How To Ship Perishable Food and Drinks for Business

Selling perishable food online, especially food that needs to be frozen or kept cold, can be difficult for a small food maker. However, large corporations can make shipping perishable items look simple.

Here are some helpful tips and tools that will make it easier to ship food that has to be kept at a cool temperature so that you may get started quickly delivering the perishable goods you sell.

We will investigate various topics, including customized packing, cooling methods, delivery speeds, pricing, and more.

1) Create a Packaging System to Preserve the Temperature of Your Food

There are more choices available to shield your temperature-sensitive food from the heat of the environment than you would initially believe.

Here are some possibilities for you to consider:

Styrofoam containers

Around the world, the term "Styrofoam" informally describes another substance that is often white in color and formed of expanded polystyrene foam. These materials then make a selection of different box sizes and different thicknesses.

You can include a regular cardboard box outside of it to pack your food. Also, if you have a box with thicker walls, you'll need less dry ice or ice packs, but the cost of the box will go up.

To try out a variety of sizes and thicknesses with your product, request samples from your suppliers.

Styrofoam sheets

Styrofoam sheets are similar to styrofoam boxes. They are made from the same material but may be more convenient if you cannot find a box that matches your cardboard or shipping container.

They may also be tailored to fit any box. You may purchase them at a lower price than the complete box, but they cannot maintain the frigid temperature of your items as well.

Insulated liners

Insulated box liners offer efficient temperature management for 48 hours and are fully constructed from curbside recyclable materials.

These "textured" blankets have the look of emergency blankets but the "texture" of bubble wrap. The biggest benefit of choosing this option is that it allows you to firmly wrap your product before using bubble wrap or other forms of packaging to cover any empty space within your box.

Air-filled insulation liners

For up to 48 hours, temperature-sensitive and perishable items are protected in transportation by air-filled insulated box liners. These liners often look like mini airbags.

They come with a hand pump (for lesser quantities) and an air tank (for larger volumes). They also rely on the powerful thermal characteristics of air, which is free, making this option typically more affordable.

Insulated pads

These pads provide a "greener" alternative since they come from recycled materials. In addition, they have the same excellent insulation as Styrofoam and the reflectiveness of the insulated liners.

This solution comes with an appropriate cardboard box, but you can also order additional boxes from various internet vendors.

2) Keep Things Chilled: Ice Packs vs. Dry Ice

When transporting products that need to be refrigerated, the rule of thumb is to use ice packs, but if you have to keep your product frozen, use dry ice instead.

Ice packs

Be careful to conduct the necessary number and amount of tests inside the container that will serve as the insulation before you commit to buying it.

Bear in mind that other types are also available, but if you want to save money, you'll probably just need ice packs that you can use once.

Dry ice

Dry ice is useful for many food shipments, but this item can be dangerous. And because you will be working with a hazardous item, you will need to consider a few additional factors while marking your box and selecting a shipping partner to work with you.

If you use more well-known shipping franchises and can send your package with less than 5.5 pounds of dry ice, you are not subject to any additional criteria for air transport.

But you must put a label on the box's exterior indicating that it includes dry ice, regardless of how much you use.

Now perhaps you're asking, "How much dry ice do I need?"

The answer to this question depends on the total weight of your goods and the required freezing time. In addition to considering the season and destination, think about your goods' temperature.

3) Select the Appropriate Logistics Partner

For items you must deliver within one to two days, we recommend using a reputable freight company.

This will help you to determine what kind of "incentive pricing" you may obtain depending on the amount you are presently sending and the volume you anticipate shipping in the future.

You should be able to negotiate at least a percentage off retail prices without needing to buy in huge quantities. Under no circumstances can you base your delivery cost and pricing strategy on full retail prices.

It is well worth the time commitment to research which shipping partner offers the finest service for your specific company and the items it sells.

4) Consider Delivery and Storage Times

Of course, you must consider how long it takes to deliver your goods. But equally important is how long they may be stored once shipped.

Sending your items overnight is necessary to ensure their freshness. Still, shipping via two-day delivery is far more cost-effective and may be sufficient for those items with a longer shelf life. If you can save your customers money on shipping, they will buy from you more frequently.

Ultimately, shelf life will decide the required delivery speed. Whether or not your items need cold or freezing temperatures for storage also matters. The most important question is, "What is the slowest I can transport my goods while still guaranteeing that they will arrive safely?"

Think about restricting delivery to a select number of locations, at least in the beginning, while you're still building your volume. If you decide to go that route, make it a priority to direct your web marketing efforts to the clients you are hoping to attract from this area.

Additionally, to avoid any letdown, make sure that the delivery policy for your online food business is easily accessible.

5) Set Prices and Control Costs to Make the Most Profit

There are a few things to take into mind in order to cut prices on your There are a few ways to cut prices on your overall shipping expenses. It all boils down to this question: will anyone be willing to pay that much for shipping?

Even if you make your box as compact as possible, you may still be looking at a hefty shipping cost for a refrigerated product. The situation is even direr if you are delivering a frozen product.

Before you jump to the conclusion that no one will pay such a hefty delivery cost, have a look at these last few e-food tips:

1. Make an estimate of the proportion of the orders that will be fulfilled by ground shipping (in your region) and the proportion of the orders by air mail.
2. It may be acceptable to earn a smaller profit on orders transported to a more remote area if you profit more significantly on orders shipped closer to your location. You can always adjust the costs of your shipping options in the future after researching your orders' sources.
3. If you include a portion of the cost of shipping in the price of the items, you will be able to cut the amount you charge for shipping without jeopardizing your ability to meet those costs.
   
   For instance, if your product's regular price is $10, charge $12 for it. You will receive $8 in income (four times $2) when a client orders four of the things in one box, which will help pay some of the shipping expenses.
   
   Keep in mind that if you provide a distinctive and delicious product, customers may be more ready to pay higher shipping expenses than you initially anticipated.

Conclusion

Shipping perishable food and drinks for your business can be a daunting task. But with the right knowledge, preparation, and tools, it can be a relatively smooth process.

Consider the five things we've outlined above for shipping perishables, and you can start providing an essential service you can provide to your customers.

Start responsibly shipping those items today and reap the rewards of satisfied customers eating quality meals and sipping delicious beverages.

At A-1 Auto Transport, we make it our business to stay up to date on the latest developments in the freight industry. Contact us anytime to learn about our comprehensive range of shipping services.