FIFO, FEFO and batch tracking for F&B distributors
How expiry-driven picking cuts write-offs and keeps Halal and HACCP audits simple.
For food and beverage distributors, stock is not just a quantity — it is a quantity with a date. Getting the rotation wrong means write-offs, returns and, in the worst case, a compliance problem.
FIFO vs FEFO
First-In, First-Out picks the oldest received stock first. First-Expired, First-Out picks the stock with the nearest expiry date first. For perishables and short-shelf-life goods, FEFO is usually the rule that protects margin — because receiving date and expiry date are not always in the same order.
Why batch tracking matters
When every carton is labelled and scanned against its batch at receiving, you can answer the audit question in seconds: which customers received batch X, and when?
- Batch and expiry captured at receipt
- FEFO rules enforced at picking — the scanner rejects the wrong batch
- Full trace from supplier to customer for recalls
- Records ready for Halal and HACCP audits
The result
Less expired stock written off, fewer customer rejections for short-dated goods, and audits that take hours instead of days.
