credentials. Securing gold is a powerful statement as only 5% of assessed companies achieve this status and our score puts us in the top 3%. 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