With the fruit and vegetable sector standing out as one of the main pillars of the segment, online supermarkets continue to gain more and more space in people's routines. The scenario has driven investments in technology and logistics. To get an idea, according to data from McKinsey, investments in technology in logistics are expected to grow exponentially, reaching the mark of $3 trillion by 2025, representing an annual increase of 10%. These solutions have made Brazil the 9th largest logistics market in the world, moving around US$250 billion a year
It is in this context that the category of fruits and vegetables and the consumption of food by delivery continue to show significant growth. According to Kantar, the sector achieved a growth of 13% in attendance in the first half of 2024, in comparison to 2023, reflecting a consumer preference for convenience and quality in the purchase of fresh food
For Rafael Pinto, Fulfillment Director of Daki, complete online supermarket app, that became a reference in the country for ultra-fast deliveries, logistics and technology are essential to sustain delivery efficiency, mainly in the category of perishable foods, I eat fruits, vegetables and legumes.
To ensure fresh and quality food, we need to have a well-structured logistics cycle, that starts with the selection of suppliers and extends to the transportation and storage of products. In the Daki, we use a DarkStores model, that ensure customers have access to products delivered to their homes in no time at all –on average in 15 minutes,ensuring quality and thus avoiding food waste. In this context, a strict quality control is carried out as soon as it arrives at the distribution center, where aspects such as freshness are evaluated, appearance and compliance with technical standards.”, comment
The data confirms the preference of Brazilians. According to a self-conducted survey, the category of fruits and vegetables, grew by about 33,10% in the last year, directly impacting consumers' purchase frequency. Furthermore, the research also indicates that Wednesday and Sunday are the days of the week that sell the most productsfresh
In these distribution centers and dark stores, temperature-controlled storage areas are used, that help extend the durability of products and reduce waste. All this structure, tied to technological solutions and a verticalized operation, allows the handling process of fresh items to be controlled, delivering quality and reducing food waste, with a significantly lower disposal level than traditional markets.
One of the main factors for this is that, when operating without access to physical clients, the products are not handled frequently, preserving its integrity. Furthermore, another aspect that contributes to the low loss rate is the absence of the "stacking effect",common in the markets, where products are stacked to attract consumers, but they end up damaged and discarded more frequently.
It is with this in mind that many companies invest in demand planning systems specific to perishables, that allow for a more accurate forecast of the necessary quantities, reducing the risk of product shortages or excess waste. These planning tools allow companies to organize their inventories and quickly allocate products to strategic sales points, minimizing losses
An agile logistics in the sector involves a series of coordinated steps focused on quality. From the moment the order is placed, suppliers and partners are engaged to ensure that products arrive fresh at distribution centers. In many cases, like in Daki, horticultural products go from the producer to the consumer in less than 48 hours, allowing quality to be maintained at all stages
The combination of advanced technology applied in demand planning and operational management with good logistical practices not only improves operational efficiency, but also increases consumer satisfaction. When customers receive fresh and quality products in a timely manner, trust in online shopping solidifies, resulting in a very positive loyalty cycle,concludes
