Which practice helps NBC rotate inventory to prevent waste?

• A. Use FIFO; move older products forward; label with received dates and use-by dates.
• B. Move newer products forward
• C. Ignore expiration dates
• D. Store everything in back room

Answer: (A)

Rotating inventory effectively comes down to using items in the order they were produced so nothing perishes before it’s sold. The best approach is applying FIFO—first in, first out. By moving the oldest batches to the front or onto the top of displays, you make sure those older items are sold first, not left sitting and risking waste.

Labeling with received dates and use-by dates adds a clear, quick reference for staff. Those dates show which products are oldest and how long they’re safe to sell, making it easy to prioritize items that are closer to expiration. When both practices are used together, staff can consistently move older stock forward and retire items before they spoil, keeping waste to a minimum.

Choosing to move newer products forward disrupts the natural age order and can cause older items to sit longer, increasing waste. Ignoring expiration dates is unsafe and directly leads to spoilage. Storing everything in the back room hides inventory from daily rotation, so older items may be overlooked and wasted.