Nearly 25% of companies in the CPG world don't use S&OP (sales and operations planning), according to PwC, yet sales and operations planning (S&OP) can be the glue that holds supply, demand, and financial planning processes together.
S&OP can help food and beverage suppliers stay ahead by making sure production and forecasting is accurate and sales, ops, finance, and other key departments aren’t working in siloes. When done right, it keeps shelves stocked, customers happy, and businesses growing. Without S&OP, supply chains can become messy, leading to stock outs, excess inventory, and significant bottlenecks.
S&OP isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Companies run it on different schedules—quarterly, monthly, or even annually. No matter the cadence, it usually revolves around five key steps:
- Gathering the Data – Everything starts with collecting the right numbers: sales forecasts, inventory levels, production capacity, and financial goals. Looking at past plans helps spot trends and avoid mistakes.
- Predicting Demand – Forecasting how much product customers will want. (Check out this post for demand planning tips.)
- Planning Supply – Figuring out how much to produce or order to keep up with demand without overstocking.
- Checking for Gaps – Comparing supply and demand to see if anything is off balance and making adjustments before problems arise.
- Making It Official – Once the plan is set, it’s shared across the company to keep everyone on the same page.
If this sounds like a full-time job, that’s because it is. S&OP managers play a crucial role in keeping supply chains running smoothly, overseeing everything from demand planning to inventory accuracy. Big brands like In-N-Out Burger take it seriously—they even hire S&OP managers to fine-tune their operations.
How Pantry AI Helps Make S&OP Seamless
That’s where Pantry AI comes in. We help brands make S&OP less of a headache by ensuring sales and operations actually talk to each other. Our tech streamlines distribution and order fulfillment so businesses can scale without running into roadblocks.
Take Tost, the non-alcoholic beverage brand. As they grew, they realized their sales operations were getting bogged down with endless data entry just to meet different customer requirements. They knew their manual process wasn’t sustainable, so they turned to Pantry.
With Pantry’s AI-powered system, Tost automated order processing across all wholesale channels. Instead of wrestling with spreadsheets, they set up Pantry once, and it worked seamlessly with both existing and new customers. The result? Faster fulfillment, fewer errors, and a system that could grow with them.
For CPG brands looking to streamline S&OP without the hassle, Pantry AI is the tool that keeps everything running smoothly—so you can focus on growing, not troubleshooting.