Tip of the Month!

With the start of the new year comes the perfect opportunity to embrace the benefits of a clean inventory count! Many companies take advantage of the year-end close to conduct a full inventory and write off any excess stock. If you haven’t yet implemented cycle counts or monthly inventory adjustments, this is your sign to get started.

Here are a few steps to help streamline your inventory management:

1. Prepare a Physical Inventory Count Sheet: Ensure your team has a clear, organized sheet to accurately track and verify stock.

2. Create a Schedule for Regular Counts: Establish a routine for weekly or monthly inventory checks to maintain accuracy and prevent surprises.

3. Train and Implement: Getting started can be challenging, but starting with weekly counts is an efficient way to build momentum and train your team. (Once inventory is stable for 8+ weeks, you can transition to a monthly cycle count.)

4. Reconfirmation & Adjustment: All discrepancies need to be thoroughly validated. Once this is complete, adjust your inventory accordingly. Failing to make these adjustments will cause discrepancies to snowball and take you back to square one.

By staying proactive with your inventory planning, you’ll set your company up for smoother operations and more reliable stock management throughout the year.

#AskAFoodScientist

As a foodie and a product developer, I love understanding where our food comes from and how to best use each product for optimum flavor and product profitability. Here are some interesting facts that make real vanilla edible gold:

• Vanilla is a flavor enhancer in sweet applications. Think of it as the "salt" of desserts.

• Vanilla originates from the southern forests of Mexico

• Outside of Mexico, it is hand-pollinated (a process called "marrying the flower")

• In Mexico, vanilla is primarily pollinated by the Melipona bee

• Vanilla beans are blanched and sun-cured to develop their flavor over 3–6 months

• Major growing regions include:
  - Madagascar Bourbon: Over 50% of the world's supply
  - Indonesia: 24%
  - Uganda: 15%
  - Papua New Guinea: 6–8%
  - Mexico: 5–6%

• Each region produces vanilla with a distinct flavor profile (see attached slide)

• It has the power to elevate a good product into a great one

• Lochhead Vanilla’s cold extraction process creates a superior flavor

• Other extraction processes often yield less flavorful, cheaper alternatives