an encapsulated shelf assembly has a shelf support supporting a panel . the panel has an edge and a one piece member encapsulates the panel edge and a substantial majority of the shelf support . the encapsulated shelf assembly may be formed in a mold apparatus which defines a mold cavity and uses a spacing plug to position the shelf support in a mold cavity of the mold apparatus in a location spaced from the sides of the mold cavity . a method of making the encapsulated shelf assembly includes providing a mold apparatus defining a mold cavity , providing and supporting a shelf panel in the mold apparatus with an edge of the panel extending into the cavity , providing and supporting a shelf support in the mold apparatus with a majority of the shelf support positioned in the mold cavity and spaced from the sides of the mold cavity , filling the mold cavity with a moldable material to encapsulate each of the majority of the shelf support and the edge of the shelf panel , and removing the encapsulated shelf assembly from the mold cavity .