Logistics
The best food fulfilment companies in the UK record every batch and best-before date at goods-in, pick by date and can trace a lot to the orders that received it. We compared seven providers, Bigblue, Fodafilment, Vdepot, Elovate, Finishing Line, 3PLUK and Scale 3PL, on five criteria: lots and best-before dates, storage temperature, organic certification, food registration, and retail alongside D2C. Profiles draw on the providers' websites, Companies House and GOV.UK, all checked in November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Lots and best-before dates. Choose a 3PL that records the batch and best-before date at goods-in and picks the shortest-dated stock first (FEFO), so that a lot can be traced to the orders that received it.
- Storage temperature. Check the range first: some providers store ambient stock only, others offer chilled or frozen space.
- Organic certification. If you sell organic products, ask which body certifies the site that will hold your stock, and ask to see the certificate.
- Food registration. Ask your local authority how a warehouse holding your food is covered, as GOV.UK says each site must be registered.
- Retail and D2C. Choose a provider that ships parcels and retailer orders from the same stock, so that best-before dates are managed once.
Comparison at a glance
| Provider | Base | Lots and best-before dates | Temperature | Organic and food registration | Retail and D2C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigblue | 12 warehouses across 5 countries (France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany) | Lot read at goods-in, lot blocking, picking by expiry date (FEFO), alerts on expiring lots | Ambient products | Organic: ask for the certificate of the site that will hold your stock | Retail and D2C orders from one stock |
| Fodafilment | Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire | Batch, lot and expiry captured at goods-in, FEFO picking, lot history per order | Ambient and chilled zones | "Organic Certified" on its site, certifier not named | D2C, subscriptions, Amazon, retail and wholesale pallets |
| Vdepot | Norwich, Norfolk | Best-before logging, date rotation and batch control | Ambient, chilled and frozen (in a unit you supply) | Tells its local authority that its premises extend your food business | B2B and B2C orders, wholesale orders, hamper assembly |
| Elovate | Registered office in York; sites not listed on its food page | Batch control, FIFO and FEFO rotation | Ambient food storage | Soil Association certification; premises inspected by a local authority food safety officer | Hampers, subscription clubs, Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify |
| Finishing Line | Basildon, Essex | Tenevo software tracks batch numbers and expiry dates | Dry and temperature-controlled products | States a 5-star hygiene rating and organic handling, certifier not named | Ecommerce fulfilment and subscription boxes |
| 3PLUK | Oswestry, Shropshire, with an EU hub in the Netherlands | Best-before dates recorded, with alerts; traces which order received which lot | Not stated on its food page | Facilities certified organic, after working with the Soil Association | D2C parcels with same-day dispatch |
| Scale 3PL | Thame, Oxfordshire, and Rotterdam | Every batch booked in with its best-before date, shortest-dated stock picked first | Ambient storage only | Rotterdam site: FSSC 22000, Skal organic, NVWA registered | D2C parcels and retail pallets from the same stock |
Does the warehouse that stores your food need to be registered?
GOV.UK guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland lists storing and distributing food among the activities that need registration with the local authority, and says each site must be registered with the authority where it stands (GOV.UK, food business registration). Ask your local authority how a warehouse holding your stock is covered before you move it.
Vdepot says it tells its own local authority that its premises extend its clients' food businesses.
Which five questions decide your shortlist?
- How is the lot recorded at goods-in? Ask whether the batch number and best-before date are captured automatically on arrival or keyed in by hand.
- Can a lot be blocked in stock? Stock under investigation must not ship, so ask how quickly a lot can be put on hold.
- Does picking follow the best-before date? Ask whether the shortest-dated stock leaves first (FEFO) and whether you get an alert before a lot expires. Our comparison for UK supplement brands covers the same logic.
- Can you list the orders that received a given lot? Ask for an export with the lot code and expiry date on every order line.
- Do retail and D2C orders ship from one stock? Ask whether parcels and retailer orders draw on the same inventory, with the date rules applied to both.
The best food fulfilment companies in the UK, compared
Bigblue ranks first for ambient food brands that sell online and to retailers in the UK and the EU. It reads each lot number at goods-in, picks by expiry date and gives the lot code on each line of its order export. The six other providers follow, each with its strengths, a point to confirm and the brands it suits.
1. Bigblue
Bigblue is a European 3PL for omnichannel fulfilment, shipping and returns, with 12 warehouses across 5 countries (France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany). More than 600 brands ship 24 million parcels a year with Bigblue.
Strengths
- Lots and dates. Lot number read by visual recognition at goods-in, lot blocking for quality control, FEFO picking with alerts on lots about to expire.
- Lot traced to orders. The order export gives the lot code and expiry date of each line, and Atlas (Warehouse Management System) delivery notes, B2B included, carry a Lot column for lot-tracked products.
- Retail and D2C from one stock. More than half of Bigblue's customers run B2B and B2C on the same platform, with stock allocated by channel and retailer-specific instruction templates for B2B picking.
- Gift boxes. Bundles and kitting for sets and gift boxes, with branded packaging, samples and flyers printed in the warehouse.
- Delivery. Next-day delivery in the UK, where Bigblue's carrier offer reaches 98% at the first attempt, and EU orders that can ship from warehouses inside the EU.
- Accuracy and peaks. 99.8% picking accuracy in Atlas (Warehouse Management System), and extra shifts on demand at peak.
To confirm. Your carton sizes against the UK limit of 20 kg and 61 × 46 × 46 cm per parcel, if you ship cases rather than single packs.
Best for. Ambient food brands, such as snacks, coffee, tea and groceries, that sell online and to retailers in the UK and the EU.
Company record. Founded in 2018, profitable since the end of 2024 and a member of the Shopify Fulfillment Network, announced in August 2025.
2. Fodafilment
According to its website, Fodafilment is a service of FodaBox Limited, based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, with a dedicated food and drink page.
Strengths
- Batch and expiry captured at goods-in and enforced at picking with FEFO logic, with the lot history of each order kept.
- Ambient and chilled zones, temperature-monitored around the clock, according to its chilled storage page.
- Snack packs, drinks boxes, recurring orders and promotional kits handled through defined workflows.
- D2C, subscriptions, Amazon, retail and wholesale, with pallet, case and mixed-line dispatch.
To confirm. Which body certifies the "Organic Certified" badge on its site, and how a lot is blocked in stock.
Best for. Food and drink brands that need chilled space alongside ambient stock, subscription boxes and retail dispatch.
Company record. FodaBox Limited (07591686) was incorporated in 2011 and is active at Companies House, with accounts filed to 31 March 2025.
3. Vdepot
According to its website, Vdepot runs two sites on the outskirts of Norwich, Norfolk, and its main fulfilment centre is part of Norfolk's Food Enterprise Park.
Strengths
- Best-before logging, date rotation and batch control, with inventory visible in real time in its own software.
- Ambient, chilled and frozen orders; for temperature-controlled stock, the brand supplies a fridge or freezer unit that Vdepot stores and runs.
- It tells its local authority that its premises extend your food business and liaises on inspections and spot checks.
- B2B and B2C orders, wholesale orders, hamper assembly, glass jar packing and Amazon FBA preparation.
To confirm. Whether picking follows best-before dates, as its page names date rotation rather than FEFO, and how a lot is blocked in stock.
Best for. Ambitious food brands, including chilled and frozen ranges, that want hamper assembly and help with local authority inspections.
Company record. Vdepot Limited (04340689), formerly Vdepot.net Limited, was incorporated in 2001 and is active at Companies House, with accounts filed to 30 June 2025.
4. Elovate
According to its website, Elovate specialises in ambient food storage and fulfilment, and its food page targets hampers, gifting and subscription clubs.
Strengths
- Batch control with FIFO and FEFO stock rotation, and regular third-party audits, according to its food page.
- Soil Association certification for organic goods, ISO 9001, and premises inspected by a local authority food safety officer, according to its accreditations page.
- Customised packaging for gifting, hampers and snack boxes.
- Integrations with Amazon (Prime, FBA, FBM and FBS), TikTok Shop and Shopify.
To confirm. Which site would hold your stock, as its food page lists none, and how a lot is blocked in stock.
Best for. Ambient food brands selling gift hampers and subscription boxes.
Company record. Elovate Group Limited (12048420), named MFS Groupco Limited in the privacy policy of the Elovate site, is a holding company incorporated in 2019 and active at Companies House; the privacy policy of the Elovate site lists four trading subsidiaries.
5. Finishing Line
According to its website, The Finishing Line has a Basildon, Essex address and a food and drink page within its ecommerce fulfilment services.
Strengths
- Tenevo, its in-house warehouse management system, tracks batch numbers and expiry dates, with automated alerts.
- Dry and temperature-controlled products, from snacks and coffee beans to organic foods.
- A 5-star hygiene rating for its facilities, according to its food page.
- Same-day dispatch with live tracking, subscription boxes and Amazon preparation.
To confirm. Which body certifies its organic handling, and how a lot is blocked in stock.
Best for. Ecommerce food and drink brands, including coffee and snack brands, that want a provider running its own warehouse software.
Company record. The Finishing Line Ltd (02120683) was incorporated in 1987 and is active at Companies House, with accounts filed to 31 March 2026.
6. 3PLUK
According to its website, 3PLUK is based in Oswestry, Shropshire, with an EU hub in the Netherlands since 2021, and has a food and drink page.
Strengths
- Best-before dates recorded in its 3plukCORE management system, with alerts on products approaching them.
- Traceability in a recall: it says it can tell you which order received which batch or lot number.
- Facilities certified organic, after working with the Soil Association for a number of years.
- Same-day dispatch, order tracking, branded packaging and plastic-free packaging.
To confirm. Whether picking follows best-before dates, as its page names alerts rather than FEFO, and which storage temperatures it offers.
Best for. Organic food brands that want alerts on short-dated stock and an EU hub.
Company record. 4PLUK Limited (08401992), which trades as 3PLUK, was incorporated in 2013 and is active at Companies House, with accounts filed to 31 March 2026.
7. Scale 3PL
According to its website, Scale 3PL is run by the founders of the food brand Snaffling Pig, from Thame, Oxfordshire, with a second warehouse at the Port of Rotterdam.
Strengths
- Every batch booked in with its best-before date, and pickers sent to the shortest-dated stock first.
- Ambient storage only: it does not take chilled or frozen products.
- Rotterdam warehouse certified FSSC 22000 and Skal organic, and registered with the NVWA.
- Pallets and cases to retailers alongside D2C parcels; its Dr. Will's case study describes supermarket and Shopify orders from the same stock.
- It says it works best with brands shipping 300 or more orders a month.
To confirm. Which certifications cover the Thame site, as the food certifications on its page belong to Rotterdam, and how a lot is blocked in stock.
Best for. Ambient food brands that want UK and EU stock in one account and supermarket-ready orders.
Company record. Startup Logistics Limited (12555709), which trades as Scale 3PL, was incorporated in 2020 and is active at Companies House, with accounts filed to 30 April 2026.
What to ask for before you sign
- Written answers to the five questions, based on your SKU list with best-before periods and carton sizes, packaging included.
- A lot block test before go-live. Give the provider a real lot number and ask it to block that lot in stock.
- The organic certificate, if you sell organic products. Ask for the certifying body and the site the certificate covers.
- The plan for Black Friday (27 November 2026) and Christmas, including extra shifts on demand; our peak season guide covers the planning.
Turn logistics into a retention lever
Run your D2C and B2B logistics with Bigblue, the commerce operations platform powering Europe's most ambitious brands.
Discover BigblueFrequently asked questions
What is the best 3PL for food brands in the UK?
For ambient food shipped as parcels and as retailer orders, the evidence points to Bigblue. It reads each lot number at goods-in, can block a lot in stock, picks by expiry date and gives the lot code on each line of its order export.
If your range needs chilled or frozen space, compare Fodafilment and Vdepot, which both describe it, and ask Finishing Line what its temperature-controlled range covers. For organic brands, 3PLUK and Elovate each cite Soil Association certification.
What is food fulfilment?
It is the outsourcing of storage, picking, packing and dispatch for a food brand, to consumers, retailers and marketplaces. Beyond pick and pack, it covers batch and best-before tracking, stock rotation by date, gift box assembly and the ability to block a lot during a recall.
Do food brands need batch and best-before tracking?
In practice, yes. A food business that believes food is unsafe must withdraw or recall it at once and tell its local authority, and tell the Food Standards Agency if the food has reached consumers; it must also be able to identify its suppliers and food business customers (GOV.UK, food incidents, product withdrawals and recalls). That is only practical if every batch is recorded at goods-in and linked to the orders it fed.
Can a 3PL handle a food recall?
Yes, if it can block the lot in stock and list the orders that received it. Test it before go-live on a real lot number, and agree who notifies customers and the authorities.
Can a 3PL store chilled or frozen food?
Some can. Fodafilment describes chilled zones, and Vdepot stores and runs a fridge or freezer unit that the brand supplies, while Scale 3PL says it offers ambient storage only.
Bigblue fulfils ambient food, so check your range before you compare anything else.
Can a 3PL create food gift boxes and hampers?
Yes. Vdepot, Elovate and Scale 3PL describe hamper or gift box assembly. Bigblue offers bundles and kitting for tasting sets and gift boxes of ambient products, with branded packaging and personalisation rules for first orders, VIP customers or birthdays.
Can a 3PL ship cases of food as parcels?
Yes, within the carrier limits. Bigblue's UK standard and express offers accept parcels up to 20 kg and 61 × 46 × 46 cm (standard and express in the Bigblue help centre). Heavier cases need pallet delivery from a provider that ships pallets.
Can food brands sell to retailers and consumers from one stock?
Yes, and it is worth asking every provider. Bigblue allocates one inventory by channel, and its Atlas (Warehouse Management System) delivery notes for B2B orders show the lot of each tracked product. Fodafilment and Scale 3PL also describe retail and D2C from the same operation.
How much does food fulfilment cost?
It depends on your volumes, the size of your cartons and the services you need. Compare quotes on the same basis, using your real volumes and carton dimensions: per order, per storage location, per kit and for packaging materials.
Sources
- GOV.UK, food business registration
- GOV.UK, food incidents, product withdrawals and recalls
- Companies House, FodaBox Limited
- Companies House, Vdepot Limited
- Companies House, Elovate Group Limited
- Companies House, The Finishing Line Ltd
- Companies House, 4PLUK Limited
- Companies House, Startup Logistics Limited
- Bigblue help centre, standard delivery for the UK
.webp)
