Retail and wholesale distribution ships cases and pallets of your products to grocery chains, natural-channel distributors, specialty retailers and foodservice buyers, built to each buyer's requirements. We run it from the same inventory as your DTC orders.
EDI and retail order flow
Most retailers and large distributors transact by EDI. The core documents are the purchase order (850), the advance ship notice (856) and the invoice (810), with acknowledgments and others depending on the trading partner. We receive purchase orders, confirm them, ship to the requested window and transmit the ASN with carton and pallet detail.
Because DTC and retail share one inventory pool, a large PO does not require a separate warehouse or a manual transfer. Allocation rules make sure retail orders get the dating they require and that DTC stock is protected when a big order lands.
Routing guides, labels and chargeback prevention
Every retailer publishes a routing guide that covers carrier selection, appointment scheduling, pallet type and height, case labeling, GS1-128 shipping labels with SSCC numbers, and ASN timing. Missing any detail can trigger a compliance chargeback that is deducted from the payment.
We configure each trading partner's requirements before the first order ships, including label formats, carton marking and pallet configuration, and we keep a record of each shipment's build. When a chargeback does arrive, that record makes it possible to dispute deductions that were not earned.
Minimum shelf-life and lot rules by buyer
Retailers and distributors commonly require a minimum remaining shelf life at receipt, expressed either in days or as a share of total shelf life, and some prohibit mixing lots on a pallet or require a single date per case. Shipping product that fails these rules risks a rejected load.
We store each buyer's shelf-life and lot rules in their customer profile and allocate inventory against them automatically. If available stock cannot meet a buyer's requirement, you hear about it before the truck is booked, not after the DC refuses it.
Distributors, wholesale and foodservice
Not all wholesale is big-box retail. Natural and specialty food distributors, regional grocers, independent shops, cafes, corporate pantries and foodservice buyers order in cases or mixed pallets with their own receiving requirements.
We handle case-pick wholesale orders alongside full pallets, ship LTL or parcel depending on size, and support sell sheets, samples and demo kits for your sales team. Freight is booked to the buyer's terms, whether collect, prepaid or on the retailer's routing.
What's included
- EDI 850, 855, 856 and 810 support
- GS1-128 carton and pallet labels with SSCC
- Routing guide and appointment compliance
- Buyer-specific minimum shelf-life allocation
- Single-lot and single-date pallet builds
- Case-pick wholesale and mixed pallets
- Shipment records for chargeback disputes
Frequently asked questions
Do you support retail EDI?
Yes. We support common EDI documents including purchase orders, acknowledgments, advance ship notices and invoices, connected directly or through your EDI provider.
Can you meet a retailer's minimum shelf-life requirement?
Yes. Each buyer's minimum remaining shelf life is stored in their profile and inventory is allocated against it automatically, with an alert if stock cannot meet the requirement.
Can you ship to distributors as well as retailers?
Yes. We ship case-pick and pallet orders to natural and specialty distributors, regional grocers, independent retailers and foodservice buyers.
How do you reduce retail chargebacks?
By configuring each retailer's routing guide, label, ASN and pallet requirements before the first shipment and keeping a build record for every order to support disputes.