Food warehousing isn’t just another line item for businesses that handle perishables — it’s a promise that every shipment will arrive fresh and safe. A spoiled pallet of vegetables or thawed meat can mean financial losses and health risks for consumers.
At Wills Transfer, we see these stakes every day. Our warehouses house dry goods and refrigerated produce and products for clients across Canada. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience and current research, we’ve identified five practical steps that any business can take to make their food warehouse safer and more efficient. By embracing these tips, you’ll protect your inventory and provide the reliability your partners expect.
1. Understand Temperature and Humidity Requirements
Every food item has its own comfort zone. Fresh produce and dairy thrive in cool (33 °F–39 °F) conditions, and shelf-stable products prefer a dry 50 °F–70 °F environment with humidity below 15 %. Slip outside these ranges and you risk spoilage.
Climate control doesn’t end with setting thermostats. Ventilation prevents temperature pockets and disperses ethylene. Avoiding light exposure protects sensitive foods. Real-time monitors catch deviations quickly, and some operators even use naturally cool underground spaces to save energy.
At Wills Transfer we divide our warehouses into dry, and refrigerated zones and calibrate our sensors regularly. Redundancies in our cooling systems mean that even during a power outage our clients’ goods remain safe. Understanding and respecting these environmental parameters is the first step toward preserving quality and trust.
2. Prioritize Inventory Management and Rotation
Even with a perfectly controlled environment, time is the enemy. Many warehouses rely on the familiar “first in, first out” method, but shipments often arrive with varying expiration dates. A better practice is “first expired, first out” (FEFO), which dispatches the oldest lot first regardless of when it arrived. Labels with arrival and expiry dates and a tracking system make this process smooth and transparent.
Logical organization also matters. Group products by type and temperature requirement and keep high-turnover items near doors for quick loading. Accurate records help avoid costly overstocking. Even a basic logbook can serve small operations well, while larger facilities benefit from software that provides real-time visibility and automatic alerts when stock is near expiry.
At Wills Transfer our inventory system combines barcodes and analytics so we can suggest promotions for slow-moving goods before they expire. Even without high-end software, adopting FEFO and keeping good records will keep goods flowing.
3. Invest in Sanitation, Pest Control and Hygiene
Cleanliness isn’t optional in food warehousing. Spills create mould, pests chew through packaging and improper hygiene spreads bacteria. High humidity weakens cardboard and can cause pallets to collapse, so floors, walls and shelving must be made of non-porous, easy-to-clean materials.
Effective sanitation programmes involve scheduled cleaning and immediate attention to spills. Pest control goes hand in hand: sealing gaps and using bait stations prevents rodents and insects from reaching your goods. Warehouse teams need ongoing education on personal hygiene, crisis management and allergen awareness.
At Wills Transfer, sanitation follows HACCP protocols and we track cleaning tasks digitally. Continuous training ensures staff understand why these routines exist. A clean warehouse doesn’t just look professional; it reduces contamination risk and keeps your staff and clients safe.
4. Use Food-Grade Containers and Facilities
Packing materials and infrastructure play a big role in food safety. Containers should be designed for food contact and suited to the temperature — glass, plastic or metal for jars and bins, and heavy-duty wraps for pallets. Clear labelling helps staff quickly identify contents and expiry dates. Pallets and racking must keep goods off the ground and allow air to circulate.
For a warehouse to be considered food-grade, the building itself needs special features. Surfaces must be non-toxic and easy to clean, ventilation must keep air moving to prevent mould and odours, and raw ingredients must be stored separately from ready-to-eat products to avoid cross-contamination. Allergen control measures and routine inspections are also part of the package.
At Wills Transfer, our refrigerated and cold warehouse rooms have insulated walls and backup generators, and our dry warehouse areas meet SQF specifications. Regular inspections ensure every pallet sits in a safe, compliant environment.
5. Leverage Technology and Professional Partnerships
Modern tools can transform warehouse operations. Automation — from conveyors to palletizing robots — reduces manual handling and offers real-time data on stock levels. Software tracks product movements, temperature readings, cleaning schedules and maintenance logs, creating a clear audit trail.
Not every business needs high-end robotics to see benefits. Small operations can install simple sensors that send alerts when a freezer warms up or a cooler gets too cold, or adopt basic inventory programmes to forecast demand. When budgets are tight, working with a professional warehousing partner provides access to advanced facilities and regulatory expertise without the upfront investment.
Wills Transfer embraces both technology and partnership. Our clients gain access to real-time dashboards, and our teams manage receiving, storage and dispatch so goods arrive on time and in good condition. Outsourcing warehousing frees up your internal resources while ensuring compliance and efficiency.
Choose Wills Transfer for Food Warehousing Solutions
Safe warehousing isn’t just about compliance; it’s about protecting your brand. By understanding environmental requirements, adopting FEFO rotation, keeping your facility spotless, using food-grade infrastructure and embracing smart technology, you reduce waste and keep customers happy. These aren’t abstract ideals — they’re day-to-day practices at Wills Transfer.
Whether you need dry storage for packaged goods, or refrigerated storage, we’re ready to help. Reach out to Wills Transfer today at 1 613 283 0225, email us at sales@willstransfer.com or click here to contact us today.