A barcode compliance charge means a case reached a KeHE distribution center and the receiving system could not read it. The rules that most often produce an unscannable case are placement, size, quiet zone and ink color.
What are KeHE's barcode compliance requirements?
From the KeHE Inbound Routing Guide & Product Handling Requirements, Version 16, July 1, 2026:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Format | Scannable ITF-14 case Global Trade Item Number or scannable GS1-128 on every pack case holding multiple selling units |
| Sides | Minimum of two, one of them the longest side |
| Size | At least 3 inches long by three-quarters of an inch high |
| Placement | At least three-quarters of an inch from the edge of the case wall, 1.25 inches from the bottom |
| Quiet zone | At least 0.25 inches of white space to the left and right |
| Ink | Black recommended. Red, blue, brown and shades of purple are prohibited |
| Item level | Scannable 12-digit universal product code |
| Date code | Human-readable, MM/DD/YY |
| Preferred format | GS1-128 encoding the Global Trade Item Number 14, expiration date and lot code |
| Food Traceability List | Products on the list must carry GS1-128 |
| One barcode per case | Multiple flavor descriptions, and multiple unique barcodes, are not allowed on one case |
| Barrier bars | Required on all 14-digit Global Trade Item Numbers |
| Pallet label | Upper right-hand corner of the front and back of the pallet |
Which barcode a unit needs depends on what the unit is. KeHE's own table, Attachment 4, page 17, reproduced in its wording.
TYPES OF PRODUCTS KEHE DISTRIBUTES
| UNIT | DESCRIPTION | ALSO KNOWN AS | INBOUND RECEIVING REQUIREMENT | OUTBOUND RETAILER REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EACH | A single, individual sellable product | Consumer Unit Base Product | 12 Digit GTIN (UPC) | 12 Digit GTIN (UPC) *Used when the selling unit to the retailer is the same as the Inbound or when the product is sold in each's |
| CASE | A container of multiple Each's | Shipping Case | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 |
| INNER PACK | A container that fits inside another, larger container | Warehouse Pack Multi-Pack Inner Carton | N/A | 12 Digit GTIN (UPC) (needs to be different than each UPC) |
| MASTER PACK | A container of multiple Inner Packs | Vendor Pack Break Pack Outer Carton | ITF-14 Format | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 |
| SHIPPER | A self-contained, stand-alone unit that opens into a shelf-ready or floor-ready display | Display Shipper Shipper Display Prepack | ITF-14 Format | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 |
| DISPLAY READY PALLET | A self-contained pallet ready to be placed on the sales floor with no further preparation | Pallet Ready Display | SSCC-18 /GS1-128 | SSCC-18 /GS1-128 |
KeHE's companion table, page 18, maps how you sell to KeHE against how KeHE sells to the retailer.
ITEM SET UP FOR KEHE
| HOW IS SUPPLIER SELLING TO KEHE? | HOW IS KEHE SELLING TO RETAILER? | UPC REQUIRED? | INBOUND RECEIVING TO KEHE CASE LEVEL ITF-14 GTIN OR GS1-128 REQUIRED? | INBOUND RECEIVING TO KEHE CASE LEVEL ITF-14 GTIN OR GS1-128 REQUIRED? | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EACH | EACH | YES | N/A | 12 Digit GTIN (UPC) *Used when the selling unit to the retailer is the same as the Inbound or when the product is sold in each's | 25 LB. Bag of Rice |
| CASE | CASE | YES | YES | YES | Pasta Sauce |
| CASE | EACH | YES | YES | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 | Vitamins and HBC |
| MASTER PACK | INNER PACK | YES | YES *Master Packs require their own unique ITF-14 GTIN or GS1-128 | YES *Inner Packs sellable at retailers in their entirety require their own unique 12 Digit GTIN (UPC). *Inner Packs not sellable at retailers in their entirety require their own unique ITF-14 GTIN or GS1-128 | Granola Bars |
| SHIPPER | A self-contained, stand-alone unit that opens into a shelf-ready or floor-ready display | YES | ITF-14 Format | ITF-14 Format or GS1-128 | Shipper/PPK/Display |
| DISPLAY READY PALLET | A self-contained pallet ready to be placed on the sales floor with no further preparation | YES | SSCC-18 /GS1-128 | SSCC-18 /GS1-128 | Snacks |
Two notes, reproduced as published rather than corrected. KeHE gives the fourth and fifth columns the same heading, though the fifth holds the outbound-to-retailer requirement. And in the last two rows the second column carries a unit description rather than a unit type.
Pallet labels have their own zone specification in Attachment 6, page 22.
Pallet Label SSCC-18 /GS1-128 Requirements & Example
| Zone | Description | Font | Required Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Ship From Information | 8-10 pt | Ship From Name Street Address City, State, Postal Code, Country |
| B | Ship To Information | 12-14 pt | Ship To Name (including the warehouse location number) Street Address City, State, Postal Code, Country |
| C | Ship To Postal Code # and Bar Code | Ship To Postal Code # Bar Code with human readable text | |
| D | Carrier Information | 10-16 pt | Carrier Name or SCAC code B/L (this would be the Bill of Lading #) Pro (this would be one of Carrier Pro # or Parcel Tracking #) Carton Count per Shipment |
| E F | Customer/Retailer Information | 10-18 pt | Purchase Order # Contents (This would be the UPC # and the item's description; if more than 2 state 'MIXED') Quantity per Carton or Pallet |
| G H | Lot Number Expiration Date Manufacture Date Manufacturing Plant # | 10-16 pt | Lot Number Expiration Date Manufacture Date Manufacturing Plant # |
| I | Serialized Shipping Container Code - SSCC | SSCC Bar Code with human readable text |
KeHE's own note on that label: "Label should be placed in the upper right-hand corner of the front and back of pallet."
Why does a case that looks fine still fail the scan?
Ink color is the one that catches brands. KeHE states that scanning devices are blind to red, blue, brown and shades of purple, and recommends black. A barcode in a brand color is invisible to the scanner though it looks correct on the case.
Three more break a correctly formatted barcode: too little white space beside it, placement too close to the case wall edge or the bottom, and a removable label that does not survive receiving, picking and palletizing.
How do you prevent barcode compliance fines from KeHE?
Prevention is a pre-ship checkpoint, not a label redesign. Before a case leaves the co-packer, check it against the specification above: two sides with one on the longest, minimum size, clearances and quiet zone intact, black ink.
That checkpoint is also where your evidence comes from, for the reason in the next section.
How can I dispute KeHE barcode compliance fines?
From our own work on KeHE accounts, not the routing guide: KeHE does not send you the barcode non-compliance issue, so the burden of proof sits with your team. You will not be handed a photograph to argue against. You need your own.
Photograph case labeling before it ships: the barcode on both required sides, the print quality, the ink, the clearances. Work with your operations team to confirm they are following that protocol on every run, because the evidence has to exist before the charge does.
KeHE used to let small discrepancies slide, and minor ones now get charged. Liability runs past any single fee to costs caused by inaccurate Global Trade Item Number 14 or GS1-128 information, which the guide states directly. Disputes route through K-Solve on the KeHE CONNECT Supplier Portal, which in our experience accepts submissions up to 6 months after the deduction.
How Revya handles this
Revya validates KeHE compliance deductions against your shipment and item data, separates the charges worth disputing from the ones telling you to fix a label, and tracks them before the window closes.
See how Revya recovers distributor deductions
Frequently asked questions
What are KeHE GTIN deductions?
Case Barcode Non-Compliance Fee, assessed against the non-compliant portion once your compliance rate falls below KeHE's published rate over a review period. In our experience the charge is coded on the remittance starting with GTIN.
What are KeHE's case barcode requirements?
A scannable ITF-14 case Global Trade Item Number or GS1-128 barcode on every pack case holding multiple selling units, on a minimum of two sides with one on the longest side, at least 3 inches by three-quarters of an inch.
Why won't my barcode scan if it looks correct?
KeHE's scanners cannot read red, blue, brown or shades of purple. Other causes are too little white space beside the barcode, placement too close to the case edge or bottom, and labels that come off during receiving or picking.
How do I prevent GTIN deductions?
Meet KeHE's case barcode specification before the case ships: two sides with one on the longest, minimum size, clearances and quiet zone intact, black ink. Photograph the labeling and have operations confirm the protocol on every run.
How long do I have to dispute a KeHE deduction?
K-Solve accepts submissions up to 6 months after the deduction.