Efficient fulfillment reduces food waste in F&B

Food waste is a problem within the Food & Beverage industry. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that approximately 20% of all food is wasted worldwide. Much of this waste does not occur during production, but further down the chain: during storage, order processing, and distribution. Inefficient fulfillment processes cause delays, incorrect deliveries, and products that exceed their shelf life before reaching the end customer.

In a market with rising costs, tight margins, and increasing sustainability targets, food producers can no longer afford these inefficiencies. In this blog, we show how efficient, integrated fulfillment has a direct impact on reducing food waste and improving operational performance.

Where does traditional fulfillment go wrong?

Many Food & Beverage manufacturers still work with a combination of separate spreadsheets and manual processes. This results in limited visibility and delayed decision-making. Typical bottlenecks are:

• • Lack of real-time insight into inventory
  • Slow order processing due to manual entry
  • Wrong delivery priorities
  • Unnecessary storage of perishable products

When data is not up to date or complete, action is often taken too late. The result: products remain in stock for too long, are shipped urgently, or have to be written off.

The role of efficient fulfillment

Efficient fulfillment is about more than just speed. It’s about intelligently combining data, automation, and process alignment. By integrating and automating fulfillment processes, manufacturers can:

• • Process orders faster and without errors
  • Better application of FIFO or FEFO principles
  • More accurately matching inventory to current demand
  • Plan deliveries based on realistic data

Real-time insight enables proactive management and prevents waste before it occurs.

Less waste, better margins

When fulfillment is organized more efficiently, this has a measurable effect on results. Less waste means:

• • Lower inventory write-offs
  • Less need for urgent transport
  • Improved delivery reliability to retailers
  • Higher customer satisfaction

In addition, an efficient fulfillment strategy helps manufacturers support their sustainability goals and report more transparently.

Conclusion

Food waste is not an inevitable consequence of working with fresh or perishable products. With efficient, data-driven fulfillment, food and beverage producers can structurally reduce waste and future-proof their supply chain.

Contact our team and discuss how we can help you future-proof your supply chain.

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Majke Zoethout

Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce

Majke is a Marketing Specialist at SPS Commerce, responsible for marketing strategies for the Benelux region.

Latest posts by Majke Zoethout (see all)

• Efficient fulfillment reduces food waste in F&B - January 12, 2026
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