Are you in search of a food-grade warehouse? You’ve come to the right place! B&C Logistics is the preferred source for companies that are in need of food-grade warehousing solutions. We’re proud of the reputation we’ve earned in the industry for our expertise and commitment to helping organizations comply with quality standards.
Companies do not need to limit themselves by selling products out of their own warehouse, especially when they are in a geographically disadvantageous location and want a more centralized place to store items.
Or, perhaps you have been handling warehouse duties on your own, but now need to focus on your core skills and want to outsource warehousing to professionals with more experience than your internal team.
Whether you sell food products to customers regularly through subscription box programs or want to improve your integration into retail environments, our 3PL experts are standing by to assist.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to give you and your fellow stakeholders insight into what’s involved in food-grade warehousing.
What is a Food Grade Warehouse?
A food-grade warehouse is an essential component of the modern supply chain system. It differs from other types of warehouses, such as those that store furniture or electronics. In a food-grade warehouse, manufacturers and distributors must adhere to high standards and regulations to protect the health and safety of consumers.
Regulations cover food products (including ingredients) as well as the equipment used to store or prepare products. Owners and operators of food-grade warehouses have to ensure they meet sanitation standards and keep their facilities clean.
Problems that prevent a warehouse from being suitable for food-grade storage include damage to the exterior of the structure, windows or frames that have holes or cracks, rodent tracks, and even odor cross-contamination. In a warehouse, you cannot store chemicals, cleaning materials, or pesticides near the area where food is stored.
Cold storage food-grade warehouses keep products sufficiently cold to extend their viability and safety. When a deep freeze is called for, you will rely on a frozen food facility. For situations where temperature control isn’t necessary, you can keep your items in a dry storage food-grade warehouse, such as grains, or jarred or canned products.
Essential Requirements for Food-Grade Warehousing
When evaluating a facility for storing your products, verify that it meets the essential requirements for food-grade warehousing.
For example, if some of your products include ingredients that can cause allergic reactions in consumers, you want to make sure that the facility can handle processes with no cross-contamination risk for allergens.
By the same token, food safety depends on traceability, so the warehouse can keep track of each product lot (and use-by dates) to keep items moving through the supply chain.
As noted, warehouse location is a critical logistics factor for many food manufacturers and distributors. You might want to ship out of a warehouse in the middle of the country or need East Coast and West Coast facilities for delivering products to customers closer to home.
Double-check that a warehouse facility can meet your temperature control requirements, such as cold storage or a facility designed for frozen foods.
The facility needs to have a state-of-the-art inventory management system that includes lot codes, ensuring you move items according to their expiration or best-use dates.
Regulatory Compliance and Standards
It’s prudent to partner with food industry experts who know all the ins and outs of complying with government regulations and standards. Of particular importance are the requirements overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA.
FDA Regulations and Guidelines
The food-grade warehouse you select is required to register with the FDA. It must have a current state food license and submit to inspections every year. Workers should be conversant in FSMA or Food Safety Modernization Act requirements. The warehouse also needs to have a PCQI or Preventative Controls Qualified Individual who will be looking after the organization’s Food Safety Plan.
The Food Safety Plan needs to adhere to Good Manufacturing Processes. Be aware of the following important GMPs:
* Pest control program (ongoing)
* Proper procedures to clean and sanitize the facility
* HACCP Plan (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
* Regular preventative facility maintenance
* Access to a safe water supply
* Process in place to address customer complaints about the warehouse
* Defense and security plan for all stored food products
* Policy governing visitors to the food-grade warehouse
Choosing the Right Food-Grade Warehouse Provider
It’s crucial to take your time to evaluate food-grade warehouse providers before forming a partnership. Of course, the company must have food-grade warehouse certification before you can consider storing your products there.
You’ll want a provider that operates efficiently and safely, using the latest in warehouse management software and technology. This helps keep products safe and is instrumental in monitoring inventory levels.
The staff must be experts in kitting and bundling products, to pack shipments for customized orders, such as subscription box services or one-off, direct-to-consumer orders.
B&C Logistics FDA Registered Food Grade Storage Solutions
You can rest assured that B&C Logistics offers FDA-registered solutions for food-grade storage. We welcome the opportunity to serve you.
B&C Logistics employs HACCP Alliance-certified staff to ensure the efficiency and safety of your food during storage and distribution. Our food safety experts have earned a 980 score out of 1,000 in the AIB GMP audit. At B&C Logistics, we follow logistics industry best practices and incorporate the latest processes and controls to protect your customers.
With B&C Logistics, you’ll enjoy real-time visibility into our processes, to keep tabs on goods as we safeguard them with advanced environmental controls and monitoring.
To learn more about our approach to meeting food-grade warehouse requirements or request a quote, please get in touch with us today.