Box with fresh food.
Recent assessments by food auditor Steritech revealed that food safety problems are prevalent among supermarkets because of the increase in fresh produce and prepared food. Food delivery faces some of the same issues as companies struggle to keep perishable items at the right temperature. Dana Krug, who is the vice president and general manager of the Food and Beverage Division at Phononic, shared more in an interview.
Steritech's assessments showed that grocery stores struggle with food safety because fresh and prepared foods have a shorter shelf life with fewer preservatives. From cross-contamination to expired food, Steritech discovered problems during 3,000 supermarket assessments. Delivery services create additional concerns, such as storage and temperature control issues. According to a report from Phononic, 67% of Americans have a problem with how food is stored while it is delivered.
"Although fresh food delivery comes with its share of challenges, there is a clear business case for making the investment. Fresh and perishable foods accounted for nearly half of all dollar sales growth in the grocery category in the last year, presenting a compelling argument to retailers fighting for dominance in this aggressively competitive market," Krug said.
Keeping food safe and fresh during deliveries is only one of the safety concerns that companies must handle. While they try to make food delivery more convenient for consumers, many companies are offering to put your groceries away for you, but this requires access to your home and creates new worries about safety for both customers and the delivery workers.
"When it comes to logistics, there is still room for improvement. Amazon and Walmart are racing to deliver goods directly to shoppers' refrigerators, but this strategy creates a number of liability concerns that will prompt the need for rigorous background checks of delivery companies and their employees. It also presents challenges and potential restrictions for pet owners, who could be responsible for injuries inflicted upon a delivery person by a cat or dog," Krug said.
Food delivery drone concept. 3D illustration.
"Fresh foods will continue to be a challenge until someone figures out how to address the core issue: temperature control. Retailers are trying to get around the challenges that come with doorstep delivery of fresh foods by bypassing it through in-home services. However, doorstep delivery is still the most inclusive and accessible model we have today. It behooves today's retailers to invest in new solutions to get doorstep delivery for fresh groceries right," Krug explained.
Some of the solutions for food safety problems will come from advanced technology. Autonomous delivery and drones, equipped with temperature controls, can move fresh food quickly from the store or warehouse to the consumer while preventing spoilage. Customers may also feel more comfortable giving a drone access to their refrigerators rather than a person.
"While we have not seen this come to pass yet, new technologies are coming to market every day to improve the last mile, and solid-state refrigeration and freezing technology continue to be one of the most promising. Unlike traditional cooling technology, which has been limited by a loud, bulky and noxious compressor, solid-state solutions are lightweight, reliable, compact and extremely sustainable, offering precision cooling for an unprecedented number of in-store and delivery applications," Krug added.
Solid-state refrigeration does not require toxic refrigerants and weighs less, so it could be used in drones or other delivery vehicles that transport fresh food. As technology evolves, other solutions for food delivery will also appear.
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