How to Get Ungated for Amazon Grocery

In this article we'll walk through the steps to ungated to sell food and other grocery products on Amazon along with listing requirements when selling.

Why Sell Grocery Products on Amazon?

When it comes to selling on Amazon, most new sellers gravitate toward popular categories like Home & Kitchen, Sports & Outdoors, or Toys & Games. While these can be profitable, they’re also highly competitive.

One often-overlooked category is Grocery & Gourmet Foods. According to recent consumer trend reports, shoppers are purchasing and spending more on grocery items—making this category a rising star with plenty of untapped potential.

Getting Ungated: Steps and Requirements

Typically, grocery is not a category requiring approval to sell in, except for certain sub-categories. However, for new sellers, the Grocery & Gourmet Foods category may be restricted at first. If so, you’ll need to be approved—or ungated—by Amazon. Some sellers with older accounts and great metrics will be automatically approved. To check, copy any grocery ASIN, go to “Add a product” in Seller Central, and click “Request approval”.

If you aren’t auto-approved, you must submit an application with supporting documents. Here’s what Amazon usually asks for:

• At least one purchase invoice from a legitimate distributor (dated within 180 days)
• Your name and address matching your Amazon seller account
• Manufacturer or distributor details and proof of purchasing at least 10 units

You’ll also need photos of your items or their packaging. A popular wholesaler many sellers use is Frontier Co-Op Wholesale. After placing an order for 10 units, you’ll receive an invoice you can provide to Amazon.

Don’t worry if your first application is rejected…as is often the case with Amazon. Simply open a new case, attach the same documents (with highlights on important details), and resubmit. Persistence pays off in getting ungated.

Meeting Seller and Product Requirements

Once approved to sell groceries on Amazon, you must continue meeting Amazon’s performance targets:

• Order defect rate: < 1%
• Pre-fulfillment cancel rate: < 2.5%
• Late shipment rate: < 4%

Since you’re dealing with edible items, Amazon has strict product requirements, including proper packaging, valid expiration dates, and compliance with FDA and state-level regulations. For more details, see Amazon’s Grocery Product Requirements. Additionally, be aware of Amazon’s Meltable FBA Inventory Requirements . Meltable products like chocolate can only be stored in Amazon fulfillment centers during cooler months (October 16–April 14). Perishable items that require refrigeration must generally be fulfilled by merchant (FBM).

Methods and Strategies for Selling Grocery Items

After you’ve taken care of ungating and compliance, you can start building your grocery inventory. Three popular methods include:

1. Retail Arbitrage: Visit local retailers like Walmart, Target, or Walgreens to find limited or regional items. Seasonal candies (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s, etc.) are great to flip during high-demand periods.
2. Wholesale: Purchase in bulk from authorized distributors or directly from well-known brands. Look for product listings with multiple sellers—this often indicates a potential wholesale opportunity. Check out our wholesale guide for tips on landing accounts.
3. Private Label: Develop your own brand. This requires compliance with local and federal food guidelines. Private label can be lucrative if you identify untapped niches and maintain product quality.

If you prefer video-based learning, you can find helpful walkthroughs from experienced sellers, like Jasmine (“Jazz Hustles”), a 21-year-old Amazon seller who shares practical tips on grocery ungating, invoice handling, and more.

Optimizing Your Grocery Listings for Success

An optimized product listing makes all the difference in a competitive marketplace. Here are key tips:

• Accurate Claims: Dietary or allergen-free labels (e.g., organic, gluten-free) must be reflected on the actual product packaging.
• Utilize Backend Fields: Fill in “Advanced” listing details (e.g., nutritional facts, flavor variety) so your products appear in relevant filtered searches.
• Strong Keywords & Copy: Research high-traffic keywords and incorporate them into titles, bullet points, and product descriptions. You can use tools like Jungle Scout’s Listing Builder with AI Assist to streamline this process.
• Show Ingredient Details: Include clear photos of the nutrition facts label and ingredient list, so customers know exactly what they’re buying.

Remember: keep your inventory updated, monitor expiration dates, and follow Amazon’s shelf-life guidelines to avoid unsellable stock. Ready to Get Started? Grocery can be a profitable niche if you understand and comply with Amazon’s requirements. Whether you choose retail arbitrage, wholesale, or private label, the demand for pantry items continues to rise. If you have any questions or insights about selling groceries on Amazon, feel free to share them in the comments!