Top 10 Best ERP for Food and beverage Industry 2025
Optimize, grow & thrive your food business with robust Quality Control, Shelf-life, and Recipe Management features of ERP for Food Industry
What is ERP for Food and Beverage Industry?
ERP for the Food and Beverage industry is a specialized software solution designed to optimize and integrate core business processes such as production, inventory management, quality control, compliance, and supply chain operations. It helps F&B companies ensure food safety, manage traceability, optimize resource use, and maintain regulatory compliance. By providing real-time data and insights, ERP systems enable businesses to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and meet changing consumer demands while maintaining high-quality standards.
ERP for food and beverage industry is multi-functional software that integrates all processes in the food and beverage company such as purchase, sales, inventory management, finance, marketing, and logistics. ERP Software is a comprehensive tool that consists of multiple modules that bring efficiency, improve performance, provide real-time visibility, and address unique challenges faced by the company.
ERP for food industry is a flexible & the most powerful business management process offered by Sage Software Solutions. Sage 300 ERP manages all critical business functions in any business process. The food manufacturing ERP software is also helpful in small as well as large-scale food processing industries. Nowadays various food industries catering to all kinds of food services are established throughout the world.
Overview of India's Food Industry
India’s food processing industry is the sixth largest in the world. According to a report by the Government of India, India’s food processing industry is expected to reach $535 Billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 15.2%. It has witnessed an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of 7.26% for the past 7 years. In 2022-23, the share of India’s agriculture food sector in the total economy stood at 18.3%. During the same period, India exported food products worth $51 Billion to other countries.
There are several factors contributing to the growth of India’s food processing industry. These include the adoption of new technology that reduces waste and minimizes processing costs, concurrent developments in the cold chain infrastructure, and an increase in the disposable income of Indians & their changing lifestyle.
Top 10 Food and Beverage ERP Software in 2025
Wondering what are the top 10 food and beverage ERP software in 2025? Here are some leading options:
1. Sage X3
Sage X3 is an exceptional solution with modern industry-specific features. It offers advanced tools & capabilities that provide you full control over the food production activity and other business operations. This highly popular and versatile cloud ERP has an intuitive interface, and it is highly customizable to meet the unique needs of your company. Features:- Integrated shelf-life management and ingredients management with expiration date control
- Optimize warehouse space & reduce storage costs using inventory management system
- Reduce production errors, and achieve optimum quality control & operational excellence
- Robust sales management system powered with powerful & forecasting features
- Streamline financial tasks, reduce fines, penalties & mitigate non-compliance risks
- The implementation process can take longer time depending on your business’s complexity
- Employee training is required to ensure efficient use of its powerful features
2. Oracle NetSuite
Oracle NetSuite is another popular ERP for food and beverage Industry that brings efficiency to food production and supply chain operations. It provides up-to-the-minute insights and customized reports to help decision-makers make strongly data-driven decisions.
Features:
- Evaluate market segments using Profitability Analysis using various parameters
- Real-time Sales Reports, Customer Order Report & Stock Management
- Integrated Customer Relationship Management module for lead management
- Multi-lingual, multi-currency, and multi-country
- Audit trail visibility and tax management features
Limitations:
- Requires extensive budget for set up, training, and add-on implementation
- The prices of the subscription plans may change at any time
3. Aptean
Aptean is another future-proof solution that consolidates data from different business departments and eliminates the need for different systems. It contains end-to-end industry-specific features from production management, inventory management, and supply chain to financial management.
Features:
- Fully cloud-based solution. No need to upgrade hardware or pay upfront fees.
- Integrated Document Tracking, Bill of Material (BoM) & Project Management
- Reduce operational pinpoints and improve returns on investments
- Quickly adapt to changing business requirements & evolving business needs
- Manufacture scheduling and shop floor management features
Limitations:
- Some customers reported bugs with WebUI although they were addressed later
- Limited integration with third-party applications
4. QAD
QAD is an adaptive ERP that primarily targets mid to large-sized organizations. It caters to different industries from food and beverage, automotive, and industrial manufacturing, to consumer products. It is a fast, flexible, and reliable solution for anyone looking to scale up their business operations.
Features:
- Robust demand planning and logistical control
- Cash Flow, Shop Floor Management & Global Procurement Management
- Access your data remotely with a Web-based interface
- Embedded role-based access to sophisticated reports and dashboards
- Integration with third-party applications for extending program capabilities
Limitations:
- QAD implementation can be difficult for small organizations
- Incurs ongoing costs for maintenance, support, and upgrade
5. BatchMaster
BatchMaster is an integrated ERP for food & beverage companies that are looking to optimize their production and distribution processes. It offers robust quality control mechanisms at different levels of production and solid formula management features.
Features:
- Ensure traceability & complete quality management with QC tests
- Multi-warehouse routing and asset management capabilities
- Highly flexible and customizable user interface
- Purchase Requisitions, Purchase Order Management, and Invoice Management
- Multi-channel inventory syncing
Limitations:
- Difficult to implement
- Regular employee training may be required to get the best out of BatchMaster
6. SYSPRO
SysPro is another popular ERP that is available as an on-premise, cloud, and hybrid option. It offers various industry-specific functionalities and mostly focuses on Small & Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). It covers different modules relating to inventory, warehouse, assets, and finance, among others.
Features:
- Automated SQL triggers upon successful completion of transaction
- Powerful planning & forecasting features
- Mitigate over-stocking/ under-stocking issues
- Monitor the implementation progress using KPIs
- Align organizational resources to improve efficiency & productivity
Limitations:
- Additional training, support & customization costs
- As your business grows in size, the SysPro may offer a limited level of scalability
7. Acumatica
Acumatica is a highly reliable cloud ERP that offers a robust array of features from production, distribution, payroll, e-commerce management, and financial, among others. You can also install it on a Virtual Server (which will be entirely dedicated to your organization), or a load-balanced environment (in which resources are shared between different organizations and it is comparatively economical).
Features:
- Integrated document management & collaboration features
- Offers cross-device compatibility with mobile, computer & tablet
- Integrated backup and restore
- Advanced role-based access control
- Scales and adapts to businesses of all sizes
Limitations:
- Doesn’t offer a Free Trial for demonstration purposes
- Acumatica is currently available only as a web interface app
8. Absolute ERP
Absolute ERP is a cloud-based ERP that targets small, medium, and large companies. It offers a holistic view of business operations through a centralized system of information management. It is available for different industries such as food & beverage, printing, rubber, automotive, mining, and footwear, among others.
Features:
- Track product defects at all levels to reduce returns/ replacement costs
- Align organizational resources for profit maximization
- Integrated inventory optimization & sales planning & forecasting features
- Track and manage fixed assets
- Work Order Management to lower asset downtime
Limitations:
- Complex deployment and implementation process
- No On-premise version is available
9. Deacom
Deacom is a single platform where you get a wealth of features. It helps you track the procurement of raw materials to conversion to finished goods. It has a unique pricing model. Apart from the food & beverage industry, it supports the health, chemical, and pharma industries.
Features:
- Comprehensive Lot tracking with batch number & barcodes
- Business Intelligence, Customized Reports & Dashboards
- Sales Order Management, Production Planning with stringent Quality Control check
- Automated invoice generation and customization
- Product Shelf Life Management
Limitations:
- It is expensive compared to other competing solutions
- It can be challenging to learn for some new users
10. Plex Systems
Plex Systems has in-house features such as Material Requirements Planning (MRP), unique product pricing, business intelligence, and lot tracking to help your business achieve operational excellence. It comes with a comprehensive set of modules such as customer relationship, sales management, human resources, accounting, and product management, among others.
Features:
- Track product expiry dates and define quantity according to the specific conditions
- Invoice Customization to set yourself apart from the competing firms
- Track & effectively manage leads, and reduce customer churn
- Track orders from suppliers using supplier management
- A centralized platform to manage & optimize organizational resources
Limitations:
- Difficulty navigating complex menu options
- Difficulty analyzing reports
What are the Challenges Faced by Food And Beverage Industry?
1. Stringent Regulatory Compliance
Food safety regulations require F&B companies to adhere to strict standards concerning production, packaging, labeling, and distribution. Thankfully, the finance module in ERP helps you meet the latest financial & regulatory standards, ensure operational efficiency, and prevent non-compliance that can result in heavy fines, recalls, or even business closure.
2. Supply Chain Disruptions
Unpredictable supply chain issues, such as transportation delays, ingredient shortages, or logistical challenges, can significantly impact the availability of products. Managing a reliable supply chain that can handle fluctuations in demand and external disruptions, like pandemics or natural disasters, is an ongoing issue.
3. Fluctuating Raw Material Costs
The costs of ingredients like grains, meat, and dairy can vary widely due to factors like weather, political instability, and global demand. This volatility can impact product pricing and profitability, making it difficult to forecast costs accurately and maintain steady profit margins.
4. Waste Management and Sustainability
F&B companies produce significant waste, from raw materials to packaging. Managing waste disposal and adopting sustainable practices are not only crucial for environmental reasons but are increasingly demanded by consumers. Transitioning to eco-friendly practices can be costly and complex. Product life cycle management in ERP can do wonders in managing waste & improving environmental compliance.
5. Consumer Health and Safety Concerns
Consumers today are more health-conscious and demand products with clean labels, fewer preservatives, and higher nutritional value. Meeting these expectations, while maintaining product taste, shelf-life, and appeal, requires innovation and may involve complex R&D.
6. Product Recall Risks
The potential for product recalls due to contamination or labeling errors is a constant risk. A recall can harm a company’s reputation and lead to financial losses, making it essential for F&B companies to implement strict quality control and traceability systems.
7. Labor Shortages and High Turnover
The F&B industry often faces high turnover rates and difficulty finding skilled workers, particularly in production and logistics. Labor shortages can lead to operational delays, while high turnover increases training costs and affects product quality consistency.
8. Rising Competition and Market Saturation
The F&B market is highly competitive, with new brands and products constantly entering the market. Established brands must continually innovate to stay relevant, maintain market share, and appeal to ever-changing consumer preferences.
9. Food Fraud and Adulteration
Food adulteration and fraud, such as false labeling of ingredients, pose a risk to consumer health and trust. Ensuring product authenticity and implementing measures to prevent adulteration require rigorous testing and monitoring.
10. Adapting to Consumer Trends and Preferences
Keeping up with trends, such as plant-based diets, organic foods, and low-sugar options, is crucial to meet consumer demand. However, frequent changes in product development can be costly, especially if a trend proves to be short-lived.
11. Inventory and Shelf Life Management
Managing inventory, especially for perishable goods, is challenging due to the limited shelf life of products. Ineffective inventory management can lead to increased waste, spoilage, and financial losses, emphasizing the need for accurate demand forecasting.
12. Quality Control and Consistency
Maintaining consistent quality across batches and locations is essential but can be challenging, especially in large-scale production. Inconsistencies can arise from differences in ingredient quality, processing conditions, or human error. A Total Quality Management solution should help address this issue.
13. Health and Safety Compliance for Employees
Ensuring a safe working environment, particularly in food processing and production facilities, is critical. Companies must meet workplace safety standards and invest in health and safety protocols, which can be costly but necessary to prevent accidents.
14. Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity
While digital tools like ERP systems and automated supply chain management improve efficiency, they also expose companies to cybersecurity risks. Protecting sensitive data and maintaining cybersecurity measures is essential to safeguard operations and consumer trust.
Top 8 Features of Sage X3 Food ERP Software
1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Sage X3 is the best ERP for food industry. It has an inbuilt Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module that serves every need of activities including lead management, prospect management, tasks management, and more.
With this ERP for food and beverage Industry, you can develop strong relationships with external partners to enhance productivity as well as responsiveness. This finally results in enhanced customer satisfaction.
2. Formula & Recipe Management
Sage X3 ERP software for food industry has brilliant features like easy operations management, product configurator, and BOM. They provide well-managed recipe and formula systems through integrated manufacturing modules.
Also, an enterprise resource planning system for food offers real-time data to customers with increased productivity and high efficiency of production activities.
ERP for food and beverage is a highly configurable system that enables tight quality controls, and consistency in the taste and quality of the food at all times.
3. Inventory Management
Sage X3 food ERP software assists in carrying out essential functionalities for inventory management. The food beverage ERP software helps with maximizing cost-effectiveness, reducing waste, efficacious warehouse management, supply chain management, and aiding businesses to gain optimum productivity. Maintaining optimum inventory levels is crucial to ensure sufficient working capital and prevent excess capital from being tied up unnecessarily. Your business can maintain a positive cash flow, and avoid stockouts & excessive stock.
4. Achieving Historical Data
Archiving and tracking historical data of the business helps attain clear and realistic information about the business partners, sales patterns, marketing strategies, and product pricing strategies.
Sage X3 software for food and beverage industry is the most comprehensive platform that offers tools that fulfill these needs appropriately.
5. Logistics Management
Sage X3 for food beverages has an excellent shipping management module. The food industry ERP software offers real-time data about freight and carrier details, preparation lists, packaging, route information, and more
With a beverage ERP, your business gains operational fluency in the cumbersome task of shipping and logistics. Not just that, ERP for food processing industry empowers businesses with automated billing & invoice generations, optimizing the physical movement of food products to save time, and money and yield higher Return on Investment (ROI).
6. Planning & Scheduling
Sage X3 ERP system offers MPS (Master Production Schedule) as well as MRP tools in order to address the requirements for labor, raw materials, and resources.
The ERP software for food distributors offers accurate results that are critical to lowering waste, reducing production time, and assisting the management in making dynamic decisions. Food manufacturing ERP provides crucial tools for determining warehouse needs, demand patterns, sales forecasting, staffing, and budgeting.
Also, forecasting offers historical data and Sage X3 assists in forecasting lead times, maintaining accuracy in purchasing calendars, enhancing scheduling, reducing losses, predicting inventory information for every department, etc.
7. Personalized Dashboards
Sage X3 food beverage ERP offers brilliant features of dashboards as well as process visuals that offer similar summaries and essential information to higher management.
The best ERP software for food manufacturing helps them make quick and effective decisions. With access to the right tools, your business gains a competitive advantage in the market.
8. Vendor Management
Vendor Management empowers your company with the ability to manage vendors, track vendor performance, and automate the Purchase Order (PO) generation. It helps you maintain good relationships with your vendors and ensure a continuous supply of raw materials for smooth production activity.
With a dedicated Vendor Management module, you will be able to get a better risk assessment of your vendors based on their previous performance and build their up-to-date risk profile. Your company will benefit from a continuous supply of high-quality goods.
Benefits of ERP For Food and Beverage Manufacturers
1. Streamline Compliance
Sage X3 enterprise resource planning is the ERP for food and beverage Industry that assists in faster compliance to help you grow your company.
The ERP food software has robust functionality that aids companies in streamlining their compliance while reducing inefficiency. It is the biggest plus point over other basic ERPs.
2. Precisely Forecast Demand
With Sage X3 ERP software, you can accurately prodigy the seasonal changes in supply and demand. This way, you can stock up as well as sell out products/services as per the needs. Sage X3, an enterprise resource planning software, offers you the ultimate intelligence in a customizable and simple interface.
3. Recipe Management
Optimize and predict varied outputs of the production job by comparing planned inputs and outputs. Use these values in the formula or recipe to start the production job through the food & beverage manufacturing ERP software.
4. Enhanced Quality Management
Food production ERP provides robust quality control mechanisms to assess the quality of your products using a plethora of information. Manage and monitor quality specifications while also testing results for raw materials, finished goods, and intermediates at different stages in the life cycle with the ERP for food and beverage Industry.
5. Better Inventory Utilization
Remove inefficiencies and manage inventory levels with incessant integration of your warehouse management. Also, reduce the inventory write-offs ( use-by-date, expiration date, etc).
6. Enhance Productivity
With Sage X3 cloud based ERP system you can compare loads on different work centers created by existing as well as proposed work orders. Also, monitor the load capacity of every work center to improve inventory levels and customer service for your business with the food processing ERP software.
7. Proactive Supply Chain Management
Sage X3 ERP software has an allergens function while allowing tracking of manufactured products. You can improve food safety along with sturdy traceability. This makes sure that you understand the ingredients’ source along with the pressures that might impact suppliers during changes in the food supply.
8. Better Traceability
There exist a number of advanced technologies that will allow your food and beverage companies to log in product and transactional information. However, the data that comes out of this information lies at the heart of traceability. Let us learn different ways to gain traceability for food beverage as a business goal.
9. Internet of Things (IoT)
With the Internet of Things, devices can get connected at any time and anywhere. Through the latest labeling technology like RFID and QR codes, accessing data becomes convenient. The data can help track the complete journey of products via the supply chain. With the ERP system, anything can be tracked and recorded right from the temperature during the transport of the products to the main resource of ingredients.
10. Cloud Technology
Today, with the advancement in technology, food and beverage companies can leverage cloud technologies. Cloud technology has varied managing aspects such as operating systems, databases, applications, and system infrastructure.
The cloud-based ERP saves a huge time and cost for your company while allowing you to focus more on crucial operations.
11. Big Data Analytics
Big data analytics helps to identify the issue in the process while stopping it from getting spread in the supply chain. In the case of potential rises, and unplanned events like contaminated products found in the supply chain, you can track and identify everything to get accurate solutions.
12. Perishable Stock Management
The inability to manage perishable food products can lead to wastage and additional production & storage costs. ERP for food industry comes to the rescue of food vendors who always struggle to keep their food fresh & eatable by providing them with superior Predictive Stock Management capabilities. They can leverage Batch Tracking, First-in-First-out (FIFO method), Last-In-First-Outand (LIFO method), and various other technologies.
Limitations of ERP for Food Industry
While ERP is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment, it has certain limitations in terms of features and capabilities. Here are the most common limitations of ERP for food and beverage Industry:follows:
1. Customization Complexities
The food industry is highly diverse. Customizing the ERP for food and beverage Industry for your unique organizational needs can sometimes be a challenging task.
2. Data Quality
Incomplete and inaccurate data is one of the major challenges faced during the ERP implementation. If the original data quality is inferior, it can lead to inaccuracies in the decision-making.
3. Employee Training Costs
The usage of ERP for food and beverage Industry requires extensive training so that employees gain the necessary skills to perform efficiently. However, this adds to the additional costs.
4. Upfront Costs
There are different types of ERP. The On-premise type comes with a huge upfront cost. If you’re a small or medium-sized organization, you can avoid it by subscribing to a Cloud-based ERP.
Essential Modules of ERP for Food Industry
1. Quality Control
Food companies have to comply with various safety standards to ensure that food products are safe for human consumption. The Quality Control module provides robust quality control across different areas of the manufacturing process and generates automated alerts whenever ingredients are near their expiry dates.
2. Formula Management
In today’s era when businesses offer a diverse range of products catering to different customer segments, manually managing food formulas can be a time-consuming and complex task. ERP takes care of everything from ingredient measurement, formula sizing, and formula approval, among others.
3. Inventory Management
The Inventory Management System in ERP makes it easier to manage perishable food products with limited shelf value. It automatically checks the inventory threshold, and ensures you never run out of stock. Eventually, it helps you save inventory storage costs, and gain agility in the business operations.
4. Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
The Material Requirements Planning (MRP) module plays an important role in ensuring continuity in production operations, prioritizing & scheduling production processes, optimizing production resources, and ensuring timely delivery to the customers.
5. Supply Chain Management
In today’s era, when businesses have to adhere to strong regulatory standards, Supply Chain Management in ERP plays an important role. It provides end-to-end traceability into the production process right from the procurement of raw materials to their delivery to the final consumer. Higher transparency in the movement of goods also aids product recall operations.
6. Sales Management
The Sales Management System in your ERP provides your organization with complete control over the sales operations from maintaining extensive records of sales operations, and generating invoices & quotes, to tracking leads.
7. Production Planning
ERP equips your company with powerful production planning & scheduling features that result in continuous production activity, reduced downtimes, and improve your ability to meet market expectations.
8. Accounts Payable Automation
As your business grows in size, you will need a flexible AP Automation system that will automate invoice routing, data extracting, and data validating. Automating accounts payable will allow you to benefit from better fraud protection, collaborate with global teams, and make timely payments to your suppliers.
Why ERP for Food Industry is Gaining Importance Across Industries?
1. Enhanced Traceability and Compliance
- Food companies must adhere to strict regulatory standards, including the FDA, USDA, and other local or international food safety guidelines.
- ERPs offer end-to-end traceability across the supply chain, helping to monitor raw material sourcing, production processes, and final distribution.
2. Improved Inventory and Waste Management
- Managing perishable goods requires precise inventory tracking, shelf-life monitoring, and first-in-first-out (FIFO) management.
- An ERP system optimizes inventory levels, reducing overstock or stockouts and minimizing waste by alerting teams to nearing expiration dates.
3. Optimized Production Planning and Scheduling
- Demand in the food industry fluctuates due to seasons, promotions, or even global events. ERP systems aid in forecasting, ensuring efficient production planning that meets demand without excess.
- Real-time scheduling within ERP systems helps avoid downtime and balances workloads, maximizing production efficiency.
4. Quality Control and Consistency
- Maintaining consistent quality across batches is critical in the food industry. ERPs allow for rigorous quality checks at each stage of production.
- Any deviations from quality standards are flagged, ensuring consistent product quality and compliance with safety protocols.
5. Cost Control and Financial Insights
- ERPs provide a centralized view of costs across procurement, production, and distribution, making it easier to identify areas for cost-saving.
- Financial data generated by ERPs helps track profitability and enables better financial planning through detailed budgeting and cost allocation.
6. Supply Chain Visibility and Vendor Management
- Food companies often work with various suppliers, and any disruptions in the supply chain can lead to significant delays or quality issues.
- ERP systems give a transparent view of the entire supply chain, enhancing vendor management, ensuring timely deliveries, and reducing the risk of supply chain disruptions.
7. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Demand Forecasting
- ERPs help gather insights into customer behavior, allowing companies to anticipate and respond to market trends better.
- Integrated CRM modules help manage customer relationships, improve service, and anticipate shifts in demand to adjust production accordingly.
8. Sustainability and Resource Efficiency
- With an increasing focus on sustainable practices, ERP systems allow for resource monitoring to help reduce water, energy, and material waste.
- Sustainability insights from ERPs support eco-friendly packaging, lower carbon footprint, and adherence to green regulations.
9. Data-Driven Decision Making and Analytics
- ERP systems collect and analyze vast amounts of data across departments, empowering companies to make informed, data-driven decisions.
- By leveraging data analytics, businesses can identify trends, optimize processes, and remain agile to industry changes.
10. Scalability for Future Growth
- ERP systems offer the flexibility needed to grow with the business.
- For companies planning expansion, a robust ERP ensures that operations remain smooth, regardless of scale.
Which Companies Should Consider ERP for Food Industry?
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions are particularly beneficial for companies in the food industry due to the complex nature of food production, regulatory requirements, and supply chain management. Here are the types of companies that should consider implementing ERP systems tailored for the food sector:
1. Food Manufacturers and Processors
Why ERP? Food manufacturers need ERP for food and beverage Industry to manage production planning, inventory control, quality checks, and compliance with strict food safety regulations. ERP helps them track raw materials, optimize production schedules, and monitor quality standards throughout the process.
Examples: Dairy processors, meat processors, bakery product manufacturers, and beverage makers.
2. Food Distributors and Wholesalers
Why ERP? Distributors face challenges in managing inventory, demand forecasting, and distribution logistics. ERP for food and beverage Industry enables real-time inventory tracking, efficient order management, and integration with multiple distribution channels.
Example: Wholesale distributors of fruits, vegetables, seafood, packaged goods, and beverages.
3. Restaurants and Food Service Chains
Why ERP? Restaurant chains and food service companies benefit from ERP systems that handle supply chain logistics, recipe management, and customer demand forecasting. ERP also helps them maintain consistency in quality, track costs, and manage procurement.
Examples: Fast-food chains, fine dining restaurants, and catering services.
4. Packaged Food and Beverage Producers
Why ERP? Packaged food producers manage complex supply chains and are subject to strict regulatory requirements. ERP software helps streamline manufacturing, quality control, and distribution. Additionally, it assists in tracing product batches, expiration dates, and quality compliance.
Example: Companies producing snacks, frozen foods, canned goods, bottled beverages, and ready-to-eat meals.
5. Organic and Specialty Food Producers
Why ERP? Organic and specialty food companies need ERP to manage inventory and ensure quality compliance with organic certification standards. ERP systems help with ingredient tracking, quality certification, and transparency to meet consumers’ high expectations.
Examples: Organic food producers, health-focused snack companies, and artisanal food brands.
6. Exporters of Food Products
Why ERP? Export-oriented food businesses require ERP solutions to manage international logistics, adhere to global food safety standards, and handle currency variations. ERP supports regulatory compliance, traceability, and streamlined logistics across borders.
Example: Exporters of spices, tea, coffee, grains, and processed foods.
7. Frozen and Perishable Goods Suppliers
Why ERP? Perishable food suppliers must manage temperature-controlled storage, fast logistics, and inventory rotation to minimize waste. ERP aids in tracking stock levels, reducing spoilage, and maintaining optimum inventory.
Example: Companies supplying frozen vegetables, dairy products, seafood, and poultry.
8. Nutritional Supplement Producers
Why ERP? Companies producing dietary supplements need ERP for regulatory compliance, quality testing, and batch tracking. ERP also assists with formulation management and inventory control, ensuring consistency and quality.
Example: Producers of protein powders, vitamins, meal replacements, and health supplements.
9. Agri-food Companies
Why ERP? Agri-food companies handling farm-to-table operations benefit from ERP by tracking production stages, inventory, and supply chain logistics. ERP helps with demand planning, quality assurance, and integrating agricultural production with distribution networks.
Example: Companies growing and supplying grains, spices, oils, and farm-fresh produce.
10. E-commerce Food Retailers
Why ERP? With the rapid growth of online food retail, e-commerce food businesses need ERP to manage orders, inventory, and delivery logistics. ERP systems enable smooth order fulfillment, inventory accuracy, and customer management for online grocery and food service platforms.
Examples: Online grocery stores, meal kit providers, and D2C (direct-to-consumer) snack brands.
How to Choose the Best ERP for Food Industry?
If you’re wondering what the criteria are for choosing the best ERP for food industry, consider the following factors that play an important role in your company’s overall growth & expansion:
- Choose an experienced ERP vendor who knows the pitfalls of your industry and understands your unique needs
- Choose an ERP Application that aligns with your unique company requirements and supports the growth story
- Consider both the short-term and long-term costs (such as training & upgradation) associated with using your ERP.
- It’s best to go with an ERP specifically designed for the food industry rather than choosing a generic ERP
- Does your new ERP offer extensive customization capabilities? If not, avoid it.
- As your organization grows in size, the Best ERP Software in India should support the increasing scope of business activities
- Other important criteria to consider are cloud storage and remote access facility
New Trends in the Indian Food and Beverage Industry
1. Health and Wellness Focus
Consumers increasingly prioritize health, leading to a surge in demand for organic, low-sugar, gluten-free, and high-protein foods. Functional foods and beverages that boost immunity, mental clarity, and gut health are in high demand, with products enriched in superfoods and natural ingredients seeing growth.
2. Sustainability and Eco-friendly Initiatives
A strong emphasis on sustainability is shaping the F&B landscape, with companies adopting eco-friendly packaging, reducing plastic use, and supporting responsible sourcing. Many brands are exploring biodegradable and reusable packaging options to cater to environmentally conscious consumers.
3. Plant-based and Vegan Alternatives
The popularity of plant-based diets is growing, with more Indian consumers exploring vegan meat, dairy alternatives, and plant-based snacks. Health awareness and ethical concerns are driving demand for these alternatives, with companies investing in R&D to create flavorful, authentic plant-based options.
4. Experimentation with Regional and Fusion Flavors
Indian cuisine is being reinvented, with regional specialties making their way into mainstream and fusion dishes. Traditional spices and flavors are combined with global influences, creating unique offerings like masala-infused pizzas, saffron-flavored drinks, and regional dessert hybrids.
5. Technological Integration and Automation
Modern technology is revolutionizing operations, from business intelligence tools, and AI-driven demand forecasting to smart kitchens and robotic food prep. Cloud kitchens, automated order tracking, and digital menus are becoming common in urban areas, offering streamlined operations and an enhanced customer experience.
6. Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Brands
Many F&B brands are moving towards a direct-to-consumer (D2C) approach, selling directly online to control quality, reduce costs, and engage with customers. D2C brands leverage social media for brand building and often offer customization options to meet individual customer preferences.
7. Rise of Functional Beverages
The beverage sector is seeing a rise in functional drinks, including probiotic drinks, protein shakes, and energy-boosting teas. Consumers increasingly look for drinks that not only refresh but also offer health benefits, such as enhanced immunity or relaxation.
8. Convenience Foods and Ready-to-eat (RTE) Meals
With fast-paced lifestyles, there is a growing preference for convenient, ready-to-eat meals and snacks. RTE options range from traditional Indian meals to global cuisine, designed to be both quick and nutritious, catering especially to urban professionals and young consumers.
9. Focus on Traceability and Transparency
Consumers are keen to know the origins of their food. F&B brands are improving transparency by providing detailed information on sourcing, ingredient quality, and production processes. Digital tracking tools and QR codes enable customers to trace the journey of their food from farm to table.
10. Emphasis on Hygiene and Safety Standards
Hygiene has taken center stage, especially post-pandemic, with companies implementing strict safety protocols. Food safety certifications, contactless delivery, and sanitized kitchens reassure consumers, building trust in brands and encouraging safe dining experiences.
11. Experiential Dining and Theme Cafes
The dining-out culture is expanding with a focus on unique, themed dining experiences. Restaurants and cafes are creating immersive environments and interactive menus that appeal to younger audiences, providing not only food but also memorable social experiences.
12. Low or No-alcohol Beverages
With an increasing focus on health and mindful drinking, no-alcohol and low-alcohol beverages are gaining popularity. Brands are offering alternatives like mocktails, craft sodas, and zero-proof spirits that deliver flavor without the alcohol content.
13. Hyperlocal Sourcing and Seasonal Ingredients
More F&B brands are opting for hyperlocal sourcing, using seasonal and locally-grown ingredients to cater to environmentally-aware consumers. This approach not only supports local farmers but also reduces carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability efforts.
Supercharge your Food Business with Sage X3
ERP for food industry is a ready-fit solution for modern food processing businesses that are looking to improve their operational excellence, streamline customer orders, manage inventory efficiently, and take on modern-day challenges.
Sage X3 is an all-encompassing tool that uses a broader tech stack for your company’s greater advantage while staying compliant with the ever-changing regulatory landscape & changing market circumstances. It contains a plethora of modules that address your specific business needs and accelerate your business growth.
Top Industries Leveraging ERP Software
Food & Beverage
Alcohol
Pharmaceuticals
Advertising
IT Services
Furniture
Manufacturing
Auto Ancillary
Pharma Trading
Packaging
Medical Device
Chemical
Plastic
Brewery
Logistics
Automotive
FAQ's - ERP Modules
1. What are the New Trends in the Indian Food and Beverage Industry?
According to a news report published in the Times of India, there is a growing health consciousness among Indian consumers. As a result, the Indian food and beverage industry is undergoing tremendous change and witnessing new dishes that are healthier, high in fiber, and environment-friendly.
Plant-based Diet: Indian restaurants are offering dishes that are full of vegetables, nuts, and grains. There is a growing focus on the food that is higher in vitamins & minerals.
Single-serving Desserts: These are small treats focused on individuals to eliminate the need to share or save leftovers. Examples include Bischoff mug cake, carrot cake, chocolate chip cookie, and rice peanut butter mug cake, among others.
Sugar Substitutes with Artificial Sweeteners: There are new food products in the market with no added sugar and no added sugar protein premix. Such foods are extremely popular among people suffering from diabetes.
Fiber-enriched Food: Fiber-enriched promote a smooth gut-brain connection and give relief to gastric problems, constipation, stress, anxiety, and digestive disorders.
Eco-friendly Packaging: Another trend is using an environmentally responsible approach to food packaging such as using reusable & recyclable material with no harmful toxins.
2. Which ERP Software You Should Choose for Food Business?
There are various food brands available in the world so it is necessary to provide them configurable, comprehensive, regulatory, and flexible with scheduling capabilities as per their requirements. Much like different food brands, there are different types of ERP such as On-premise ERP, Cloud ERP, and Hybrid ERP.
Sage X3 ERP for Food Processzing Industry from Sage Software Solutions is a complete set of financial management throughout the enterprise. ERP is the best way to plan for all food-related brands & leading processors & distributors in the food industry.
Sage 300, ERP for Food processing Industry helps food manufacturers to get a quick response during any situation & product recall. It provides the best package options and a plethora of ERP modules based on the customer’s requirements. Sage ERP solutions help maintain the recipe of products, food safety, consumer issues, certificate of analysis, food packaging regulations, and cost of inventory.
3. What Are the Benefits of ERP for the Food Processing Industry?
ERP for food processing industry offers plenty of benefits. Some of them are as under:
- Improved quality control throughout various stages of the manufacturing process.
- ERP software for food manufacturers can manage supplier information from start to finish.
- It can manage the supplier information from start to finish.
- It can increase production efficiency & decrease costs & risks.
- ERP implementation transforms your supply chain operations
- Meet new requirements & new functions to incorporate the business needs.
- Easily handle accounting for all types of sales & purchases.
- It manages the inventory control & also gets the accurate operational performance.
- Helps to reduce material waste & raw material shortage.
- Maintain Food quality throughout the entire process.
4. How Can Data Analytics Play a Significant Role for F&B Manufacturers?
As stated, organizations are now implementing Industry 4.0 solutions to gain valuable insights from the enormous amount of data generated daily. These insights offer a competitive advantage by driving improvement and removing operational inefficiency. ERP systems allow employees across all departments to connect strategic goals and tactical operations, enabling them to work in unison.
5. What is the Importance of Data Analytics in the Food & Beverage Industry?
F&B manufacturers should evaluate their current Business Management Software and ask the following questions:
- Is it in line with the changing regulatory requirements?
- Is it helping them to understand the changing customer dietary habits?
- Is it allowing them to track the product across its lifecycle?
Answers to these questions would help businesses get better results from their processes.
6. How F&B Industry Manage Changing Customer Tastes?
F&B companies must understand that consumers’ tastes and preferences are rapidly changing worldwide. People are moving towards consuming food articles that are healthier and more environment-friendly. They ask questions about the raw ingredients, the manufacturing & distribution processes involved, the environmental impact, and how the company treats its employees.
Also, F&B companies are investing in industry 4.0 solutions like Artificial Intelligence and advanced data mining capabilities to offer highly personalized services, better position their brand, and identify changing customers’ consumption habits by tracking them across multiple channels.
7. What Are the Benefits of Sage 300 for the Food Packaging Industry?
There are several benefits of ERP. We’ll discuss the most prominent ones:
- Effective Inventory Tracking: Maintains accurate stock level details in the system and hence enables the organisation to provide timely responses to the customers.
- Increases Productivity: ERP food software stores all the details in one central place hence, the user gets all the required information in adequate time.
- Real-Time Data Sharing: An organisation can provide real-time information to their customers from the ERP system.
- Tracks the Production Cost: Tracks the production cost during the stage of manufacturing to ensure the manufacturing process continues as planned.
- Increased Information Quality: Thanks to ERP, you reduce data silos, duplication, and data disorganization. Your ERP acts as the Single Source of Truth for your organizational data needs.
- Improve On-Time Delivery: The Organisation can deliver the products on time because of the other reduced manual work heads which will streamline their business processes and enable faster decision-making
- Real-time Access from Multiple Sites: The packaging industry generally has various sites from where different people operate such as warehouses at various locations. With an integrated ERP, all the users have real-time access to the data.
- Better Customer Satisfaction: It increases the interaction with the customers and the suppliers hence satisfying the customers. With an integrated ERP food software, all the users have real-time access to the data.
- Better Customer Satisfaction: Food and beverage ERP increases the interaction with the customers and the suppliers hence satisfying the customers
8. How Does Sage 300 Help Food Manufacturers?
Sage 300, ERP for Food processing Industry helps food manufacturers to get a quick response during any situation & product recall. It provides the best package options to customers based on their requirements. Sage ERP solutions help maintain the recipe of products, food safety, consumer issues, and certificate of analysis, food packaging regulations, and cost of inventory. If the company wants to control the costs of food then it is difficult without getting the visibility of the company’s processes under one view. To improve the profit margins the food manufacturer must lower its costs as per their need.
9. How Historical Data is Archived Using Sage X3?
Archiving and tracking historical data of the business helps attain clear and realistic information about the business partners, sales patterns, marketing strategies, and product pricing strategies.
Sage X3 software for food and beverage industry is the best platform that offers tools that fulfill these needs appropriately.
10. How Does Sage X3 Transform the Functioning of Food Companies?
Sage X3 ERP for food industry, offers a real-time and extensive solution that checks and mitigates the effects of product recalls along with other supply chain concerns. Food production ERP is a strategic business software that helps bring the best quality food to the market in the most economical way, maximize profits, and get a competitive advantage in the market. With our ingenious manufacturing ERP for food industry software, your food & beverages businesses can attain a plethora of benefits that include-
Rapid implementation and compliance with the advanced regulatory requirements.
- Run perceptive reports that can be used within business, especially for customers, regulators, and suppliers from a single source of data.
- Identify the major cause of product defects and the broad range of supply chain contamination.
- Place effective communication between stakeholders, customers, and the whole supply chain during product recalls.
- Systematically manage additional efforts to avoid any product recalls and mitigate the effects.
- Manage and execute crisis management plans with food distribution ERP software.