Addressing Challenges in Large-Scale Frozen Food Processing

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Competition, labor shortages, and sustainability are just some of the challenges that the frozen food processing industry faces. The frozen pizza and bakery industries have constantly changing demands and new difficulties to overcome. However, this whirlwind of unpredictability doesn’t need to put a stop to a label’s operations – especially not with automating large-scale production.

While the frozen food processing industry experiences its fair share of conundrums, large-scale frozen meal brands can still protect their productivity by using the latest technology in automated pizza and bakery equipment. Here, we’ll explore challenges in the frozen food business and food supply chain problems. We’ll also describe how we can withstand market changes in frozen food logistics with automation. Even though the challenges that the large-scale frozen food industry faces may be complex, the solutions don’t have to be.

Challenges in the Frozen Food Business

Common yet serious challenges in the frozen food business include competition, sustainability, and supply chain disruptions. Each one of these issues can significantly impact a large-scale food label’s success when not addressed quickly.  

Competition

Competition is an obvious challenge, but lagging in innovation could very well mean irrelevance for a brand. With so many pizza and bakery products, including fresh items to create unique products that offer customers a culinary experience noticeably different than the competition is a must. However, R&D is typically financially risky with no promise of return. Quantum automation grants low-risk R&D through versatility, ease of use, and ingredient conservation. Our equipment has many functionalities, regardless if your brand is applying ingredients to assemble pizza or bakery items. As long as our equipment can accommodate the ingredients, it can apply them to your products. 

Sustainability

Sustainability is another challenge in the frozen food business, referring to both resources and meeting demand. How well your frozen food processing operations conserve resources like energy and water largely affects your overhead costs. And, how well your automated food equipment can keep up with demand determines how sustainable your brand’s operations are. Finding equipment that can conserve both operating resources and effort are key to remaining a strong, large-scale frozen food manufacturer. Large-scale pizza and bakery production requires a great deal of resources, effort, and ingredients – why not conserve where possible to streamline production? 

Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain disruptions are the last of the challenges we’ll talk about here. While the supply chain may seem removed from frozen food processing, it’s directly tied to the success of your pizza and bakery products. Food supply chain problems can prevent your products from reaching customers, depending on the issues. That’s why it’s critical to prepare your products for their journey beyond the manufacturing plant. Next, we’ll explore specific food supply chain problems and how your brand can prepare for them.

Food Supply Chain Problems

Food supply chain problems are unpredictable. Frozen food companies can design their operations to accommodate the instability of the food supply chain. Ingredient shortages, labor shortages, and inflation challenge large-scale frozen food processing. However, there are ways that big brands can strategize around these obstacles. 

Ingredient Shortages

Ingredient shortages make it difficult for large-scale frozen food companies to find critical components for their recipes. Brands may not be able to fulfill quotas and meet demand as a result. One way to prepare for this challenge is by conserving pizza and bakery topping ingredients when possible. Many models of Quantum equipment have either a reclaim system that reapplies unused ingredients – or the equipment applies a specified amount of ingredient to the products. These two features limit ingredient waste, helping companies use only what they need and save ingredients in case of a shortage. 

Labor Shortages

Labor shortages are prevalent in both the food supply chain and in frozen food processing. Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies everywhere have found it difficult to maintain a well-staffed team. This ultimately causes delays in food manufacturing and related operations. Food manufacturing and the supply chain may compete for workers, which is why food manufacturing companies need to ensure they can get the work done. Quantum automated equipment requires minimal staffing for maintenance and restocking, allowing large-scale frozen pizza and bakery brands to operate efficiently with a smaller team. Having automated equipment that does most of the work is reassuring at a time when the labor market is highly unpredictable.

Inflation

Inflation doesn’t just drive up costs for customers buying a product – it also makes food manufacturing more expensive for frozen pizza and bakery labels. As a result, a company’s bottom lines can be greatly affected if it isn’t prepared. Inflation makes ingredients more expensive for food manufacturers, as well as the cost of labor. It also may cause customers to spend less on products that aren’t their priority. Large-scale frozen pizza and bakery manufacturers can employ equipment that conserves resources to save on costs and equipment that can scale with demand. This way, a frozen food label can make the products it needs to meet demand and preserve its bottom line simultaneously in a time when the market is harsh.

These supply chain issues can severely affect operations and overall business. Luckily, the frozen food industry has new technology that can prepare companies to overcome these obstacles. Quantum automated equipment for frozen pizza and bakery products simplifies frozen food logistics, regardless of market trends. 

Withstanding Market Changes in Frozen Food Logistics

As we’ve seen since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply chain and markets change quickly and unpredictably. What matters is a company’s ability to withstand the challenges that arise in frozen food logistics. While we’ve addressed serious challenges in large-scale frozen food manufacturing, let’s review the importance of employing durable and versatile equipment and leveraging your equipment’s manufacturer when your label experiences market setbacks.

Employ Durable and Versatile Equipment 

Finding equipment that is durable and versatile can benefit a brand’s production process. Quantum automated equipment helps mitigate challenges in large-scale frozen pizza and bakery manufacturing, including ingredient shortages, labor shortages, and inflation. The durability and versatility of our equipment increase operational efficiency.

Refer to the Manufacturer

When trying to solve complex problems in food production, it’s smart to talk to the manufacturer of your equipment to see what strategy they recommend. At Quantum, we value stellar customer service so that our clients can excel, regardless of any obstacle in frozen food manufacturing. By working with our clients closely, we can recommend tailored solutions to the industry’s toughest challenges. 

Solve Challenges Quickly with Quantum

Quantum equipment is built to solve the many challenges that face the frozen food processing industry. Between increased productivity, enhanced safety, and improved quality, Quantum automated food equipment is a single solution to the industry’s most prevalent issues. Large-scale frozen food manufacturing demands durability and reliability, which our equipment provides. Contact us at Quantum today to implement equipment that can withstand the demands of high-volume frozen meal production.