Food-grade warehousing is storage operated to keep packaged food clean, dry, pest-free and away from anything that could contaminate or taint it. Our fulfillment network gives food and CPG brands food-grade zones, FDA-registered facilities and receiving that captures lot and best-by on every case.
What makes a warehouse food-grade
A food-grade warehouse is one whose storage conditions and practices protect food from contamination, adulteration and deterioration. In practice that means a documented pest control program, sanitation schedules, controlled access, intact building envelopes, and racking kept off walls so inspections and cleaning are possible.
It also means separation. Food should not share a rack bay with pool chemicals, solvents, fragrances or scented candles, because odor transfer and leaks are real risks for porous packaging like paper bags and kraft pouches. Our food-grade zones keep these categories apart and keep damaged or leaking cases out of general stock until they are dispositioned.
FDA registration and food safety rules
Facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for consumption in the United States generally must register with FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and that registration must be renewed every two years. FDA-registered facilities are available across our network, and we confirm the details of the specific location storing your products during onboarding.
Under FSMA, facilities that only store packaged food not exposed to the environment are generally subject to modified requirements, centered on temperature controls where the food requires refrigeration for safety, rather than the full preventive controls rule. Current Good Manufacturing Practice expectations around sanitation, pest control and storage conditions still apply, and that is the standard we operate to.
Allergen-aware storage and handling
Allergen-aware storage keeps products containing major food allergens from contaminating other products through damaged packaging, spills or shared kitting surfaces. U.S. law currently recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.
In a warehouse that handles sealed packaged goods, the main risk is breakage. We slot allergen-containing SKUs deliberately, isolate damaged cases immediately, and control kitting so open product never touches components. Your packaging still carries the legal responsibility for allergen declaration; our job is to make sure the warehouse never adds a risk your label does not cover.
Receiving that sets up everything else
Good food fulfillment starts at the dock. Every inbound shipment is checked against your advance notice, inspected for damage, pest activity and temperature abuse where relevant, and received with lot number and best-by or expiration date at the case or pallet level.
That data drives FEFO picking, shelf-life reporting, retail compliance and recall response later. If a supplier delivers mixed lots on one pallet, unlabeled cases or dates in an inconsistent format, we flag it at receiving instead of discovering it when a retailer rejects a shipment. Climate-controlled and temperature-controlled storage are available in select markets for products that need them.
What's included
- Food-grade storage zones separated from chemicals and fragrances
- Documented pest control and sanitation programs
- FDA-registered facilities available
- Lot and best-by capture at receiving
- Allergen-aware slotting and damaged-case isolation
- Climate- and temperature-controlled options in select markets
- Pallet, case and bin storage for slow and fast movers
Frequently asked questions
Is a food-grade warehouse the same as an FDA-registered facility?
Not exactly. FDA registration is a legal requirement for facilities that hold food, while food-grade describes how the warehouse is actually operated: sanitation, pest control, segregation and storage conditions. You want both.
Do you store food next to non-food products?
Food is stored in designated food-grade zones, separated from chemicals, fragrances and other products that could contaminate or taint it.
Can you store products that need refrigeration?
Temperature-controlled storage is available in select markets. Our core program is shelf-stable and ambient food, with climate-controlled options for heat-sensitive products.
What happens to damaged food cases?
Damaged or leaking cases are isolated from sellable stock, documented with photos and held for your disposition decision, such as destruction, return or donation where appropriate.