Fulfillment for beverage brands
Darwynn fulfills online store, Amazon, Costco and retail orders for more than 60 beverage brands across Canada and the USA. Every case is bubble-wrapped, packed tight in its box and marked fragile, and in winter, dedicated carrier setups keep orders from freezing on the way.
How a 12-pack is packed
- 1Case of 12 cans
- 2Bubble wrap
- 3Boxed, every gap filled
- 4Sealed and taped
- 5FRAGILE sticker
- 6Shipping label on top
What beverage brands need from a 3PL
Beverages are heavy, breakable and expensive to ship, they carry best-before dates, and in a Canadian winter they can freeze on the way. Darwynn has made beverage a specialty around those four problems.
Darwynn WMSItemSparkling water, 355 ml can, 12-pack
- Picking rule
- Earliest best-before first
- Winter shipping
- Carrier setup on
Lots
Stock by location
- Packed to arrive intactEvery case is wrapped in bubble wrap, packed in a box with every gap filled, sealed, marked FRAGILE and labelled on top. Liquids and glass are flagged at receiving and at packing, glass is never stored with heavy items, and during onboarding the team writes packing procedures around the brand's own bottles and cases.
- Protected from the coldIn winter, dedicated metrics and carrier setups keep beverage orders from freezing in transit. Stock held in the east and the west keeps the time on the truck short.
- Dates and lots under controlThe lot, best-before date and receiving date of every unit are recorded. Stock ships by earliest best-before date, and every lot stays traceable if a retailer asks.
- Shipping cost kept in checkBeverages are heavy, so every parcel is rate-shopped across more than 24 carriers. Darwynn's competitive shipping rates can make Amazon FBM noticeably more profitable for a beverage brand.
East and west, one inventory
Most beverage brands ship from two Darwynn locations, one in the east and one in the west, which cuts shipping cost, transit time and damage. Both draw on one inventory in Darwynn OMS, and there is no extra fee to use more Darwynn locations in Canada and the USA.
- 60+
- beverage brands fulfilled by Darwynn
- 2
- locations most beverage brands ship from, one east and one west
- 24+
- parcel carriers rate-shopped on every order
- 150+
- LTL and FTL carriers for retail and distributor freight
Every channel a beverage brand sells through
Direct-to-consumer, marketplace and retail orders draw on the same stock, so a brand can add a channel without moving inventory or changing 3PLs.
- Online storeShopify and WooCommerce orders picked, packed and shipped from the location closest to the customer, with tracking by text.Fulfillment and warehousing
- AmazonFBA prep usually within two business days, and FBM orders shipped the next day from the same inventory.Amazon FBA and FBM
- CostcoDarwynn is a Costco vendor of record, builds variety packs to the agreed assortment and ships Costco.ca and Costco.com orders.Costco
- Grocery and retailCase and pallet orders prepared to each retailer's requirements, with EDI through SPS Commerce, for retailers such as Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro and Whole Foods.Wholesale and retail distribution
- DistributorsLTL and FTL freight booked through Darwynn Dispatch, including the delivery appointment the receiving dock asks for.Freight: LTL and FTL
- Variety packs and gift setsBundles, variety packs and seasonal sets assembled in advance or as orders arrive, and the brand can approve a sample first.Kitting and customization
Beverage fulfillment questions
Does Darwynn fulfill beverage orders in Canada and the USA?
Yes. Darwynn fulfills online store, Amazon, Costco and retail orders for more than 60 beverage brands from more than 15 locations across Canada and the USA.
How does Darwynn keep beverages from freezing in winter?
Dedicated metrics and carrier setups are used in winter so orders do not freeze in transit. Brands that stock locations in the east and the west also keep transit times short.
How are glass bottles and cans packed?
Liquids and glass are flagged at receiving and at packing, glass is never stored with heavy items, and packing procedures are written around the brand's own packaging during onboarding. Darwynn WMS suggests the smallest of 24 box and mailer sizes for each order.
Does Darwynn track best-before dates and lots?
Yes. Darwynn records the lot, best-before date and receiving date of every unit, ships by earliest best-before date and keeps every lot traceable.
Can Darwynn build beverage variety packs?
Yes. Darwynn builds variety packs and bundles to the agreed assortment and pack configuration, applies labels, re-barcodes products and prepares case packs, either in advance or as orders arrive.
Does Darwynn ship pallets to grocery retailers and distributors?
Yes. Case and pallet orders are prepared to each retailer's requirements, with EDI through SPS Commerce, and ship by LTL or full truckload through Darwynn Dispatch.
A fulfillment plan for each beverage brand
Send the brand's products, order volume and channels, and Darwynn's sales team replies within 24 hours.