Shipping Confectionery: Top Tips
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse (ABW) specializes in transporting and warehousing various goods that require unique storage environments. Products such as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals must be subject to stringent control, but packaging and other consumer packaged goods (CPGs) have different needs. Throughout our long history, one sector that we have served consistently is the confectionery market. Our facilities and fleet are experienced and equipped to handle the time-sensitive and temperature sensitive demands of the confectionery supply chain.
The Confectionery Market in the United States
The revenue generated from the confectionery market in the United States is the highest globally, followed by Japan and China. The market in the United States is valued at approximately US$193.5bn in 2023 and is anticipated to grow annually by 2.68% CAGR (compound annual growth rate). So, this is a sector of the food industry that is showing no signs of slowing, and, as an average anticipated volume of confectionery per person is expected to reach approximately 123lb (55.8kg) in 2023, consumer demand requires an efficient and reliable confectionery supply chain.
Unlike certain CPGs and dry goods, confectionery is time and temperature-sensitive, requiring specific storage and shipping conditions.
What are essential factors to consider when shipping confectionery?
Confectionery is an umbrella term that covers chocolate and sugar confectionery, preserved pastries and cakes, and more. Whether you are shipping perishable goods or candy and chocolate, which require specific shipping conditions to avoid melting and spoilage, it’s essential to consider the following factors:
1. Choose the Correct Storage Solution
When shipping delicate products, it’s vital to maintain the required temperature at each step in the supply chain. Temperature-controlled warehousing maintains the quality and prevents spoilage in candy. So whether it’s a heat wave or a snowstorm outside, your products will remain at their optimum temperature in our facilities. We offer mid-temperature controlled solutions ranging between 55°F–75°F. While this temperature range isn’t commonly found in warehousing solutions, it is considered an ideal range for confectionery storage.
2. Packaging Confectionery
Choosing the right packaging to protect your candy throughout transportation is essential. Ensure your packaging is secure, designed to handle the material handling process in both transport and warehouse and ready for customer receipt or display. We offer experienced co-packaging (or contract packaging) services for secondary packaging or kitting, which will free up your resources and streamline the logistics process so you can stay focused on your business.
3. Choose the Correct Shipment for You
Every business and every order differs. We offer full-truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) services. If you’re shipping smaller orders, our temperature-controlled LTL fleet is equipped with the latest technology to get your goods to their destination quickly and efficiently. To further ease the budget, freight consolidation allows our LTL clients to share the transportation costs with other shippers to the same destinations. If you’re shipping larger orders, our TL or multi-stop TL transportation might be the solution for you.
Cross-docking shortens the delivery window and reduces the need for warehousing goods. Along with our sister company, Colonial Cartage, we have the technology, infrastructure, and experience to expedite our client’s orders smoothly and safely. Our facilities are equipped for cross-docking, including rail access in our Georgia campus. Cross-docking reduces inventory holding, warehousing costs, and double handling. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure your shipment of candy arrives at its destination quickly.
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse’s Long History in Confectionery Logistics
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse has had a long history of transporting top confectionery brands. Over 75 years ago, ABW (or as it was then named, Acme Bonded Warehouse) was created by a Peter Paul Candy broker who was frustrated that confectionery was not widely distributed in the South during the summer due to the impact the weather had on the products. He introduced air conditioning to the low-ceiling warehouse and started making store deliveries at 5:00 AM while it was still cool.
Today, Atlanta Bonded Warehouse manages 6.5 million square feet of space across fifteen facilities in five states. Our Atlanta warehouse campus has a capacity of 418,000 pallets, including capacity for cross-docking. The country’s top confectionery brands have been choosing Atlanta Bonded Warehouse for their supply chain needs for over fifty years, as we have the experience, facilities, and fleet to keep their supply chain running smoothly all year round.
Contact Us For Temperature-Controlled Solutions
If you are looking for temperature-controlled logistics solutions for your business, speak to one of our experts. We provide tailored LTL and TL services and ambient and temperature-controlled warehousing so you can make the best choice for your shipment.