The food and beverage industry is complex and faces many unique obstacles. Businesses in this sector navigate compliance concerns, supply chain shifts and equipment demands to ensure smooth operations. This massive global network impacts billions of people each day, and efficiency and accuracy are crucial to industry success.

Top Food and Beverage Industry Challenges

As one of the most powerful sectors, food and beverage experts anticipate an annual growth rate of 8.78% through 2029. Of course, the industry has also seen fluctuations over the last few years, and some trends are likely to continue shaping the industry. How businesses respond to these demands will likely impact their resiliency and profit margins. Top challenges in the sector include:

• Regulatory changes: This industry constantly faces new regulations to address public health concerns, scientific advancements and consumer advocacy. Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) altered the definition of the term healthy, which forced businesses to rethink packaging claims. In 2025, the industry could also see regulatory changes impacting color additives, manufacturing processes, salt substitutes and more. Businesses must adapt to these changes to avoid legal penalties and consumer dissatisfaction.
• Food safety concerns: Food safety is the heart of the food and beverage industry. While these concerns will likely always be at the forefront of consumers’ minds, there are several specific concerns reflecting the current landscape. Improper equipment sanitation, confusing labeling, meat and poultry washing, unsafe food handling and unsafe food storage are among the top food safety concerns today.
• Sustainability demands: Sustainability has been an increasing concern for consumers across industries. Recent findings show that more than 70% of Generation Z respondents consider sustainability when selecting food products. To meet consumer demands and stand out on the market, businesses must develop innovative ways to produce products that maintain high quality while reducing their overall carbon footprint.

Food and Beverage Material Handling Solutions

Material handling solutions promote the safe and efficient movement of food products. The right solutions allow businesses to maintain proper sanitation, prevent waste and spoilage, ensure gentle handling, manage temperature control and optimize space utilization. Teams can leverage material handling solutions to track products throughout the supply chain, which is crucial for quality control. Common material handling solutions include:

• Pallet racking: Racking systems prompt smooth warehouse loading, storage and unloading. For the food and beverage industry, this solution allows high-density storage, organized inventories, damage reduction and automation integration. Some systems are suitable for freezer environments and cold storage, allowing teams to maintain necessary temperatures for food and beverage products while promoting efficiency.
• Conveyors: Conveyor systems enable teams to move containers, transport products and save space. Mini-veyors can transport small items in limited-space facilities, while roller conveyors are suitable for packaging operations.
• Warehouse automation: Warehouse automation can have a massive impact on the food and beverage industry. Automation quickens material handling, allowing teams to increase efficiency and throughput. Automated systems can operate at all times, minimizing downtime and promoting faster fulfillment. These systems can also reduce manual errors and promote accuracy in inventory management, shipping and order fulfillment, which reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes, food spoilage and customer dissatisfaction.
• Dock equipment: Dock equipment and mezzanines create safer work environments while increasing efficiency during unloading and loading processes. Guide rails, barrier gates and door guards can prevent equipment and product damage.
• Vertical lifts: If your team moves products between levels or floors, a vertical lift offers a cost-effective method for material movement. Material lifts allow teams to raise loads of all weights and sizes, making them an excellent way to increase safety while boosting productivity. Compared to an elevator, vertical lifts are an efficient and cost-effective solution.

Optimized Industry Warehouse Designs

Warehouse designs significantly impact operations. An efficient design encourages efficient workflows, enhances productivity and increases facility organization. The right design can aid in reducing labor costs, improve inventory management and prevent costs associated with food spoilage and improper handling or storage.

With Arnold Machinery Company, you can request warehouse design services to optimize outcomes. Our associates leverage state-of-the-art simulation software to assess your business needs and enhance performance. We can determine the material handling equipment you need to meet demands, identify ways to cut costs, find optimal traffic flows for packing and transportation, help you understand staffing requirements and maximize your floor space.

Our design services are collaborative, and our associates will work closely with you throughout the process. We’ll ask for your input, and you’ll have the opportunity to make improvements or changes to the design to ensure your satisfaction.

Equipment and Service Options

At Arnold Machinery Company, you can also find the equipment and services you need to maintain efficiency. We offer new and used equipment, which you can purchase or rent to meet your needs. We also provide equipment services and repairs so that you can extend equipment life, lower operating costs and improve facility safety. Our vast equipment selection includes several food and beverage options, including:

• Pallet trucks: Pallet trucks offer maneuverability and high lifting capacities, allowing your team to navigate warehouse aisles quickly and efficiently.
• Order pickers: This equipment allows you to reach high shelves and process multiple loads at one time. Order pickers can aid with individual item selection or large load movements, such as cases of beverages.
• Scrubbers: Food safety is a significant concern in the industry, so cleaning equipment is an essential warehouse addition. Scrubbers come in walk-behind, stand-on and ride-on varieties to meet space requirements.
• Sweepers: Sweepers are another option for keeping warehouse floors clean, reducing accidents and enhancing safety for teams and consumers. Walk-behind and ride-on models meet spatial constraints while boosting efficiency.

Overcome Challenges With Arnold Machinery Company

Arnold Machinery Company is a premier material handling equipment provider. We help businesses like yours find the equipment and design the warehouse layouts that will optimize processes and meet increasing industry demands. Whether you need material handling equipment to meet new regulations or want to maximize your floor space, we’ve got you covered.

Our inventory of new and used equipment empowers teams to find long-lasting solutions at prices that meet their budgets. We also offer rental equipment for short-term or specialized needs at a fraction of the cost of purchasing. You can also request maintenance and repair services to ensure machine longevity and reliability. If you need warehouse layout services, you can feel confident in our design, simulation and installation services to ensure you find the right solution.

Customer Satisfaction is Our Only Policy^®, so you can feel confident in our services and capabilities. Contact us to learn more or get started.