How to prepare a mixed-SKU pallet for a UK retailer
Get the retailer's written mixed-load instructions for the receiving depot. Agree how products are separated, map each carton to its pallet, and report the actual contents before delivery. Obtain written approval for departures before dispatch. Coordinate the factory packing checks with Cambridge China Bridge.
Confirm what the retailer permits
Ask for the current delivery instructions for the receiving depot and order type. Confirm whether permission covers different products on a pallet, different products inside a carton, or both. Ask about separation by product, purchase order, batch and destination, plus pallet labels and delivery notifications.
Turn those instructions into a packing brief shared with every factory and the consolidation warehouse. Record the instruction version and the retailer contact who resolves queries. Use our retailer pallet delivery guide for the broader delivery preparation.
Agree a visible segregation layout
Ask whether each product must occupy a separate layer, block or clearly divided area, and whether divider sheets or identifying labels are expected. Send a proposed layout showing product boundaries and carton access. Do not assume that permission to mix products also permits mixing batches or purchase orders.
Check whether the proposed arrangement supports the cartons without crushing weaker packs or leaving unsupported gaps. HSE guidance says loading should allow safe unloading. Discuss how the receiving team will separate the products without destabilising the remaining load. For pallet selection, see our wooden pallets and crates guide.
Map every carton to its pallet
Give each pallet and carton a distinct identifier in the retailer's accepted format. Maintain a mapping register that connects each carton to its pallet, product code, variant, batch where relevant, purchase order and contents quantity. Include its layer or block position if that helps the receiving team locate it.
Keep the mapping at carton level even when identical cartons are grouped in the contents summary. If cartons move between pallets during repacking, update the register and affected labels before release. Use our multi-product packing list guide for the shipment document.
| Record | What it should show | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|
| Carton mapping | Carton identifier, pallet identifier and actual contents | Physical carton and packing register |
| Pallet contents summary | Products, carton totals, unit totals and relevant batches | Carton mapping and pallet label |
| Delivery notification | Order references, pallet identifiers and reported quantities | Final packed load and retailer format |
| Exception approval | Affected load, agreed departure and approval scope | Final layout and dispatch documents |
Report the load that was actually packed
Prepare a contents summary for each pallet using the completed mapping register. Show product codes and variants, cartons and units by product, relevant batches and order references. Include measured pallet weight and dimensions where requested. Ask whether the retailer wants a document, portal submission or advance shipping notification, and when it must receive it.
Reconcile the contents report with the purchase order and packing list. Explain shortages, substitutions and split deliveries rather than reporting ordered quantities as shipped quantities. Check that identifiers on the wrapped pallet remain readable and match the submitted report.
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Approve exceptions before releasing the load
Send the authorised retailer contact the affected order, depot and pallet identifiers, the instruction you cannot meet, the proposed alternative, and a layout or photograph. Ask for written approval stating its scope and any conditions. Treat a booking confirmation or an unanswered request as insufficient evidence of an exception approval.
Hold affected pallets until the departure is approved or corrected. Keep the approval with the packing brief and delivery records, and pass it to the consolidation warehouse and haulier. Before dispatch, compare the finished load with the approved layout, mapping and contents report. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can coordinate these checks with the factories.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix products inside cartons on a mixed pallet?
Ask separately. Permission for mixed pallets does not establish permission for mixed cartons. Get the retailer's carton contents and identification instructions before packing.
What should a mixed-pallet contents report include?
Pallet identifiers, product codes and variants, carton and unit totals, relevant batches and order references. Add weight, dimensions and other fields requested by the receiving depot.
What if cartons move after I submit the pallet report?
Update the carton mapping, pallet summaries and affected labels. Ask how to amend the retailer's notification, and reconcile the revised report with the finished load before dispatch.
Who should approve a pallet packing exception?
The retailer contact authorised to approve delivery departures. Get written approval identifying the affected order, depot, pallets and conditions before releasing the load.