Inventory management in the food and beverage industry goes far beyond tracking how much stock you have. It’s about keeping products fresh, moving efficiently, stored properly, and always in line with food safety regulations.
With so many moving parts - perishability, storage conditions, traceability, and variable demand - it’s no surprise that inventory is one of the biggest operational challenges for food businesses. But these problems often follow a pattern. And when you have the right system in place, they become a lot more manageable.
Here are seven of the most common inventory issues food and beverage businesses face - and how Odoo can help solve them.
Expiration dates being missed
The problem:
Perishable products need to be monitored closely, and when
expiry dates are missed, it leads to waste, compliance risks, and damaged
customer trust.
The solution:
Odoo supports detailed lot and serial number tracking, with
expiry dates configured directly into your workflow. We also apply FEFO (First
Expired, First Out) logic, so older items are used or shipped first. Automated
alerts let your team know when items are close to expiry, giving you time to
act.
Lack of traceability
The problem:
In the case of a product recall or food safety audit, not
knowing exactly where a batch came from - or where it went - can cause major
problems. Paper-based or spreadsheet tracking usually isn’t reliable at scale.
The solution:
Odoo provides full traceability from supplier to customer.
You can see which raw materials were used in which production lots, when and
where items were stored, and which customers received them. It’s a key part of
any food safety and compliance strategy.
Mismatch in stock data
The problem:
Overstocking leads to waste, while understocking causes
missed sales or production delays. Either way, inaccurate inventory hurts
performance.
The solution:
Odoo makes it easier to maintain accurate stock levels using
automated reordering rules, safety stock thresholds, and supplier lead time
tracking. We configure these settings to reflect your actual operations - so
you can keep just the right amount of inventory on hand.
Unit of measure confusion
The problem:
Food businesses often buy ingredients in bulk, store them in
pallets, and sell in smaller portions. If your system can’t handle multiple
units of measure, your stock data quickly becomes unreliable.
The solution:
Odoo allows multiple units of measure per product and
automatically converts between them. Whether you’re breaking down a 25kg bag
into 500g packs or converting litres into bottles, it’s all tracked accurately
in one place.
Stock movement errors
The problem:
Manual processes like handwritten logs or spreadsheet
updates slow down operations and make it easy to introduce errors - especially
when teams are moving quickly.
The solution:
Odoo supports barcode scanning and mobile-friendly
interfaces for receiving, transferring, and counting stock. That means
warehouse teams can complete tasks faster and more accurately, using tablets or
scanners that update the system in real time.
Inconsistent quality checks
The problem:
Even when quality checks are part of your process, they
often depend on memory or inconsistent habits. And without good documentation,
issues are harder to trace and fix.
The solution:
Odoo lets you define automated quality control points that
trigger during key steps - like receiving raw materials or finishing
production. Results can be logged, checked against pass/fail rules, and tied
directly to lots or batches for full traceability.
Guesswork decisions
The problem:
Inventory decisions made by gut feel or outdated reports can
lead to overbuying, underordering, or missed sales trends. Without good data,
it’s difficult to plan or grow with confidence.
The solution:
Odoo combines real-time inventory tracking with dashboards
and reporting tools. You can see what’s selling, what’s sitting, and what’s at
risk - so you can make faster, smarter decisions based on actual performance.
Inventory management in the food and beverage space is complex, but the right system makes all the difference. With Odoo, you can move away from spreadsheets and guesswork, and build clear, repeatable processes that help you stay compliant, reduce waste, and respond faster to changing demand.
The key is not just fixing today’s problems - but putting tools in place that prevent tomorrow’s.
If you're facing any of the challenges above, it might be time to look at how a modern inventory solution like Odoo can support your growth.
Ready to take control of your inventory?
Let’s talk about how Odoo can help you cut waste, boost accuracy, and improve processes.
7 common inventory problems in Food and Beverage and how Odoo solves them