Sector · Food and drink distribution
Pallets for food and drink distribution in Southampton and Hampshire
From wholesalers and importers near the docks to producers, bakeries, brewers and catering suppliers across Hampshire, food and drink businesses have tighter pallet standards than most — and get through more pallets than most.
How the pallet side of this work behaves
The pallet is part of the handling environment, so condition matters. Splintered boards, protruding nails, contamination and damp stock all cause problems in a food operation, and your own customers may reject a delivery on the pallet alone. For that reason we steer food and drink work towards cleaner used grades, new timber pallets or plastic pallets rather than whatever is cheapest on the yard.
Plastic pallets earn their cost in this sector: they wash down, they do not absorb liquid, they stay dimensionally consistent for automated and racked handling, and they last through repeated closed-loop movements. Where pallets go out and never come back, a clean used or new timber pallet is usually the sensible choice.
Volume also tends to be predictable, which suits a standing weekly or monthly supply plus a recurring collection for empties and damaged stock. Tell us the quantities and we will plan around them.
What these sites ask for
Clean, sound pallets
Cleaner used grades or new timber where the pallet sits alongside food and drink goods.
Washable plastic for closed loops
Plastic pallets where hygiene, washdown and repeat handling matter more than unit cost.
Dimensional consistency
Consistent sizes for racking, conveyors and automated handling.
Predictable recurring supply
Standing weekly or monthly quantities, with empties collected on the same rhythm.
Where to go next
- Used pallets
Graded used wooden pallets in UK Standard and Euro sizes.
- New pallets
New timber pallets where consistency and strength matter.
- Plastic pallets
Washable, dimensionally consistent pallets for repeat handling.
- Bespoke pallets
Made-to-order sizes for awkward or oversized products.
- Buy or sell
We buy suitable reusable surplus, subject to type and volume.
- Collection & recycling
One-off clearances and recurring collection rounds.
- Areas we cover
Southampton, the Waterside and the wider Hampshire area.
- Request a quote
Send your pallet type, quantity and postcode for a straight answer.
Food and drink distribution: common questions
- Are used pallets acceptable for food and drink handling?
- It depends on your own standards and those of your customers. Cleaner used grades are widely used for outer packaging and secondary handling; where hygiene requirements are tighter, new timber or plastic pallets are the better answer. Tell us the environment and we will advise honestly.
- Can you supply plastic pallets and collect the timber ones we are replacing?
- Yes, that is a common combined job. We will quote the plastic supply and look at buying or clearing the timber stock you are moving away from.
Call 023 8017 1049 during Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, or send the details through the quote form.
Supplying food and drink distribution in Southampton
Tell us the pallet type, size, quantity and your Southampton or Hampshire postcode, and we will come back with a straight answer on what we can supply or collect.