Re-labelling for UK retail means applying or replacing product and pallet labels so a consignment meets the receiving standard of a British retailer or Amazon: a readable GS1 barcode on each unit, an SSCC label on each pallet, and an FNSKU label on each item bound for Amazon. In our Milton Keynes warehouse we print and apply these before delivery, so goods are booked in without a rejection.
Why a UK retailer refuses a delivery over a label
UK grocery and general-merchandise chains book goods in by scanning, not by reading. If the barcode does not scan, the number does not match the purchase order, the pallet has no SSCC or the label is in the wrong place, the receiving bay stops the delivery. A rejected consignment goes back on the truck, misses its delivery slot and, with many retailers, triggers a fine or a charge-back. The label is not paperwork, it is the key that opens the goods-in door.
What we re-label and how
| Level | Label | What it carries |
|---|---|---|
| Each selling unit | GS1 retail barcode (GTIN) | the number the till and goods-in scan |
| Each carton or case | case barcode, sometimes GS1-128 | trade item, quantity, batch, best-before |
| Each pallet | SSCC pallet label | a unique 18-digit code per logistics unit |
| Each Amazon item | FNSKU label | the item identity inside Amazon fulfilment |
We over-label (a clean new label placed over the old one so nothing shows through), fully replace labels, or apply a first label to unlabelled stock. We check that the barcode scans, that the number matches the order and that the label sits where the retailer expects it. This sits alongside the wider set of value-added services described in our article on the Milton Keynes warehouse and value-added services.
Amazon FBA: FNSKU and prep before the fulfilment centre
Goods going into Amazon FBA need an FNSKU label on every unit and prep that follows Amazon's receiving rules: poly-bagging, bundling, expiry-date formatting and box content readiness. Send stock in without it and Amazon can refuse the shipment or charge a per-unit prep fee. We apply FNSKU labels and prep the consignment in the warehouse first, which we cover in detail in the article on Amazon FBA deliveries to the UK.
When goods arrive already wrong
Common cases we fix on arrival: labels in the language of the origin country, missing UK importer details, a GTIN that does not match the UK purchase order, a pallet with no SSCC, or damaged and unscannable barcodes. Rather than send the consignment back across the Channel to be corrected at origin, we correct it on site in the United Kingdom and release it to the retailer. When a carton itself is breached and the contents need repacking, that runs together with re-labelling, as described in our article on repacking in the UK warehouse.
Why label in the UK, not back at origin
Labelling stock in the destination market keeps the delivery window. The trailer reaches the warehouse, we re-label and re-pallet where needed, and the goods move on to the store, the distribution centre or the fulfilment centre as a clean, bookable delivery. Sending a mis-labelled consignment back to origin loses two crossings and several days, and usually the slot with it.
What we need from you
To re-label correctly we need the retailer or Amazon specification (label type, placement, data fields), the correct GTIN or FNSKU per item, and the purchase order the goods will be booked against. If you hold a GS1 company prefix, the GTIN and SSCC numbering flows from it; if not, GS1 assigns the prefix, not us. We print and apply, we do not invent numbers.
Where we do it
We re-label and barcode goods in our Milton Keynes warehouse between London and Birmingham, within our warehousing and cargo handling services. The central location means the trailer barely diverts and the retailer or fulfilment centre gets a compliant delivery on time.
Sources
- GS1: Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), the number behind the retail barcode
- GS1: Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) for logistics units
Has a UK retailer or Amazon flagged your labels, or do you want to pre-empt it? Describe the consignment in the contact form and we will re-label, barcode and prep the goods in the warehouse so they are booked in without a rejection.
