3PL for F&B Brands: The Next Big Shift in Food Logistics

The food and beverage (F&B) industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in India and across the world. From boutique bakeries and café chains to large quick-service restaurants and FMCG majors, every brand is chasing growth in new markets. But scaling a food business has one invisible yet critical backbone: logistics.

Traditionally, most food businesses tried to handle logistics in-house. They bought or rented vehicles, hired drivers, and managed warehousing themselves. While this worked in the early stages, it quickly became expensive and unsustainable as operations spread across multiple cities. This is where third-party logistics (3PL) is stepping in, and why it is now being recognized as the next big shift in food logistics.

What Does 3PL Mean for F&B Brands?

3PL, or third-party logistics, is when a specialized partner manages your supply chain on your behalf. For F&B brands, this usually covers:

• Cold and Frozen Logistics for perishables like dairy, ice cream, frozen meals, and fresh produce.

• Dry Logistics for packaging, groceries, disposables, and shelf-stable inventory.

• Warehousing and Storage including temperature-controlled storage and ambient warehousing for dry stock.

• Inter-city and Intra-city Deliveries that connect central kitchens, dark stores, factories, and outlets.

Instead of juggling multiple vendors for these services, brands now look for integrated 3PL providers who can handle the entire chain end-to-end.

Example: A burger chain can move its frozen patties, bread packaging, and sauces through the same logistics partner, reducing complexity and costs.

Why 3PL Is Becoming Essential

1. Cost Efficiency
   Owning and managing fleets is expensive. 3PL reduces capital expenditure and converts logistics into a flexible, pay-as-you-grow model.

2. Scalability
   Expanding to a new city becomes much easier when logistics is already in place. A good 3PL partner can plug you into an existing network overnight.

3. Reduced Wastage
   With the right Warehousing & Cold Storage systems, wastage due to temperature shocks or poor handling drops significantly.

4. Tech Visibility
   Modern 3PL solutions provide dashboards, real-time tracking, and predictive analytics so operators always know where their goods are.

5. Focus on Core Business
   Instead of firefighting stockouts or late deliveries, F&B entrepreneurs can focus on recipes, branding, and customer experience.

Global and Indian Context

Globally, the 3PL market is expected to touch USD 1.9 trillion by 2028, driven by e-commerce and food supply chains. In India, food logistics is seeing double-digit growth thanks to:

• The rise of Q-commerce (10-minute delivery models) (Economic Times)

• Cloud kitchens scaling across metros and tier-2 cities

• Stronger government push for organized cold chains and supply chain infrastructure

This mix of demand and infrastructure is making 3PL not just a convenience but a necessity for growth-focused brands.

3PL in Action: What It Looks Like

Imagine a café chain with outlets in five cities. Without 3PL, it must coordinate:

• Frozen dairy for lattes

• Dry stock like coffee beans and packaging

• Fresh bakery items from central kitchens

Now imagine a 3PL partner like JustDeliveries Intra-City Logistics and Inter-City Services managing the entire network. Deliveries become more predictable, wastage drops, and expansion into the sixth city is simply a matter of plugging into the existing system.

How to Choose the Right 3PL Partner

1. Industry Specialization
   F&B logistics is very different from general logistics. Choose a partner with proven expertise in perishable and dry supply chains.

2. Tech and Transparency
   Ensure they provide real-time visibility and performance dashboards.

3. Network Strength
   Do they cover your key cities and expansion markets?

4. Sustainability Practices
   Shared fleets, route optimization, and reduced wastage are important both for cost savings and environmental impact.

5. Track Record
   Look for existing F&B clients, case studies, and success stories. For example, JustDeliveries supports over 100 brands across categories including cafés, bakeries, QSRs, and FMCG.

The Future of 3PL for F&B Brands

The next phase of 3PL will be defined by:

• Integration of Cold + Dry Logistics into one seamless network

• Smarter Warehousing with AI-based demand prediction and automated inventory management

• Sustainability Goals such as reducing carbon emissions through electric fleets and optimized routing

• Global Standards as Indian brands increasingly eye international markets

For F&B businesses, the question is no longer “Should we outsource logistics?” but rather “Which 3PL partner can help us grow the fastest and the cleanest?”

Closing Thoughts

The F&B industry thrives on freshness, speed, and consistency. Logistics is the invisible system that delivers all three. As competition heats up and customer expectations rise, 3PL for F&B brands is emerging as the biggest enabler of scale.

Brands that embrace professional, technology-enabled logistics will not only reduce costs and waste but also unlock new growth opportunities across cities and countries.

To explore end-to-end solutions for your F&B brand, visit JustDeliveries and learn how services like Intra-City Logistics, Warehousing & Cold Storage, and Frozen Food Transportation can streamline your operations.

Mansi Mahansaria

I’m Mansi Mahansaria, CEO and Founder of JustDeliveries, a B2B logistics company specializing in the food and beverage sector. With a background in Chemical Technology (ICT Mumbai), an MBA (FMS Delhi), and experience at IDFC Private Equity and Tata Group, I’ve built a plug-and-play logistics network helping F&B brands scale efficiently. I also share insights on entrepreneurship and logistics at industry and academic events.