First Mile Focus

In recent years, the focus within food and beverage (F&B) supply chains has been largely on the last mile - the final step of delivering products to consumers. to some extent, this emphasis is understandable, given the rise of quick commerce and home delivery services like JustEat and Deliveroo which have adapted to include groceries, as well as takeaways, and retailer equivalents such as Tesco Whoosh. Even major brands like Heinz, Unilever, and PepsiCo have ventured into direct-to-home delivery for selected goods. However, this last-mile focus should not overshadow the critical importance of the first mile - the initial stages of the supply chain, where raw materials are procured, and products begin their journey.