Managing stock is one of the biggest day-to-day challenges for food retailers. Products have limited shelf lives, demand changes throughout the week, and ordering too much can quickly lead to waste.
For butchers, farm shops, fishmongers and delicatessens, better stock control can help protect profits while keeping products available for customers.
The key is having accurate stock information and a clear understanding of what your business uses and sells.
1. Keep track of the stock you have
It is difficult to order the right quantities when you do not have a clear picture of your current stock.
Manual records can become difficult to maintain, particularly when products are sold throughout the day or stock moves between storage areas and counters.
Stock management software can help you record deliveries, monitor inventory and review stock movements.
Dimension Pro, supplied by South Coast Systems, includes inventory management for weighed and dry goods. It also supports the recording of returns and wastage through compatible Avery Berkel scales.
Find out more about Dimension Pro stock management software.
2. Use sales information to plan purchasing
Ordering stock based on guesswork can lead to overstocking or shortages.
Looking at previous sales gives you a better starting point. You can identify popular products, review sales patterns and consider how demand changes during different seasons.
For example, a butcher may need more barbecue products during warmer weather. A farm shop might see demand for certain seasonal vegetables increase during harvest periods.
Dimension Pro provides sales and inventory reports that can help businesses understand product performance and plan purchasing.
These reports work best alongside current stock checks, supplier lead times and knowledge of upcoming events.
3. Keep an eye on use-by dates
Products approaching their use-by dates need careful attention. Without a clear process, staff may overlook items that need to be sold or used first.
A simple daily routine can make a difference. Check stock approaching its use-by date, rotate products correctly and review whether purchasing quantities need adjusting.
Dimension Pro allows relevant product information, including use-by dates, to be managed within the system. When used with appropriate stock-handling procedures, this can help staff access important product details more easily.
Remember that software does not replace physical checks or safe food handling practices.
4. Record waste to identify patterns
If the same products regularly go to waste, it is worth investigating why.
Are you ordering too much? Are certain products selling more slowly than expected? Are preparation quantities too high? Is stock being rotated correctly?
Recording waste consistently can help you spot recurring issues and make changes based on evidence.
For example, if a particular prepared product is regularly left unsold, you could review how much you produce each day. If certain ingredients are frequently discarded, you may need to adjust purchasing quantities.
For further guidance, explore WRAP’s resources for food retailers, which explain how measuring food waste can help businesses identify opportunities to reduce it.
5. Make stock management part of your daily routine
Better stock control is not just about having the right software. It also depends on consistent processes.
A regular routine could include:
- Checking deliveries against purchase orders.
- Recording stock movements and wastage accurately.
- Reviewing products approaching their use-by dates.
- Comparing sales with current inventory.
- Adjusting future orders based on what the data shows.
When staff follow the same process, it becomes easier to maintain accurate records and identify problems before they become costly.
6. Connect stock control with your weighing equipment
For many food retailers, stock management does not happen in isolation. It connects with weighing, labelling, sales and order processing.
Dimension Pro integrates with compatible Avery Berkel system scales, helping businesses manage product information and stock alongside their wider retail or wholesale operations.
This connected approach can reduce repeated data entry and give businesses more useful information to support everyday decisions.
Explore the Avery Berkel weighing scale range to see the equipment available from South Coast Systems.
Take control of your stock
Reducing waste starts with understanding what you have, what you sell and where losses occur.
Accurate stock records, regular checks and better use of sales information can help food businesses make more informed purchasing decisions and manage perishable products more effectively.
South Coast Systems supplies weighing, labelling and software solutions for butchers, farm shops, fishmongers and other food retailers.
Want to improve stock control in your business? Visit South Coast Systems to explore the available solutions or contact the team to discuss your requirements.