The food industry has often invested in technology for an edge. In the 19th and 20th centuries, bananas drove the advancement of cooling technologies. Tea led to the development of faster ships, the famous Clippers that raced between East and West to get the best tea prices. American farmers used ice hewn from lakes to ship unspoilt goods to Europe, all but destroying the uncompetitive British agriculture industry.
The modern food industry remains at the cutting edge. Modern food and beverage companies have to be very flexible to stay competitive: from disease and food hygiene to new regulations and taxes to evolving customer tastes to even nature’s temperaments, it’s a dynamic market.
