Walmart®’s Grocery Import Distribution Center Shipping & Pallet Label Requirements

Walmart’s 2022 guidelines and regulations saw changes to their Grocery Import Distribution Center (GIDC) shipping and pallet label requirements. GIDCs are a fundamental part of the supply chain for large, nation-wide retailers. Often set up in large transportation hub cities and near ports, these distribution centers ensure accurate and timely dispersion of goods.

In fact, Walmart recently invested in a new grocery import distribution center in Dorchester County, South Carolina. The proximity to the deep water Port of Charleston, the country’s eight largest port, has optimized transport and delivery for 850 regional Walmart locations in the Southeast alone.

Grocery Import Distribution Centers require large infrastructure and an impactful team of associates to facilitate the transport of said goods. To ensure smooth and timely transport and delivery, Walmart has very specific guidelines for shipping and pallet labels. These vary from Walmart’s general shipping and pallet label requirements and should be reviewed in detail.

• Pallets and Slip Sheets shipping to the GIDC are required to include a Pallet Placard.
• Pallet Placards are required on at least 2 adjacent sides of the pallet on the upper right side, preferably in between layers of stretch wrap.
• When placed on a slip sheet, the placards are required to be on the same side where the slip sheet flaps are located.
• Pallet Placard is required to face the door of the container it is loaded on.
• Placard size is required to be A4 (8.25” x 11.75”) with text as large as possible.

Required information includes:

• The item description from PO
• The quantity of cases on the pallet
• Best by date
• Walmart item number
• Selling Unit GTIN Barcode in UPC-A Format
• Item UPC Number from PO
• Pallet Ti Hi.

These protocols are similar to Walmart®’s general guidelines for pallet labeling which should also be reviewed in detail on our helpful blog post.

Walmart® Pallet Shipping Label Requirements

Suppliers are required to follow all industry/regulation marking standards as well as all Shipping and Routing documentation standards.

NOTE – Suppliers shipping to the GIDC are required to adhere to all general case markings, labeling, and quality standards.

For a comprehensive guide to all of Walmart®’s 2022 regulations, click here.