Prioritize certified temperature zones, continuous monitoring and alarm systems, redundant power, documented temperature control SOPs, and capacity for surge volumes. Verify carrier schedules, SLA language for spoilage, and WMS integration for real-time inventory visibility to minimize stockouts and returns.

Key factors are proximity to the Tohoku Expressway and major ports, access to regional rail freight terminals, local carrier density and frequency, availability of cross-dock facilities, and typical dwell time at upstream nodes. These influence fuel, driver, and dwell costs as well as delivery windows.

Negotiate clear SLAs for OTIF, order accuracy, and lead-time tiers; tiered pricing for seasonal peaks; transparent billing with line-itemed value-add charges; minimum volume clauses; and audit rights. Include performance-based rebates or penalties and routine operational review cadence.

Segment inventory by SKU velocity and channel: position fast-moving SKUs closer to market or multi-node, slower-moving and bulky SKUs in cost-efficient Aomori facilities. Model repositioning costs, service radius, safety stock, and lead times to determine optimal split for minimizing total fulfillment cost while meeting channel SLAs.