Walk the shelf by best-by date
Scroll, or use the slider, to move down the shelf in date order. Bags inside your warning window light up — the same view the stock-expiry report gives you.
- 1Every delivery line carries a lot number and best-by date
- 2The register sells the lot that expires first
- 3The warning window is yours: 14 days for fresh, 60 for dry food
- 4Repeat orders draw from the oldest lot, so short-dated stock still sells at full price
From delivery to sold — oldest first
The cycle every pet food delivery goes through.
Receive
Scan the case, enter lot and best-by once for the line.
Step 1 of 5
Shelve
Print shelf labels; put newer lots behind older ones.
Step 2 of 5
Sell oldest first
The register takes stock from the lot that expires soonest.
Step 3 of 5
Weekly report
The stock-expiry report lists bags due inside your window.
Step 4 of 5
Act
Discount, bundle or return short-dated stock to the supplier.
Step 5 of 5
The stock-expiry report
Choose a window — 30, 60 or 90 days — and see each lot, its quantity and value.
What is the difference between “best by” and “expiry” on pet food?
On pet food, the printed date is usually a “best by” or “best before” date set by the manufacturer for quality and nutrient levels, not a strict safety cut-off. Stores still treat it as the sell-by limit because customers check it and suppliers often accept returns only before it. Check the FDA’s pet food guidance for US labelling rules.
- Record the date exactly as printed
- Set your own sell-by window (for example 30 days before)
- Imported food in the UAE and Pakistan often arrives with shorter dates — check on receipt
Where pet stores lose money on dates
And what the software does about each.
Problem
New delivery shelved in front
First-expiry-first-out selling means the register still sells the older lot, and the report shows if the shelf disagrees.
Problem
Wet food and treats with short dates
Use a shorter warning window for those categories.
Problem
Returns refused because the date passed
The report gives you weeks of warning to claim credit while the supplier still accepts it.
Works hand in hand with
Sizes, flavours, weights and barcodes for thousands of SKUs.Food subscriptions & repeat orders
Repeat orders for food and litter that come round on time.Multi-store
Two or more shops on one account: shared customers, transfers, central reports.
Included: All plans. Compare plans on pricing, or see how sign-up works.
Expiry date tracking: questions
Can the POS track expiry dates on pet food?
Yes. When you receive stock you record the lot number and the expiry or best-by date for each line. The software keeps quantities per lot.
Does it sell the oldest stock first?
Yes. Sales draw from the lot with the earliest expiry date first (first-expiry-first-out), so the system matches how you should be rotating the shelf.
How do I see what is about to expire?
Open the stock-expiry report and choose a window. It lists each lot, its expiry date, the quantity on hand and its value.
Do I have to enter dates for every product?
No. Turn on expiry tracking only for products that need it, such as food, treats, medicines and supplements. Toys and accessories can skip it.
Can I stop the register selling expired stock?
You can set the software to stop selling a lot once its date has passed, or just warn the cashier.
Does it work for imported food with Arabic or other labels?
Yes. You type the date in your local format (DD/MM/YYYY in the UAE and Pakistan) and the software stores it consistently.
Can I discount short-dated stock automatically?
Short-dated lots can be moved to a clearance price group or discounted at the register. Many stores bundle them with a full-price bag.
Is expiry tracking included in every plan?
Yes, lot and expiry tracking is included in Shop, Shop & Groom and Chain.
Try expiry date tracking with your own regulars.
30 days free. Import your products and customers, and set it up the way your store works.
30-day free trial, no cardNo contract — cancel any timeReply within 1 business day