Food Corporation of India (FCI):
It provides storage facilities for food grains. Food Corporation of India also hires storage capacity from other sources such as Central Warehousing Corporation, State Warehousing Corporation and private parties. The available storage capacity of Food Corporation of India is 74.6 million tonnes.

Warehouses render invaluable services to the society by performing the following functions:
(i) Storage
(ii) Price stabilization
(iii) Equalization of demand and supply

According to J. Stephenson, "a warehouse in a establishment for the storage or accumulation of goods".

(i) Some of the products are to be stored in cold storages which uses the technique of refrigeration to extend the period of marketing. Goods are transported in refrigerated containers and stored in refrigerated warehouses.
(ii) These warehouses are used for storing perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, eggs, butter, fish, meat, etc. Goods stored in cold storages without deterioration in quality, can be made available throughout the year.

Advantages of warehousing:
1. It safeguards the stock of the merchants who do not have storing place.
2. Warehouses reduce distribution cost of the traders by storing the goods in bulk and allow the trader to take the goods in small lots to his shop.
3.  It helps in selection of channel of distribution. The producer will prefer whether to appoint a wholesaler or retailer.
4. It assists in maintaining the continuous sales and avoids the possibilities of "out of stock" position.
5.  It creates employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, to improve their standard of living.
6. It ensures price stabilization by supplying goods as and when demanded.
7. In case of damage to the goods, warehouse keeper compensates the loss caused to the owner of the goods.
8. Warehousing is needed for making the goods suitable for sale.
9. Its widens the market for the goods.
10. Warehouse provides, goods are repacked and labelled again at the time of inspection by prospective buyers.

Warehouses are classified as follows:
(i) On the basis of ownership :
(1) Private Warehouses
(2) Government Warehouses
(3) Public Warehouses
(4) Co-operative Warehouses
(5) Bonded Warehouses
(6) Institutional Warehouses
(7) Distribution Centre Warehouses
(ii) On the Basis of Commodities Stored :
(1) General Warehouses
(2) Special Commodity Warehouses
(3) Cold Storages or Refrigerated Warehouses
(4) Climate Controlled Warehouses.
(i) On the basis of ownership :
(a) Private Warehouses:
Private warehouses are built and owned by private business enterprises to store their own products. They are exclusively for their use and are not meant for other manufacturing or business units.
(b) Government Warehouses:
They are created and operated by the Government to implement the programmes of the government. Their services mostly available to government only.
(c) Public Warehouse:
It is open for public at large. Most of the business organisations, especially small and medium scale units cannot afford to have their own warehouses. They may be owned by an individual or some agency. These warehouses operate as per the rules and regulations formed by the Government.
(d) Co-operative Warehouses:
There are warehouses owned and managed by the marketing co-operative societies or agricultural co-operative societies. They are set up to provide warehousing facilities to their members. Example: National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC).
(e) Bonded Warehouses:
Bonded warehouses are those warehouses, which are licensed by the government to accept storage of imported goods which are not cleared due to non-payment of customs duty by the importer. Branding can be undertaken in the warehouse itself. Bank loans can be obtained by submitting the receipt issued by these warehouses as collateral security. Strict supervision and control is imposed by custom authorities on their operation and functioning.
(f) Institutional Warehouses:
Different institutions and bodies have their own warehouses on account of the nature of operation. For Example: Banks, Railways, etc,. Various transport agencies also maintain warehouses for storing the goods which are to be dispatched and received.
g) Distribution Center Warehouses:
Goods which need to be temporarily stored for one or two days so that they can be distributed to other offices or customers are stored in Distribution Centers. They are owned by the manufacturer or wholesalers.
B. On the basis of commodities Stored:
a) General Warehouses:
They are ordinary warehouses which are useful for storing most of the dry food grains, fertilisers, etc. Protective measures against rat, insects, etc. are undertaken by them.
b) Special Commodity Warehouses:
These warehouses are specially constructed for storing specific type of commodities like tobacco, cotton, wool, etc. These warehouses reduce loss of quality and quantity to a great extent. Storage of petrol and oil requires special type of vertical, cylindrical storage tanks.
c) Cold storages or Refrigerated warehouses:
Goods are transported in refrigerated containers and stored in refrigerated warehouses. These warehouses are used for storing perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, eggs, butter, fish, meat, etc. Goods stored in cold storages without deterioration in quality, can be made available throughout the year.
d) Climate Controlled Warehouses:
The controlled climate environment can reduce the rate of metabolism in fruits and vegetables. Humidity controlled environments for delicate products such as flowers in dirt-free facilities is provided in these warehouses.
e) Automated Warehouses:
Automated facilities can handle several hundreds of kilograms of product at a time. Inside the warehouse premises physical distribution activities are carried out by moving product filled pallets (i.e. platforms that hold large amounts of product). It requires huge investment, latest technology and large turnover of goods.