Grocery Distribution Pallets | GMA & Custom Supply

A food pallet is a wood pallet manufactured and handled to standards suitable for food and beverage distribution, typically GMA 48x40 stringer or wing construction. These pallets support inventory storage, warehouse handling, and shipping of packaged food and beverage products, and can be supplied new, used/recycled, or remanufactured depending on cleanliness and load requirements.

The standard grocery industry pallet size in the U.S. is 48 inches by 40 inches, known as the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) standard pallet. This size is compatible with most warehouse racking, trucking, and material handling systems used across food, beverage, and retail distribution networks nationwide.

Yes, custom pallet sizes are available beyond the standard 48x40 GMA footprint, including quarter and half sizes (20x24, 24x24, 24x40), 42x42, 44x44, 48x42, and 48x48 configurations. Custom builds can match specific product dimensions, load ratings, lumber grades, and construction types for specialized grocery and warehouse applications.

New pallets are built from fresh lumber for maximum strength and appearance. Used/recycled pallets are inspected and reused as-is, offering a lower-cost option for less demanding applications. Remanufactured pallets are rebuilt using a mix of repaired and new components to restore structural integrity while reducing cost compared to new units.

ISPM-15 heat treatment is only required for wood pallets shipping internationally, since it addresses phytosanitary requirements for wood packaging crossing borders. Domestic grocery distribution within the U.S. does not require ISPM-15 treatment, but it's available on request for exporters shipping food products or export-bound loads.

Standard GMA 48x40 stringer and wing pallets typically support dynamic loads suited to palletized food and beverage cases in warehouse and retail distribution, while heavier-duty stringer, block, and double-wing configurations can support higher loads, including 4,000+ lb dynamic capacity for automated handling and heavy-duty distribution center use.