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View all search resultsRecalibrating food supply chain for post-COVID environment
Businesses, therefore, need to adapt their packaging solutions so that food products can withstand the rigors of the modern-day supply chain and address consumer needs for safety and convenience.
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e are experiencing the biggest health and economic crisis in generations. COVID-19 has drastically changed our lifestyles and with emergency measures imposed by governments worldwide to curb the spread of the virus, major disruptions have emerged across industries.
The food and beverage (F&B) sector is notably one of the hardest hit. From disruptions to supply chains to shifts in consumption habits, a new normal has emerged for businesses. With the end of COVID-19 nowhere in sight, these challenges will continue to ripple through the industry and impact the way business is conducted and the way consumers make purchases.
To ensure that industry players remain competitive and relevant in today’s evolving environment, there is an urgent need to look towards the adoption of innovative solutions across the food supply chain in adapting to the new normal.
On the consumer front, there has been a step change in the adoption of online grocery shopping as consumers look for contactless food access during the pandemic. As more people realize the convenience and ease of shopping online, this growth trajectory is expected to continue in a post COVID-19 environment.
A recent study found that Indonesian consumers are shopping online 16 percent more often than pre-pandemic levels and they intend to increase their purchase frequency on such channels even after the outbreak stabilizes. Although this trend was detectable before the crisis, COVID-19 has rapidly propelled the uptake of online shopping, even in Japan where consumers are known to prefer buying groceries at physical stores so they can inspect fresh foods first-hand.
In addition, consumers are choosing to cook more often at home and have become more health conscious, which in turn leads to a rise in demand for more fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, and meat. Inevitably, this has resulted in an increased focus on food safety as fresh foods delivered via online channels are shipped over longer distances and are subjected to extreme weather conditions.
Such shifts in consumption habits present new challenges for businesses in coping with the increased demand from e-commerce platforms while still ensuring that quality and safety standards of foods are met; however, those that are able to quickly adapt their products and services will be well-positioned to capture interest and demand.
