Information for Retailers
The benefits of long-life doughnuts
The principal benefits of stocking long-life doughnuts fall into four main categories:
In recent years, there has been a clear and increasing desire on the part of retailers to reduce food- and packaging-waste. By offering products with exceptionally long shelf-lives, we inevitably offer retailers an advantage because so little product will expire on the shelf. Customer data shows that the vast majority of product is sold and therefore leaves the retailer with little or no waste to handle.
WASTE MINIMISATION
Our Classic Mini Rings last up to 45 days – around 20 times longer than conventional fresh doughnuts – and our Ring Bakes last even longer: 150 days in ambient conditions. As a result, our products are much more likely to sell, rather than to expire on the shelf. This results in:
- Less food waste
- Less packaging waste
- Less commercial risk (e.g. unsold product, waste costs etc.)
- Progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals for food waste
COST MINIMISATION
All waste has a cost, of course, but our products also help to reduce other expenses, too:
- Zero costs associated with freezing, thawing or refrigeration
- Lower staff costs – less time spent handling, shelf-stocking, re-ordering etc.
- Lower transport costs – because fewer deliveries are required and they don’t require the use of heavy refrigerated vehicles
OPTIMISING RETAIL SPACE
Long shelf-lives mean that our products can be put on display from the moment they enter your premises. This translates into:
- Zero storage space requirements
- Reduced costs of sale
- Improved profitability
SIMPLIFYING ORDERS AND LOGISTICS
Longer shelf-lives mean you can place larger but less frequent orders. This offers important benefits
- Fewer road miles / a reduced carbon footprint
- Less staff time spent handling and accounting for stock
WASTE REDUCTION EFFORTS
In recent years, there has been a clear and increasing desire on the part of retailers to reduce food- and packaging-waste. By offering products with exceptionally long shelf-lives, we inevitably offer retailers an advantage because so little product will expire on the shelf. Customer data shows that the vast majority of product is sold and therefore leaves the retailer with little or no waste to handle.
However, we have not stopped there. Through collaboration with resource efficiency specialists at the University of Central Lancashire and ENWORKS, we have found ways to reduce wastage with respect to the manufacturing process – ingredients, energy and water – and opportunities to improve the efficiency of our storage and distribution operations.
We have also begun exploring new packaging options that will be equally attractive to consumers, but which will require fewer resources to produce. For example, we recently invested in a new flow wrap machine that will require less plastic overall.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Risk Minimisation
While coronavirus restrictions were in force and many consumers remained wary of shopping in store, major retailers began placing new and larger orders for longer-life foods. Sales of our long shelf-life doughnuts increased markedly as a result of supermarkets and online retailers using our products to minimise their commercial risks.
For most UK retailers, the Covid-19 lockdowns – and associated nervousness on the part of shoppers – prompted a significant reduction in footfall. For many of them, stocking short-lived baked goods presented far greater commercial risks. Having fewer customers in store translated into a greater chance of short-lived products spoiling on the shelves. The resulting waste raised costs and increased the need for extra handling and stock-rotation.
By contrast, stocking our long-life doughnuts minimises these risks. It enables retailers to continue to offer fresh, tasty bakery snacks but without the waste and without the additional contamination / contact risks associated with frequent handling.
For more details about ordering and delivery, please contact us.
Questions and answers
Why should retailers stock long life doughnuts?
Long life doughnuts benefit retailers in four main ways: waste minimisation, cost minimisation, optimising retail space, and simplifying orders and logistics. Because so little product expires on the shelf, customer data shows the vast majority is sold.
Do Simply Doughnuts products need to be frozen or refrigerated?
No. The doughnuts are ambient products, so retailers have zero costs associated with freezing, thawing or refrigeration. Deliveries also do not require heavy refrigerated vehicles, which helps lower transport costs.
How do long life doughnuts reduce food waste in store?
They give products far longer to sell. Classic Mini Rings last up to 45 days, around 20 times longer than conventional fresh doughnuts, and Ring Bakes last 150 days in ambient conditions, so stock is much more likely to sell than expire.
Do long life doughnuts need backroom storage space?
No. Long shelf lives mean the doughnuts can go on display from the moment they enter your premises. That means zero storage space requirements, reduced costs of sale and improved profitability.
How often do retailers need to reorder long life doughnuts?
Less often. Longer shelf lives let you place larger but less frequent orders, which means fewer road miles, a reduced carbon footprint and less staff time spent handling and accounting for stock.
How can a retailer order Simply Doughnuts?
Contact Simply Doughnuts directly for details about ordering and delivery. You can call the team on 01254 677 199 to talk about listings, samples and product specifications.