During this time of year, companies operating globally face significant logistics challenges holiday season peaks bring, demanding stronger planning, greater coordination, and absolute resilience across the entire supply chain.
The last quarter of the year is the most demanding period for any company handling international operations. For BY Foods, a brand exporting Portuguese pastéis de nata to dozens of countries, this season becomes a true test of our global logistics capacity. As the world accelerates with Black Friday, Christmas and major cultural events across Asia and the Middle East, transport networks reach maximum pressure. Even with these conditions, our commitment remains unchanged: ensuring that every pastel de nata arrives with the same quality, texture and safety that it had when it left our factory in Portugal.
This period becomes particularly complex because several high-impact events occur simultaneously. Black Friday marks the start of the biggest logistics peak worldwide. Demand rises sharply, ports become congested and container availability drops. As a result, international shipping delays become more frequent. For frozen food exporters, these disruptions require exceptional planning and close monitoring of each stage of the journey.
Soon after Black Friday, the Christmas season increases pressure once again. Retailers, distributors and HoReCa operators raise their stock levels in anticipation of higher footfall and year-end celebrations. The global supply chain absorbs even more demand, and transport times may fluctuate without warning. For brands like BY Foods, which depend on strict cold chain logistics, these changes add further operational complexity.
Global logistics challenges during the holiday season do not follow a single timeline. Many of the markets where we operate have cultural calendars that extend beyond Western holidays. In Asia, preparations for the Lunar New Year start weeks before January, triggering an additional spike in demand. In Japan, consumer behaviour shifts again ahead of Golden Week, requiring advance production and export scheduling. The Middle East also experiences fluctuations linked to religious festivities. Managing these overlapping cycles is part of operating a truly global frozen food supply chain.
Internally, this period brings a significant increase in workload. Production volumes rise and stock rotation becomes faster. Coordination between logistics partners, customs agents and clients intensifies daily. Winter conditions in the Northern Hemisphere — storms, snow and extreme cold — can affect air and sea freight routes. At times, these disruptions force last-minute adjustments to keep the cold chain fully intact from Portugal to the final destination.
Despite these pressures, BY Foods continues to deliver reliably. This stability is the result of months of preparation and strong collaboration with specialised logistics partners. Planning for the holiday peak begins well before November. We forecast demand, allocate production capacity, reserve space on vessels and flights and strengthen communication with distributors across all regions. This proactive approach prevents stock shortages and reduces the likelihood of surprises during the busiest season of the year.
Product integrity remains non-negotiable. Every shipment is monitored through strict temperature controls, security seals and detailed handling procedures. This careful oversight ensures that our globally recognised pastéis de nata arrive as they should: crisp outside, creamy inside and full of the flavour that defines an authentic Portuguese specialty.
Above all, the holiday season proves the resilience of our global supply chain. It highlights the strength of our processes, the dedication of our teams and the long-standing trust we have built with our customers around the world. Even when international logistics are under maximum pressure, BY Foods remains committed to delivering a premium product with consistency and excellence.
In a world where delays, congestion and volatility can quickly impact food brands, our approach ensures stability, reliability and a product that never compromises on quality, no matter the season, destination or logistical challenge.
