Warehouse racking for food and drink.

Storage challenges in food and drink

Food and drink warehousing places specific demands on racking systems. Products must be stored in conditions that meet food safety legislation, which means racking surfaces must be cleanable, pests cannot harbour in hollow sections or inaccessible spaces, and floor-to-rack clearances must allow adequate cleaning access. First-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation is essential for perishable goods, which influences the choice between selective, drive-in and push-back systems. Cold store and chilled operations require galvanised racking that resists condensation corrosion, and systems must be specified for the increased brittleness of steel at low temperatures. Rack loading must account for the high density of beverages and canned goods.

Racking systems for food and drink

Selective adjustable pallet racking is the most common system in ambient food distribution, providing direct access to every SKU for a wide product range with rapid stock rotation. Drive-in pallet racking is used for high-volume, single-product lines in cold store environments where density is the priority and LIFO rotation is acceptable. Push-back racking provides a higher-density alternative to selective racking with LIFO rotation for medium-range SKUs. Longspan shelving is used in pick-and-pack operations for smaller ambient grocery and confectionery lines. Gravity flow racking ensures FIFO rotation for short-shelf-life products in chilled and ambient environments. Rackstor UK surveys food and drink operations and recommends the system mix that best balances density, rotation and pick rate for the operation.

• Ambient grocery and dry goods distribution
• Chilled food and dairy warehousing
• Frozen food cold store racking
• Beverage and drinks distribution
• Food manufacturing and ingredient storage
• Pick-and-pack fulfilment for food retail

Food safety and compliance considerations

Racking in food environments must comply with BRC Global Standards for Storage and Distribution and relevant food safety management requirements. Key considerations include cleanability of racking surfaces, prevention of pest harbourage, appropriate floor-to-rack clearances, avoidance of overhead contamination risk, and documentation of racking load capacities for food safety audits. Galvanised or powder-coated racking in appropriate RAL colours is standard in food environments. Rackstor UK advises on material and finish specifications appropriate to the food safety requirements of your operation.