01Why Food and beverage needs specialised logistics
Food logistics covers chilled, frozen and ambient goods. Temperature control, HACCP and rapid turnaround are critical. Cross-border adds veterinary and phytosanitary requirements.
Requirements differ significantly from standard LCL logistics: different documents, different equipment, different safety standards.
02Typical goods and trade flows
Main commodities: Fresh meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, frozen foods, beverages, confectionery, pet food.
Flows usually go from a small number of production and raw-material sources to global distribution centres. Transit time, frequency and capacity booking are therefore critical.
03Equipment and packaging
Reefer containers and trucks (with temperature recorders), insulated boxes, reusable crates, EUR pallets.
Equipment choice directly affects transport cost, CO₂ footprint and damage rate. Recommendation: agree an equipment concept with the carrier before requesting the first quote.
04Compliance and regulatory framework
Key frameworks: EU Regs 852/853/2017/625, HACCP, TRACES NT, border veterinary control posts, cold chain integrity (GDP-like).
Beyond those, industry-specific certificates and audits (e.g. supplier audits, AEO, TAPA) are typically prerequisites for market access.
Frequently asked questions
Which Incoterm should I use for Food and beverage?
In practice, DAP oder CIP is the industry default. The final choice depends on country, sales model and tax situation — always have the term reviewed by customs and tax advisers before contract.
Which regulations are most critical?
The frameworks named above — particularly EU Regs 852/853/2017/625, HACCP — should be embedded in your SOPs and audit programme.