Food & Beverage
Food & Beverage Warehouse Storage Solutions
Storage systems engineered for cold chain compliance, FIFO rotation, and the throughput demands of food and beverage operations.
FIFO
Pallet flow lanes rotate perishable stock first-in, first-out
4,000
Pallet positions after a beverage DC expansion, finished 2 weeks early (Commerce, CA)
~25%
More capacity from a 10-day seismic re-rack with operations running (Redlands, CA)
3 Weeks
To relocate a full pick module, Madison to Salt Lake City, cleared 2 weeks early
Food and beverage warehouse storage requires racking systems engineered for cold chain compliance, FIFO inventory rotation, and fire code commodity classifications specific to food products. These facilities typically use pallet flow racks for date-sensitive rotation, selective racking for mixed SKUs, and high-density systems for bulk beverage storage.
What We Understand
The Challenges Specific to Food & Beverage
Heavy Loads and FIFO Requirements
Beverage pallets routinely exceed 3,000 lbs, and standard racking must be sized for actual product weights. FIFO rotation for date-sensitive products isn't optional. Mechanical enforcement through pallet flow eliminates rotation failures that manual discipline can't guarantee.
Permitting Complexity for Food Commodities
Food products have specific fire code commodity classifications that affect sprinkler design. A system designed for general warehouse storage won't necessarily pass fire marshal inspection when filled with flammable packaging and liquid products. We coordinate permitting with fire marshals who scrutinize food and beverage facilities closely.
Temperature Zones and 24/7 Operations
Facilities with ambient, refrigerated, and freezer zones need racking designed for each environment. And 24/7 operations with tight delivery windows require installation scheduling that doesn't shut you down.
Our Approach
Designed for How Food Warehouses Actually Work
We design systems accounting for your actual product mix, pallet weights, temperature zones, and rotation requirements. For high-SKU pick areas, selective rack. For bulk staging, drive-in or push-back. For FIFO lanes with date-sensitive product, pallet flow. Cold-rated components where temperature requires it.
We handle permitting and coordinate with fire marshals. They scrutinize food and beverage facilities closely, and we design to pass first inspection, not to revise after a rejection. Install scheduling happens around your operations, including nights and weekends for 24/7 facilities.
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Recommended Systems
Storage Solutions We Commonly Install for Food & Beverage
Pallet Flow Racks
First-in, first-out gravity flow on roller tracks. The standard for perishable and dated inventory in food and beverage warehouses.
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Selective Pallet Racks
Direct access to every pallet location for high-SKU operations with frequent picking across a varied product mix.
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Carton Flow Racks
Case-pick FIFO flow for individual cartons, speeds up order picking in food distribution and e-commerce fulfillment operations.
Learn MoreProject Example
What This Looks Like in Practice
Madison, WI to Salt Lake City, UT · 35,000 sq ft · 3 weeks · cleared 2 weeks early
Pick Module and Rack Relocation for Beverage Company
A beverage company was decommissioning a 35,000 sq ft warehouse in Madison, WI on a tight, landlord-driven move-out timeline. Hammerhead tore out the full storage system, a structural pick module with carton flow and pallet flow plus selective pallet rack, and relocated it to the company's facility in Salt Lake City, UT for reinstallation, clearing the building two weeks ahead of the required date.
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Redlands, CA · 20,000 sq ft · 1,500 pallet positions · 10 days
Seismic Selective Racking for Water Storage Facility
Seismic selective pallet rack replacement for a water storage facility in Redlands, CA, a high-seismic region. Hammerhead tore out the existing system, supplied new seismic-rated racking engineered to code, tightened the aisles, and added vertical storage to increase capacity by about 25%, all without interrupting the customer's warehouse operations.
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Commerce, CA · 100,000 sq ft · 4,000 pallet positions · 1 month · finished 2 weeks early
Drive-In and Selective Racking for Beverage Distributor
Drive-in and selective pallet rack project for a beverage distributor in Commerce, CA, expanding a 100,000 sq ft distribution center for a new product line. Hammerhead supplied a new structural racking system, relocated and upgraded the existing drive-in racking to meet code for heavier loads, and added another elevation, wrapping up two weeks ahead of schedule.
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Food and beverage operations can't afford to get storage wrong. FIFO compliance, temperature zones, fire code, health department access: it all has to work together from day one. That's why we start every project by understanding the product flow, not just the pallet count.
Jeff Andrews
CEO, Hammerhead Warehouse Systems
Related Industries
Working on a Food or Beverage Storage Project?
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