"In the freight industry, the year-round produce that we enjoy impacts the supply and demand for trucks, affects capacity, and freight rates as well," writes FreightWaves Market Expert Michael Crosby on their website. "Strawberries and lettuce from California, tomatoes and oranges from Florida or grapefruit and pecans from Texas definitely influence the freight markets, but there’s more than inland transportation...

Written by SmartSense | March 20, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP, Supply Chain

Grocery stores provide a wide variety of goods, ranging from standard food products such as produce and dairy, and extending as far as pet products or sporting goods. This presents a unique problem to grocers: how do you get a handle on food safety when there are so many departments to manage? Additionally, consumers are becoming more health conscience and are demanding fresher, healthier foods, which requires more...

Written by SmartSense | March 8, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP

When we think of “food services,” prison commissaries don’t immediately come to mind. That’s probably because prison life in general is kept to the margins of social consciousness. While it is true that inmates are denied certain freedoms as part of their sentences, they continue to claim the human right to health and wellness, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, this population is half forgotten when it comes to...

Written by SmartSense | February 20, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP

Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores... from name brands to mom and pop shops, the retail experience has changed drastically over the years. Self-service grocery stores however, both large and small, have remained largely unchanged since their inception in 1916 by Piggly Wiggly. The introduction of the shopping cart in 1937 by Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain, further upended...

Written by SmartSense | January 25, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP

With each passing year of the 21st century, the restaurant cold chain continues to grow in new directions. Compared to 20 years ago, It’s less linear (similar to a chain) and more branching (resembling a tree). Plus, there are more touchpoints and more individual players involved. One significant reason for these developments is changing consumer tastes, in both food and service.

Written by SmartSense | January 16, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP

As we’ve said before, food safety is no easy task: it requires diligence, patience, and above all else, commitment to ensuring customer safety and product quality. All food service businesses have the same obligation to safety, whether or not they are a family run restaurant, a quick service chain with stores worldwide, or a public venue that serves thousands of guests in a few short hours.

Written by SmartSense | January 9, 2019 | Food Safety, HACCP