Beverage storage is about more than shelf space. Every case has a lot, a best-by date and a set of handling needs, and protecting that information is what keeps product saleable, buyers satisfied and recalls manageable.
Receiving that protects inventory accuracy
Lot control starts at the dock. When pallets arrive from your co-packer or importer, we verify counts against the advance ship notice or packing list, inspect cases for dents, swelling, leaks and crushed corners, and capture the lot number and best-by date for every case configuration.
Damaged or suspect product is quarantined, photographed and reported rather than mixed into available inventory. Discrepancies are documented while the carrier is still accountable, which supports freight claims. Clean receiving means your inventory record reflects what is really on the shelf, by lot, from day one.
FEFO picking and shelf-life rules
First-expired, first-out (FEFO) picking directs every pick to the lot with the earliest best-by date that still meets the order's shelf-life rules. It is the single most important control for a dated product, and it should be enforced by the warehouse system, not left to whichever pallet is closest.
You can set minimum remaining shelf-life rules by channel or by customer. Aging reports show how much inventory is approaching each threshold, so you can act early with promotions, bundles or channel shifts instead of writing off product after it expires. Lot holds can be applied instantly if quality questions arise.
Food-safety and storage conditions
Facilities that hold food, including beverages, for U.S. consumption must register with FDA, and warehouses that hold packaged food are expected to follow FDA's current good manufacturing practice requirements for food, including sanitation, pest control and storage that protects product from contamination. FDA-registered facilities with documented sanitation and pest-control programs are available across our network, and third-party food-safety audit reports are available in select markets.
Beverages are stored indoors, off the floor and away from hot dock doors. Many shelf-stable drinks tolerate normal warehouse conditions, but coffee, tea and some functional products are sensitive to heat, humidity and odors, and we place them accordingly. Temperature-controlled storage is available in select markets for products that need it.
Traceability and recall readiness
A good traceability record answers two questions fast: where did this lot come from, and where did it go. We link inbound lots to their receipts and outbound lots to every order, kit, FBA shipment and pallet that carried them.
If you need to run a withdrawal or recall, we can place an immediate hold on the affected lot, report every shipment it went out on with customer and address data for DTC orders and consignee data for wholesale, and count and segregate remaining stock. Running a mock recall periodically is a practical way to confirm the process works before you ever need it, and we can support that exercise.
What's included
- Lot and best-by capture on every receipt
- System-enforced FEFO picking
- Minimum shelf-life rules by channel and customer
- Damage quarantine with photo reporting
- FDA-registered facility options with sanitation programs
- Temperature-controlled storage in select markets
- Lot holds, withdrawal reporting and mock recall support
Frequently asked questions
What is FEFO in beverage warehousing?
FEFO means first-expired, first-out. The warehouse system directs pickers to the lot with the earliest best-by date that still meets the order's shelf-life rules, so older stock ships before newer stock.
Do beverage warehouses need FDA registration?
Yes. Facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for consumption in the United States, including beverage warehouses, must register with FDA and renew the registration every two years.
Can you store refrigerated beverages?
Temperature-controlled storage is available in select markets. Refrigerated products such as cold-pressed juice also need cold-chain shipping, which we scope with you during onboarding.
How fast can you report on a lot for a recall?
Lot-level shipment reports come straight from the warehouse system, because lot numbers are recorded on every outbound order, kit and pallet.