Exploring the Advantages of Food-Grade Warehousing in Calgary

Food warehousing in Calgary faces stringent regulations to ensure safety and quality. In Canada, the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and its regulations are the main legislation governing food warehousing. The SFCA consolidates 14 existing laws into a single framework and sets out new requirements for food businesses, including warehouses.

The Canadian government enforces these strict measures to protect consumer health, requiring adherence to meticulous standards for storage, handling, and transportation, and this high level of oversight means that having access to top-notch warehousing, packing, and transportation is vital for businesses aiming to comply with these regulations.

But beyond meeting SFCA regulations, working with a food-grade warehouse can provide additional competitive advantages for your business.

Keeping Your Products Safe in Storage

Short or long-term storage of food-grade products is much more complex than retail goods, and food-grade warehouses must adhere to rigorous sanitation practices to prevent contamination and spoilage. Some examples of this include proper storage conditions—such as temperature control coolers, to ensure the freshness and longevity of food products.

Beyond temperature-controlled storage capacity, specialized facilities often have pest control measures and regular inspections to uphold safety standards. These features reduce the risk of food spoilage or contamination, delivering peace of mind for food manufacturers.

Safe and Sanitary Packing Measures

Efficient packing protocols are another key advantage offered by food-grade warehousing.

Safe packing starts with thoroughly trained staff who understand the importance of hygiene and proper handling techniques. Their education should be formed through regular training sessions that ensure everyone is up-to-date with the latest guidelines and best practices.

All employees must wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves, masks, and hairnets, to minimize contamination risks when working on a fulfillment line.

Before packing begins, surfaces and equipment undergo rigorous cleaning using food-safe sanitizers to eliminate potential contaminants. During packaging, quality control checks are performed at multiple stages to confirm that packaging materials are defect-free.

In some cases, warehousing staff will utilize ultraviolet (UV) sterilization units to disinfect both products and packaging materials before they leave the facility.

Transportation: Seamless Delivery Solutions

Transportation is a critical component of the food supply chain and partnering with a food-grade third-party logistics (3PL) provider offers numerous advantages.

One key advantage of working with a food-grade 3PL partner is access to specialized refrigerated transportation. Most food-grade 3PL companies possess reefer trucks equipped with temperature control units to maintain optimal conditions for different types of food products during transit.

Another benefit is the 3PL’s compliance with stringent Canadian food safety regulations. These providers are well-versed in guidelines issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and SFCA, ensuring all processes—from loading to delivery—meet national standards.

By meeting strict regulatory requirements head-on with advanced practices in storage, packing, and transportation, food-grade warehouses in Calgary offer unmatched reliability and efficiency, and leveraging these advantages can significantly elevate your business operations in terms of compliance and operational excellence.

The Pacific Coast Distribution Calgary Warehouse is a state of facility providing full-service transportation and warehouse storage services to manufacturers across Canada and the US.

Our asset-based freight transportation, industry knowledge, and strategic location can vastly improve your supply chain and distribution services.