The Biggest Drinks Logistics Challenges (and How to Solve Them)
Drinks logistics might not be the most exciting part of running a brewery, winery, distillery or low-and-no alcohol brand... but there's no denying that it is absolutely critical.
Behind the glamour of smooth and efficient drinks deliveries is a large puzzle made of multiple pieces, including alcohol storage and delivery compliance, smart delivery routing and troubleshooting when things go wrong.
Let's unpack the three biggest challenges that drinks brands face- and how to solve them.
The Challenge of Drinks Storage
The Challenge: Drinks require more than just a space to be stored- they require the correct conditions. Poor or incorrect drinks storage can lead to drinks spoilage, damage and even failed deliveries, which can ultimately lead to loss of revenue. How can drinks producers improve their storage to reduce the loss of stock?
How to solve it: Having a drinks warehouse provision that is optimised based on your individual SKUs or alcohol type can make all the difference in drinks storage. Using temperature-controlled environments (such as cold or ambient storage) and implementing a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) or First-Expiry-First-Out (FEFO) process are just two ways to solidify your storage to reduce stock wastage.
Check out our blog on how to store alcohol safely, efficiently and for increased shelf life for more tips on this topic.
How a 3PL can help: Third-party logistics partners (especially those that are 'drinks only' focused) have optimised warehouse storage to keep your drinks safe and secure. Many will offer drinks producers the option of both ambient and cold storage to enable drinks producers to store their whole range, without their more sensitive drinks having to take a hit to their quality.
Tap'in 3PL offer both ambient and chilled storage for all kinds of drinks in all kinds of containers- including kegs, casks, cans and bottles. Find out more about Tap'in here.
The Challenge of Drinks Stock Security and Insurance
The Challenge: Alcohol is high-value stock- unfortunately, it is highly theft-prone. Expensive spirits or popular limited-edition drinks are often common targets for theft. Many drinks producers assume that their drinks stock is covered by insurance; however, this is not the case for all stock types.
How to solve it: Whether your drinks logistics is in-house or outsourced, having strict warehouse access controls, CCTV, well-trained staff, and bulletproof policies for goods-in and storage is key to keeping your drinks stock safe.
Know your stock insurance policies inside and out, so you know exactly what you're covered for.
How a 3PL can help: A reputable 3PL will have insurance for stock held in their warehouse, and a drinks-specialist 3PL will have insurance specifically designed for the drinks industry. Their warehouse facilities should also have security measures, such as active CCTV and trained staff to ensure your stock is kept safe and sound.
Check with your chosen third-party logistics provider if their insurance covers:
- Theft
- Spoilage
- Breakage
The Challenge of Drinks Distribution & Last Mile Delivery
The Challenge: Urban delivery is quite commonly agreed to be one of the biggest challenges in drinks logistics. Taking into account timed deliveries, traffic conditions and tricky-to-get-to venues all adds to drinks logistics' biggest obstacle.
How to solve it: There are many ways that in-house and outsourced drinks logistics teams navigate the complexities of Last Mile drinks delivery, including:
- Strategic delivery planning (using routing software such as MaxOptra)
- Route consolidation (consolidated deliveries)
- Real-time, expert logistics team communication
- Frequent delivery schedules
Having a solid drinks logistics strategy and an expert logistics and delivery team makes all the difference in Last Mile delivery, especially into high-traffic areas such as London and Brighton.
How a 3PL can help:A drinks 3PL with London and South East distribution experience will know the trickiest roads and most challenging venue locations inside out. Utilising strict but frequent delivery schedules and the ability to consolidate deliveries through a 3PL can help drinks producers minimise costs and keep their venues happy.
Tap'in 3PL is a London, Brighton and Home Counties drinks-specialist third-party logistics partner. With our warehouse just 5 miles from Woolwich, our expert team and chosen trusted direct delivery partners deliver next-day into London, 4 days a week.
Are you a drinks producer delivering 3,500+ litres into London and the South East a month? Tap'in can build you an on-trade delivery offering using our bespoke PDL rate, so you only pay for the service that you use. Chat to our team today to find out more.
Final Thoughts: Logistics Can Make or Break Your Brand
Behind every successful drinks brand is a seamless supply chain.
If you're a drinks producer finding yourself too tied down with warehouse headaches, alcohol compliance and organising London and South East drinks delivery, it might be time to consider partnering with a drinks logistics expert.
Not sure if you should outsource your drinks logistics? Here are 10 signs it might be time to use a third-party logistics provider for your drinks business.
Talk To Tap'in 3PL: London and South East Drinks Logistics Service
At Tap'in, we specialise in drinks logistics only- which means our team stays laser-focused on providing a seamless logistics service to breweries, wineries, distilleries and low-and-no drinks producers.
Tap'in 3PL could work for your drinks business if:
- You're a drinks producer: Tap'in works with breweries, wineries, distilleries and low-and-no alcohol drinks producers. We use a simple PDL charging matrix that is specifically built to optimise drinks delivery charges.
- You produce in the UK and are looking for London and South-East deliveries: our warehouse located just 5 miles from Woolwich means our team can deliver into London 4 times a week, even offering next-day deliveries (subject to our delivery timetable)
- You deliver a minimum 3,500 litres of drink per month: for our drinks logistics service to be cost-effective and efficient, we work specifically with drinks producers operating on these minimum quantities
We use a simple and easy-to-understand charging matrix called the PDL (price per delivered litre) charging matrix. This handles receipt and handling of stock, storage (based on your individual volumes), delivery and empty keg collection.
Check out our FREE drinks logistics cost tool to see how much you could save with Tap'in.
Ready to make drinks logistics one less thing to worry about?
Get in touch with our team to see how we can help.
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