Fulfillment Center vs Distribution Center: What’s the Difference?

At Forte Frozen, we proudly offer cold storage and e-commerce fulfillment at each of our five locations. And, while many people may think that a fulfillment warehouse and a distribution center are the same thing (and some people even use these terms interchangeably), they actually both hold a different place within the supply chain, thus rendering them different entities all-together. But what exactly is the difference between a fulfillment center vs distribution center?

First, it’s important to note that fulfillment centers are not usually considered warehouses as well, but Forte Frozen breaks that stereotype by offering both temperature-controlled warehousing as well as e-commerce fulfillment services in our facilities. But, the purpose of our fulfillment centers within our locations is to receive, process, package, and ship out orders for e-commerce businesses. Fulfillment centers are known by many names including e-commerce fulfillment centers, order fulfillment centers, or third party logistic companies (3PLs). 

The biggest difference between a fulfillment center and a distribution center is that fulfillment warehouses are a place for online businesses to store their inventory. When a customer places an order on a website, the fulfillment center is notified, the correct products are picked by warehouse team members, and then they are packaged according to how the company wants their products to be packaged. From there, products are labeled for shipping and sent out to the customer. Did we mention that Forte Frozen’s locations have a 1-2 shipping reach across the United States? 

On the other hand, a distribution center is considered a waystation that is used for wholesale warehousing. Here, a larger truck may originally drop off the product from the manufacturer, and a smaller delivery vehicle may come to the distribution center to pick up the product and deliver it to a retailer. 

For those businesses that are looking for shipping direct to customers through your website, choosing a fulfillment center, such as one of the Forte Frozen locations, is your way to go. That’s because a fulfillment center offers direct-to-consumer shipping as well as other value-added services such as pick and pack, case-picking, boxing, re-packaging, inventory management, labeling, and more.

Have questions about how Forte Frozen can help your online business reach more customers in the United States? Visit our blog to learn more information or click here to contact us directly.