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The Best Food Manufacturing Software

Get the best food manufacturing software for your business. Compare product reviews, pricing below. Read our buyer's guide for more help.

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Aptean Food & Beverage ERP Screenshot
Aptean Food & Beverage ERP is a specialized ERP purpose-built for food manufacturers and distributors. With a single ERP software solution, companies can manage all aspects of their operations—from the time materials enter the facility until the finished…
Client OS
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Ignition by TELUS Screenshot
@vimeo Ignition by TELUS offers purpose-built solutions in a fully integrated software platform. This comprehensive, scalable and user-friendly solution package includes everything integral to your business: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System…
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Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
iNECTA Food Screenshot
iNECTA Food is a Microsoft Cloud ERP built for the Food Industry. INECTA Food is built on Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and tailored to each Food/Produce/Seafood sub-industry. INECTA has been a Microsoft Gold Partner for over 20 years with expertise…
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Starting Price
$70/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Food Connex Screenshot
Customize the solution that is right for you from integrated systems and software designed to specialized needs of the food industry whether you’re a farm to table co-op that must automate to continue growing, a distributor/processor using QuickBooks that…
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Deacom Screenshot
The DEACOM Integrated Accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software System is engineered specifically a wide variety of industries. DEACOM seamlessly links all areas of a company - from production and inventory control, to order entry and…
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Datacor ERP Screenshot
@wistia Your software should work harder than you do. Enterprise Resource Planning increases your productivity and incorporates all aspects of your business into one streamlined operation. Provide clearer, faster communication channels for your company…
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Starting Price
$4,000/user (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
xTuple Screenshot

xTuple

★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)
xTuple is The TOP ERP for Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers and Distributors. On-Premises or in the Cloud—xTuple growth solutions power profits. xTuple understand that SMBs need an intuitive, turnkey system that saves them time and money—their Core ERP…
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Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Mac, Windows, Linux
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Masterplan ERP Screenshot
Masterplan ERP is a leading provider of cloud business and process integration software for manufacturers and distributors. Masterplan ERP partners with their customers to reduce their costs and maximize profit by providing quality & flexible ERP…
Starting Price
$200/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Odoo Screenshot

Odoo

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(15)
Odoo is the most installed business software in the world. Odoo is used by 2.000.000 users worldwide ranging from very small companies (1 user) to very large ones (300 000 users). Amongst the biggest references you can find: Odoo is the only software in…
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Web
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Cloud or On-Premises
Acumatica Cloud ERP Screenshot

Acumatica Cloud ERP

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(18)
Acumatica Cloud ERP provides the best business management solution for transforming your company to thrive in the new digital economy. Through leading-edge technology, best-in-class business functionality, and customer-friendly business practices…
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Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
ColumbusFood Screenshot

ColumbusFood

Through our vast experience in the food industry, Columbus develops food manufacturing software solutions that meet more than 80% of a food manufacturer or distributor’s requirements out of the box. Our food manufacturing and distribution business…
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Visual Produce Screenshot

Visual Produce

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(1)
Visual Produce is a comprehensive all-purpose ERP solution designed specifically for the fresh produce industry. The program includes typical financial back-office features (GL/AR/AP/SO/PO/IC/PR) as well as Warehouse Management, Mobile Delivery, Visual…
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Starting Price
$500/month
Client OS
Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP ProcessPro Edition Screenshot

Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP ProcessPro Edition

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(19)
ProcessPro is a Food ERP that provides recipe and forumula management, lot tracking to aid in recalls, batch sizing and scaling, R&D for new product line development, quality control and management…
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Starting Price
$100,000 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
SI Foodware Fruits and Vegetables Screenshot
SI Foodware Fruits and Vegetables is a fresh produce specific software package based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Consignment management is the heart of this solution. For all processes within the supply chain, from import, logistics, manufacturing up to…
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Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
SI Foodware AX Screenshot
SI Foodware for AX is the most complete ERP solution within this sector. Based on Microsoft Dynamics AX, this ERP solution covers all the requirements large food companies need. As one of the most complete ERP solutions in the world, Microsoft Dynamics AX…
Client OS
Web, Windows
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
ChefTec Screenshot

ChefTec

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(2)
Save 5-7% on Your Food Cost With ChefTec Software! ChefTec is specifically designed for chefs and foodservice owner/operators who need recipe and menu costing, inventory control and purchasing & ordering at an affordable price. ChefTec helps you save…
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Starting Price
$995 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Tropos Screenshot
Solarsoft supplies modern enterprise software and IT services to manufacturers, distributors and wholesale businesses across North America, Europe and Asia. Tropos has been developed for short-cycle demand-driven manufacturing and the needs of regulated…
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Dairy.com ERP Screenshot

Dairy.com ERP

Dairy.com ERP is a plant management software tailored specifically to the dairy industry, helping plants operate with best-practices from intake to finished goods. This solution seamlessly integrates with existing financial systems to leverage existing…
Client OS
Mac, Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
BatchMaster ERP Screenshot

BatchMaster ERP

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(3)
BatchMaster offers food manufacturing solutions that supports your unique requirements in the areas of product development, production, inventory, quality, costing, BRC / SQF lot traceability, FDA compliance, planning, scheduling, and warehousing…
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Starting Price
$2,000/user (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
AFP Screenshot

AFP

Intuitive Food Processing ERP system for Small and mid size food and formula based processors. Features Include full ERP, HACCP, Inventory, vendor, Batch, Recipe / Formula Invoicing management. Designed by over 1400 food processors to reduce cost and…
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises

We searched and searched, but we couldn’t find any products in our database that match your criteria. Perhaps our team of software experts can help? They’d be happy to provide a list of free food manufacturing software recommendations that meet your exact requirements.

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Food Manufacturing Software Buyer’s Guide

Food manufacturers face unique challenges regarding food spoilage and regulatory compliance. Moving ingredients and products rapidly through the supply chain is vital to maintaining profitability. Food manufacturing software relieves many of the challenges of an unforgiving industry.

This guide will help you select food manufacturing software suited to your business:

What Is Food Manufacturing Software?

Food manufacturing software helps you keep track of raw materials required to make products to ensure you keep the right production schedule and ingredients on hand in order to meet demand. Traceability is especially important in a food manufacturing system. Should contaminations be found in any of the products, manufacturers, stores, and customers need to be able to easily identify which batches were affected. Knowing which batches were affected will save you a lot of time and money when you have to track down and get rid of affected products.

Keeping recipes secure is another benefit of manufacturing ERP software built for food companies. You'll be able to ensure consistent, high-quality products with recipe management functionality. Along with recipe management, ingredient substitutes and batch scaling is often included. You can easily make adjustments to product quantities and recipes based on the inventory you have on hand. These fully-integrated systems can be considered an industry-specific type of ERP software.

Some food manufacturing systems can also help you plan for seasonal demand. Specific ingredients only being readily available during certain times of the year will affect pricing and product quantities. With food manufacturing software, you'll be able to plan ahead for these variances.

Core Functionality of Food Manufacturing Software

Feature Description
Food & Ingredient Traceability Record data about individual ingredients, finished products, and packaging including historical location as the products move throughout the supply chain from food production to processing to distribution, as well as dates to manage expiration of ingredients or finished products.

Knowing where all ingredients came from is especially important if something is recalled.
Compliance Management Food manufacturing software creates reports that ensure you're in good standing with regulatory compliances.
Quality Assurance (QA) Checks random samples throughout the manufacturing process against normal values to ensure the products meet your desired specifications. Reports can be generated to see testing trends and produce Certificate of Analysis documents to prove your good have gone through QC tests. Import customs in some countries require Certificate of Analysis documents.
Recipe Management Food manufacturing software stores recipe information to keep your products consistent, and can encode ingredients if you need to keep your recipe secret. You can also store ingredient substitute info, as well as batch scaling to increase or decrease serving sizes as needed.
Recall Tracking Keeping track of where your ingredients came from and where they were distributed allows you to quickly notify affected customers if specific batches of products were contaminated and need to be recalled.
Seasonal Demand Forecasting Food manufacturing software will track historical purchasing trends, as well as make suggestions for future sales based on seasonal trends. Certain products or ingredients may only be available or bought more frequently at certain times of the year - your software solution will be able to recommend ordering or production dates based on those trends.

Traceability in Food Manufacturing

Traceability in food manufacturing software lets you track ingredients or food products that are intended for human consumption. The ingredients and products are tracked throughout the entire production cycle from primary production to processing and packaging to retail distribution and consumer purchasing.

Traceability allows you to respond quickly and recall or get rid of affected inventory if an issue arises. The earlier in the supply chain an issue is noticed and taken care of, the better. Contaminated products reaching the end consumer will cause health problems and tarnish your brand reputation.

Many regulatory agencies require traceability to improve food safety. Some compliances food manufacturers need to keep in mind include:

  • 2002 Bioterrorism Act - Tracking every product batch and match ingredients with their individual batch number.
  • Current Good Manufacturing Processes (cGMP) - Keep thorough records of sanitation, staff qualifications, and equipment verification to minimize contamination or errors in the manufacturing process.
  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) - Track and monitor food storage, handling, and preparation processes to reduce hazard risks and take corrective action as needed.
  • FDA 21 CFR Part 11 - Ensure electronic records are authentic and secure with digital electronic signatures, validation scripts, audit trails, and additional security features.

Food Manufacturing Software Benefits

  • Meet regulatory compliance standards: Food manufacturing software keeps all your data stored and well-organized, and automates reporting, so you can prove regulatory compliance.
  • Ensure product consistency with recipe management: Recipes are stored within the software system to ensure the right ingredients and quantities are being used. Food manufacturing software also has batch scaling to ensure the product quality is consistent when you need to make more or less of the product.
  • Increased profitability with reduced waste: Food manufacturing software helps you cut down on waste by planning for demand and keeping track of the ingredients you currently have in your inventory, so you don't have to worry about overstocking or ordering ingredients at the wrong time.
  • Improved supply chain management processes: Demand forecasting functionalities in food manufacturing software give you a deeper look into current and past trends. Being able to plan purchasing and production based on demand forecasts helps you more accurately determine supply and demand, increasing your ROI.
  • Manage recalled ingredients or products: Organized, detailed records of your ingredients and products within the food manufacturing software system will allow you to quickly narrow down items that need to be recalled. A recall can be needed if the packaging is mislabeled, allergens aren't declared, or products were cross-contaminated or spoiled. You need to be able to notify affected customers of the particular product or ingredient that is affected, where it came from, and where it was distributed as soon as you find the issue.

What Does Your Business Need?

Depending on the size of your business, you'll want to prioritize certain features over others:

Small to Medium Businesses

Small and medium-sized businesses should look for software that has compliance management to ensure your business stays within state and federal regulations. Recipe management functionalities are also helpful for small and medium businesses to keep food quality consistent. Your food manufacturing system should also integrate easily with QuickBooks or another existing accounting system. If cost is a concern, some cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) food manufacturing software has a lower up-front cost and a low monthly subscription fee.

Large Businesses

A comprehensive food manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution will be ideal for large businesses. Functionalities to look for include demand forecasting, compliance management, food traceability, ingredient inventory control, recipe management, and QC testing. Some ERP solutions popular among the food and beverage industry include Microsoft Dynamics GP and BatchMaster ERP.

There are solutions developed with food manufacturers in mind that are built on top of existing ERP solutions - for example, JustFoodERP is built on top of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. A solution built onto a Microsoft product will often have familiar features like Outlook, Excel, or Word. There are also more "generic" ERP solutions that are marketed toward food manufacturers because they are specialized in the field and have implemented their products successfully in that environment. For example, BatchMaster is an ERP designed for process manufacturing that includes functionalities to help with research and development, QC, packaging, formulation, compliance, and traceability.

Common Pain Points

  • Constantly changing consumer trends: Diets and health trends constantly change with each passing year. Consumers are more health-conscious now than ever - they want to know where their food is coming from, are focusing on organic produce, and look for healthier alternatives like using spices to color food instead of dyes. There has also been a shift from fat-free foods to natural foods with high levels of saturated fats like natural oils, full-fat dairy products, and grass-fed meat. Keeping up with consumer trends is especially important for food manufacturers. Your food manufacturing software needs to have demand forecasting capabilities, so you can plan production around consumer trends. The software solution can also keep track of where ingredients and products came from, giving consumers more transparency about their food.

  • Keeping up with strict regulations: Federal and state regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are constantly updating regulations. Keeping in compliance with regulations is vital to keep your business up and running, as well as ensure your food products are safe for consumers. Food manufacturing software handles reporting and keeps track of regulations to ensure you meet compliance requirements.

  • Labor shortage: According to Food Engineering's article, "Digitizing the food and beverage work environment", food manufacturers see staffing issues as one of their biggest challenges. More baby boomers are retiring and as automation becomes more common, it's becoming more difficult to find workers who are qualified to operate the equipment.

Food & Beverage Industry Trends

  • Automation in food manufacturing: Food Engineering's "State of Food Manufacturing Survey" found that 22% of respondents installed an advanced automation system. Food manufacturers are looking into automation software and hardware to cut down on costs as demand increases.

  • Focus on health: More consumers are focusing on "mindful eating". According to Research and Markets, organic food & beverages market is projected to grow at CAGR of 14.8% by 2022. Consumers look for product packaging with "free from" claims (like "free from additives or artificial sweeteners") and healthy snack alternatives. Non-dairy and plant-based meat alternatives are also becoming more popular. Consumers are also more concerned with where their food is coming from, as well as sustainability - it is becoming more important for consumers that manufacturing processes are minimizing environmental impact.

  • Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law to shift focus to preventing foodborne illnesses instead of just responding to incidents. The FSMA addresses food safety among different points along the global supply chain. Most businesses needed to be compliant with preventative controls for human food by September 2018. However, extensions allowed for qualifying businesses to push some compliance dates to January 2020. For more information on compliance dates, visit fda.gov.