FEFO in practice: lot numbers, expiry dates and what to record
What first-expired, first-out means, how it differs from FIFO, and the minimum information to capture so expiring stock never surprises you.
Stokrio Team · · 5 min read
For skincare, supplements, food and anything else with a shelf life, the order you sell stock in matters. FEFO — first expired, first out — means you always pick the lot that expires soonest.
FEFO versus FIFO
FIFO (first in, first out) ships the oldest stock first. That's usually the same thing, but not always: a later delivery can carry an earlier expiry date if the supplier shipped older stock. FEFO looks at the date that matters to the customer.
What to record
At minimum, for every lot you receive:
- SKU — which product it is
- Lot or batch number — as printed by the manufacturer
- Expiry date — and manufacture date if the product's shelf life is defined from it
- Quantity
- Location — the bin or shelf where it's stored
Capture this at receiving. Reconstructing lots after stock is on the shelf is slow and error-prone.
Watch the right windows
Sort lots into bands that match how long you need to act:
| Band | Typical action |
|---|---|
| Expired | Quarantine; don't ship |
| Expires within 30 days | Pick first; consider promotions or bundling |
| Expires within 90 days | Make sure it's in the pick face, not reserve |
Customers and retailers often require a minimum remaining shelf life on delivery, so set your bands to match those commitments.
Recalls and traceability
When a supplier issues a recall, lot numbers let you find exactly which stock is affected and where it is, instead of pulling a whole product line.
In Stokrio
Stokrio records lot number, quantity, manufacture date, expiry date and bin location for each lot, and shows each lot's status as expired, within 30 days or within 90 days. The home dashboard flags lots expiring within 30 days, and the locations map highlights bins holding expiring stock. See lots and expiry.