Fruit hamper businesses have several hidden challenges especially if we’re talking about the logistics. Fruits, wines, baskets and packaging come from several different suppliers. We also have to think about delivering to customers who often want it the same day.
Aside from those logistical challenges, we also have to deal with quality control and assurance. After all, part of the popularity of fruit baskets is their colour and attractiveness (e.g. amazing to look at in person and in Instagram photos). In addition, the products are edible which is why it’s important to ensure that the products stay fresh from preparation to delivery.
Hidden challenges in fruit hamper business
A fruit gift box can have grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries and other fruits. The price and availability of those fruits vary because of seasonality and local and national economy (supply, demand, fuel costs, taxes). Also, fruit hampers and boxes may also contain one or two bottles of wine which can immediately drive up the gift’s final price.
Good thing is that fruit hamper and gift box businesses never go out of style. Whether it’s a personal or corporate gift, all year round there’s demand for this kind of gift. However, there’s the competition and every detail is important to survive the market. This is where quality takes centre stage because customers now are getting more picky and fickle.
One huge factor that affects the quality of fruits and wines is the temperature (whether during storage or delivery). Certain temperature levels can accelerate or affect the biochemical composition and reactions which then govern both the appearance and taste of fruits and wines. Outside the ideal temperature range and given enough time, biochemical reactions (including microbial and enzymatic actions) can manifest themselves through a brown patch in the apple or a certain aftertaste in the wine.
As a result, tight temperature control is important to ensure high quality standards. Both during storage and delivery, the ideal temperature range should be maintained to slow down or control undesirable biochemical reactions. After all, storage and delivery can take at least a whole day and a lot of things can happen during those several hours. Microbes and enzymes have a lot of time to do their work and affect the quality of the fruits and wines.
Logistics, price and temperature control are some of the challenges fruit hamper and gift box businesses encounter regularly. Business owners and managers also have to deal with marketing, supply and demand, intelligent pricing, operations and seasonality. Indeed, it’s a business with lots of hidden details and complexity.
