How to Sell to Chewy: Vendor Requirements Guide

To sell to Chewy, you get approved by Chewy’s category management team, complete onboarding through the Chewy Partner Hub, and set up EDI for either wholesale or drop-ship fulfillment. Wholesale vendors ship bulk orders into Chewy’s fulfillment centers, while drop-ship vendors ship each Chewy.com order directly to the customer, usually with tight ship-time requirements. Because Chewy’s Autoship program creates steady repeat demand, brands need inventory and fulfillment that can keep up every week.

This guide is for pet food, treat, supplement, toy, and supply brands preparing to sell on Chewy. It covers how Chewy’s vendor model works, wholesale versus drop-ship, the main requirements, and how ShipCalm’s pet supply fulfillment helps brands launch.

How Do You Become a Chewy Vendor?

Chewy runs a curated vendor model, which means its team chooses which brands to carry. There is no open marketplace where any seller can list.

1. Build traction first: Chewy looks for brands with proven sales, strong reviews, and a clear reason pet parents will reorder.
2. Connect with category management: Reach Chewy’s merchant team for your category through the vendor request process on the Chewy Partner Hub.
3. Submit compliance documents: Expect to provide business documents, insurance, product specifications, and category-specific certifications.
4. Agree on terms and fulfillment model: Decide with Chewy whether you’ll sell wholesale, drop-ship, or both.
5. Set up EDI and test: All vendors must be able to exchange orders and shipping data electronically.
6. Go live: Wholesale items generally go live once Chewy receives inventory at a fulfillment center. Drop-ship items go live once your feed and fulfillment are tested.

Wholesale vs. Drop-Ship on Chewy

The two models put inventory and shipping responsibility in different places.

• Wholesale: Chewy buys your product and you ship bulk cases or pallets to Chewy fulfillment centers. Chewy stores the inventory and ships to customers. The main compliance risks are routing, labeling, and ASN accuracy.
• Drop-ship: Chewy sells your product and sends each order to you or your 3PL to ship directly to the customer. You keep the inventory. The main risks are late shipments, missing tracking, and packing slip or packaging errors.

Drop-ship often fits bulky, heavy, or slower-moving items, while fast-moving consumables usually move to wholesale.

What Are Chewy’s Vendor Requirements?

Chewy does not publish a public vendor manual. Requirements are issued to approved vendors through the Partner Hub and Chewy’s vendor playbooks, so treat the list below as the general shape of the program and confirm details with your Chewy contact.

• EDI: Wholesale vendors exchange purchase orders (850), advance ship notices (856), and invoices (810), often with inventory feeds. Drop-ship EDI runs through Rithum, the platform formerly known as CommerceHub and Dsco. Very low-volume vendors may be able to use a web portal instead.
• Routing and carriers: Chewy issues routing and carrier instructions to vendors, including approved carriers and service levels for drop-ship.
• Labels and cartons: GS1-128 carton labels that match the ASN, and cartons sized to move through Chewy’s fulfillment systems.
• Drop-ship SLAs: Orders must ship within Chewy’s required time, with tracking uploaded promptly. Many Chewy drop-ship orders need to ship within about a day.
• Product compliance: Pet food and treats must meet AAFCO-based labeling and state feed registration requirements, and pet supplements commonly carry the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal.
• Product content: Complete product data, images, and UPCs for every item.

Common Chewy Launch Problems

• Stockouts on Autoship items: Running out disrupts recurring orders and hurts your standing with Chewy.
• Late drop-ship orders: Missing the ship window or uploading tracking late.
• ASN mismatches: Wholesale cartons that don’t match the ship notice.
• Packaging damage: Heavy food bags and liquids that leak or tear in transit.
• Incomplete compliance files: Missing registrations or certifications that delay item approval.

How a 3PL Helps You Launch on Chewy

A 3PL can run wholesale and drop-ship from the same inventory so you can serve Chewy without splitting stock. Chewy.com appears in ShipCalm’s retail integrations.

• Wholesale replenishment: Case and pallet shipments to Chewy fulfillment centers with compliant labels and ASNs.
• Drop-ship fulfillment: Same-day processing and tracking uploads from ShipCalm’s Indianapolis and Southern California warehouses.
• EDI connections: Order and shipment data exchanged through providers like SPS Commerce and Rithum.
• Lot and expiration tracking: First-expired, first-out picking for food, treats, and supplements.
• One inventory pool: Chewy, Amazon, Shopify, and other retailers fulfilled from the same stock. Learn more about omnichannel fulfillment.

Chewy Launch Checklist

1. Gather sales history, reviews, and compliance documents before contacting Chewy.
2. Decide whether wholesale, drop-ship, or both fit your products.
3. Complete Partner Hub onboarding and item setup.
4. Set up and test EDI for your fulfillment model.
5. Confirm your 3PL can meet Chewy’s drop-ship ship times.
6. Set up lot and expiration tracking for consumables.
7. Plan safety stock for Autoship demand.

FAQ

Can anyone sell on Chewy?

No. Chewy uses a curated vendor model, and its category management team decides which brands to carry. Brands apply through the Chewy Partner Hub and go through review before activation.

Does Chewy require EDI?

Yes. Chewy requires vendors to exchange orders, ship notices, and invoices electronically. Drop-ship EDI runs through Rithum, and very low-volume vendors may use a web portal.

What is the difference between Chewy wholesale and drop-ship?

Wholesale vendors sell inventory to Chewy and ship it in bulk to Chewy fulfillment centers. Drop-ship vendors keep their inventory and ship each Chewy.com order directly to the customer.

How fast do Chewy drop-ship orders need to ship?

Chewy sets drop-ship ship times in its vendor playbook, and many orders need to ship within about a day. A 3PL with same-day processing helps vendors stay within those windows.

Conclusion

Selling to Chewy takes approval from its category team, EDI for your fulfillment model, and the inventory to keep Autoship customers supplied. Brands that set up compliant wholesale shipments and fast drop-ship fulfillment from the start build a stronger long-term position with Chewy. Talk to ShipCalm about launching your Chewy program.