In the hierarchy of kitchen excitement, “shelving” ranks somewhere near “grout cleaning.” Yet, shelving is the skeleton of your restaurant. If the skeleton is weak (rusty) or poorly designed, the body (your inventory) collapses.
In 2026, the standard is effectively set by one company: InterMetro (Metro). Their “Super Erecta” wire shelving is so ubiquitous that chefs call all shelving “Metro racks,” regardless of the brand.
But should you buy the expensive green stuff or the cheap chrome stuff? And what about solid plastic shelves?
The 3 Finishes: A Corrosion Guide
3. HACCP Color Coding: Safety First
The number one reason shelving fails is Rust. Rust is not just ugly; it is a Critical Health Code Violation according to NSF International standards. If an inspector sees rust flakes above a bag of flour, they can condemn the food.
1. Chrome (The “Dry” One)
- Material: Carbon steel with nickel-chrome plating.
- Appearance: Shiny, mirror-like.
- Environment: Dry Storage ONLY.
- The Trap: It is the cheapest option. Owners buy it for the walk-in cooler to save money.
- Refused Fate: Inside a humid walk-in (38°F, 90% humidity), chrome will begin to pit and rust within 6-12 months.
- Verdict: Use it for linens, paper goods, and dry pantry. Keep it away from sinks.
2. Green Epoxy / Metroseal (The “Wet” One)
- Material: Carbon steel with a zinc coating, followed by a baked-on epoxy (usually green or gray). Metro calls this “Metroseal,” Eagle calls it “Eaglegard.”
- Appearance: Matte green or gray.
- Environment: Walk-Ins, Dish Pits, Mop Sinks, Bar Storage.
- Technology: Most modern epoxy coatings contain an antimicrobial agent (like Microban) to inhibit mold growth.
- Warranty: Good brands offer a 10-15 year warranty against rust.
- Verdict: The industry standard. If you are unsure, buy Green. It works everywhere.
3. Polymer / Plastic (The “Forever” One)
- examples: MetroMax i, Cambro Camshelving.
- Material: Solid composite polymer. No metal core (or a completely encased metal core).
- Pros: ZERO RUST. Ever. You can pressure wash it. You can run the shelf plates through the dishwasher.
- Cons: Expensive. Roughly 2x the price of Chrome.
- Verdict: Essential for salt-air environments (seaside restaurants) or sterile environments (hospitals).
Decision Logic
The “Super Erecta Pro”: The 2026 Upgrade
Wire shelving has one fatal flaw: Cleaning. If a jar of honey leaks on a wire shelf, it drips through the wires onto the rice below, and scrubbing the sticky wires is a nightmare.
Enter the Metro Super Erecta Pro.
- The Hybrid: It uses the standard steel posts and wire frames, but the “shelf” itself is a removable plastic mat that snaps onto the wire.
- The Benefit: Sticky spill? Unsnap the mat. Run it through the dishwasher. Snap it back on.
- Airflow: It still has holes for circulation (crucial in coolers), but it’s flat and smooth.
The Caster Trap: Static vs. Dynamic Load
Adding wheels changes everything.
- Static Load (Feet): A standard unit holds 2,000 lbs.
- Dynamic Load (Wheels): The SAME unit now holds only 600-900 lbs.
- The Failure: Chefs load a mobile rack with 1,500 lbs of flour. They try to roll it. The caster stem snaps. The shelf collapses. Never overload a mobile unit.
Seismic Safety: California & Japan
If you operate in an earthquake zone, standard shelving is a liability.
- Post Clamps: Metal brackets that lock adjacent units together.
- Foot Plates: Steel triangles bolted to the concrete floor.
- Top Track: Ideally, use a High-Density Top Track system that is anchored to the ceiling structure.
Layout Strategy: The “S-Hook” Trick
This is how veteran kitchen designers save you $1,000.
Scenario: You need a 12-foot run of shelving.
- Amateur Way: Buy three 4-foot units.
- Parts: 12 Posts, 12 Shelves.
- Problem: You have posts right next to each other, creating “dead zones.”
- Pro Way: Buy one “Starter” unit and two “Add-On” units.
- Parts: 8 Posts, 12 Shelves, 4 S-Hooks.
- How: The “Add-On” shelves hook onto the designated Starter unit using S-Hooks. They share the post.
- Result: Cheaper (fewer posts), and continuous clear access (no posts blocking the middle).
Installation Rules (Chef Marco’s Code)
- The 6-Inch Rule: The bottom shelf MUST be at least 6 inches off the floor. Why? So you can mop underneath. If an inspector can’t see the floor, you fail.
- Dunnage Racks: Do not put 50lb bags of flour or kegs on standard wire shelves. They will bow. Use Dunnage Racks (low, aluminum box-tubing racks) for heavy items.
- Labeling: Buy the snap-on plastic label holders. A shelf without labels is chaos. “A place for everything, and everything in its place” (Mise en place).
Top Brands 2026
- InterMetro (Metro): The gold standard. Highest resale value. Best coatings.
- Eagle Group: Very high quality “Made in USA” options. Their “QuadTruss” design makes their wire shelves stronger (less bowing).
- Cambro: The king of plastic shelving. Their Camshelving is legendary for being dishwasher safe.
- Regency / Import: (Webstaurant/Generic). Half the price. The epoxy is thinner. Good for light duty, but don’t expect 15 years out of it.
Top 3 Commercial Shelving Recommendations
Shelving is a “buy it once” investment. Here are the three systems that define the market.
1. Best Overall (Corrosion Resistant): Metro Super Erecta (Metroseal 3)
- Best For: Walk-in coolers, freezers, and humid prep areas.
- Why It Wins: The legendary green epoxy coating (“Metroseal 3”) has Microban antimicrobial protection built-in. It comes with a 12-year warranty against rust. It is the skeleton of 80% of professional kitchens.
- The Flex: High resale value. If you close your restaurant, you can sell these on Craigslist in a day.
2. Best for Salt/Wet Environments: Cambro Camshelving Basics Plus
- Best For: Dish pits, pot washing stations, or seaside restaurants.
- Why It Wins: It’s made of composite plastic. It cannot rust. Period. The shelf plates lift off and fit in a commercial dishwasher.
- Hygiene: It is the cleanest system on the market. Health inspectors love it.
3. Best Value (Budget): Regency Green Epoxy Wire Shelving
- Best For: Start-ups, dry storage, and standard coolers on a budget.
- Why It Wins: Use generic sizing (compatible with Metro clips). You get 90% of the functionality of Metro for 60% of the price.
- Trade-off: The epoxy coating is thinner. It will rust sooner (5-7 years) than Metro, but for $80 a unit, it’s a steal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use Chrome shelving in a walk-in cooler? A: No. Chrome will rust within months due to the humidity. You must use Green Epoxy (Metroseal) or Polymer shelving which is coated to resist corrosion.
Q: What is the “S-Hook” trick? A: Instead of buying two standalone racks, you use “S-Hooks” to attach a second shelf to the first one. It eliminates two posts and creates a continuous, unobstructed shelf run.
Q: How much weight can a mobile rack hold? A: Adding wheels (casters) dramatically drops the capacity. A static shelf holds 2,000 lbs, but a mobile unit typically holds only 600-900 lbs. Do not overload mobile racks.
Final Summary
If you are building a “Forever Restaurant”, buy Metro. If you are building a “Lean Startup”, buy Regency. If you are building close to the ocean, buy Cambro.