When storing your products it is crucial that they are stored at the correct temperature. If this is a necessity for the product the temperature should be specified on the packaging.
Ambient Storage
Ambient storage is where the product is required to be stored at room temperature. An ambient condition is usually somewhere in the range of 15° to 25°C. Such products include tinned foods and any other shelf stable products. Foods that would have normally been refrigerated but have been processed are also classed as an ambient product as they can be stored safely and usually have a long shelf life. An example of this is milk. Fresh milk requires chilled storage whereas once the milk has been processed (Long life, condensed, evaporated) it has the ability to be stored at room temperature.
Chilled Storage
Chilled storage is where the product is required to be stored at a refrigerated temperature below 8°c. It is important to make sure that food is chilled properly so that harmful bacteria are not present. For products that need to be refrigerated it is normally specified on the packaging.
These can include:
- Foods that have a ‘use by’ date
- Labels that state the product should be ‘kept refrigerated’
- Precooked food that is not being eaten straight away such as microwavable meals
- Ready to eat foods (foods that don’t need to be cooked) such as sandwiches and salads.
Overall the difference between ambient storage and chilled storage is the temperature that the products are stored at. If the product is not stored at its specified temperature harmful bacteria can grow and spoil the product. In order to keep this under control regular temperature checks and audits should take place. This is normally done by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) which is a trade association in the United Kingdom.
These storage methods are carried out in multiple places as a legal requirement. From supermarkets to restaurants and even in your own home. The suppliers and distributors of these products must also follow theses regulations.
At Edwards transport, we have large temperature controlled storage facilities, offering both storage and distribution of your products. Our warehouses are managed using the latest Warehouse Management Systems. Guaranteeing our warehouses to be adaptable for ambient food storage as well as also non-food related products.
For more information on our ambient storage and distribution as well as our chilled storage and distribution please follow the links of visit our website: edwards-transport.com