The food and beverage industry runs on tight margins, strict regulations, and complex inventory. That’s why more food manufacturers, distributors, and DTC brands are turning to NetSuite—a powerful ERP platform that offers real-time visibility, lot tracking, compliance tools, and automated workflows.

But implementing NetSuite for a food and beverage business comes with unique challenges. Whether you’re scaling up or replacing legacy systems, avoid these 8 common traps to ensure your implementation leads to smooth operations—not spoiled results.

1. Poor Lot and Expiry Tracking Setup

Food and beverage companies rely on accurate lot tracking for traceability, recalls, and expiration management. Many businesses skip setting up lot control early—or configure it incorrectly.

Pro tip: Use NetSuite’s lot-tracked items and enable FEFO (First Expired, First Out) logic to stay compliant and reduce spoilage.

2. No Plan for Quality Control

QC processes like inspections, holds, and compliance checks are often tracked manually. Without workflows built into NetSuite, you risk missing critical checks or delaying shipments.

Pro tip: Build custom workflows and status fields to trigger inspections and document results at key stages of your production and receiving process.

3. Unclear BOM and Recipe Management

In food production, your BOM is often a recipe—including yield losses, byproducts, and batch sizes. Many teams use inconsistent or incomplete BOMs, which results in inaccurate costing and production variances.

Pro tip: Clean up your recipes and consider using NetSuite’s WIP and Routings or Advanced Manufacturing module for more detailed control.

4. Skipping Regulatory Compliance Setup

Whether it’s FDA, CFIA, SQF, or HACCP, food and beverage companies need detailed traceability and audit readiness. NetSuite can support this, but only if properly configured.

Pro tip: Use custom fields and saved searches to track allergen info, certifications, and ingredient sourcing for audit-ready reporting.

5. Overlooking Catch Weight or Variable Units

Products like cheese wheels, meat cuts, or liquid drums are sold by weight—but invoiced by unit. NetSuite doesn’t handle catch weight natively, so planning is key.

Pro tip: Build a workaround using custom fields and scripts, or integrate with third-party apps designed for variable weight tracking.

6. No Strategy for Multi-Location Inventory

Whether you’re running a cold storage warehouse or multiple distribution centers, NetSuite can track inventory by location, bin, and lot. But failing to plan this setup leads to confusion and fulfillment delays.

Pro tip: Map your inventory flows in advance and make sure item records reflect how you actually store and move products.

7. Not Automating B2B and DTC Order Flows

Food and beverage companies often sell through multiple channels: wholesale, retail, marketplaces, and DTC. Managing orders across Shopify, Amazon, and EDI manually? Recipe for errors.

Pro tip: Integrate order channels with NetSuite using platforms like Celigo or Workato to sync inventory, fulfillment, and customer updates.

8. Underestimating Change Management

Food companies often have long-standing tribal knowledge and manual processes. Dropping NetSuite in without proper training and communication leads to frustration.

Pro tip: Involve operations, QA, and accounting teams early. Run test cycles with real data. Provide hands-on training tailored to each role.

Final Bite

NetSuite can be transformational for food and beverage companies—but only if implemented with your unique processes in mind. From expiry tracking to recipe management, success is in the setup.

Work with a partner who understands the nuances of your industry, and you’ll be in a better position to scale—safely, profitably, and compliantly.