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Canned goods stand out for their long shelf life and because, under normal conditions, they do not require the same temperature controls as fresh or refrigerated products. However, when handling large quantities of cans, jars, and different product SKUs, having a well-organized logistics system is essential.
Humidity, container stability, inventory turnover, and batch traceability are just some of the factors that must be monitored. Therefore, choosing the right warehouse for canned goods can make all the difference in the day-to-day management of this type of merchandise.
What Should a Canned Goods Warehouse Be Like?
A canned goods warehouse must provide suitable conditions to protect the merchandise and facilitate its management. It is important to maintain a dry, clean space protected from light, avoiding excessive humidity and sudden temperature changes that could affect cans, jars, or packaging.
It is also essential to maintain proper organization of SKUs and lots, ensure the stability of pallets, and have a system in place that tracks the location and movements of each item. This facilitates both traceability and order fulfillment.
Therefore, it is not just a matter of having space, but of having a facility equipped to store, organize, and manage large volumes of canned goods efficiently.
How is the inventory of canned goods managed?
Inventory management is especially important when a warehouse handles numerous SKUs, lots, and best-by dates.
Two common systems are:
- FIFO (First In, First Out): The merchandise that comes in first is the first to go out.
- FEFO (First Expired, First Out): Priority is given to shipping out products with the nearest best-by date.
For food products, the FEFO system can be particularly useful for ensuring proper inventory turnover. In addition, keeping batches identified allows you to track the location and movements of each batch.
How are canned goods transported?
Finished canned goods do not normally require refrigerated transport, but they do require proper handling during loading, unloading, and distribution. Proper palletization, stability of the goods, and protection of cans and jars help prevent impacts and damage during transport. It is also important to coordinate warehouse and transport operations so that goods can be prepared and shipped in an orderly manner.
When working with large volumes, this coordination allows for greater control over the goods from receipt through shipment.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Warehouse for Canned Goods
For a food company, having a space to store canned goods is not just a matter of square meters. The conditions of the facilities, the organization of the merchandise, batch control, and the ability to prepare and ship orders are also part of efficient logistics management.
At Antonio Marco, we have logistics facilities in Alicante and Murcia equipped to handle food products and various storage needs, including picking, cross-docking, and inventory management services.
If you’d like to learn more about how our logistics centers operate, we invite you to read our blog post on Antonio Marco’s warehouse for businesses, where we explain the coordinated operations of our branches.
Contact our team today to address any storage questions you may have or request a quote to design your canned goods campaign operations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Storing Canned Goods
1. Do canned goods need to be refrigerated?
Finished canned goods can usually be stored at room temperature and do not need to be refrigerated. The important thing is to keep them in a dry, clean place protected from light, avoiding extreme temperatures and sudden temperature changes.
2. What conditions should a canned goods warehouse have?
It must have adequate conditions to protect the product and its packaging from moisture, light, and damage during handling. Additionally, it is important to have a proper organization of SKUs, lots, and locations to facilitate the management and traceability of the merchandise.
3. Is it better to use FIFO or FEFO for canned goods?
Both systems allow for the organization of inventory turnover. FIFO dispatches the goods that have been in storage the longest first, while FEFO prioritizes products with the nearest best-by date. For food products, FEFO can facilitate more efficient management of expiration dates.
4. Why is it important to track batches of canned goods?
Batch tracking allows you to identify and locate each batch as it moves through the warehouse. This facilitates inventory management, order fulfillment, and the traceability of goods in the event of any incident.