Retail operations10 / 10

Fear of an empty shelf pushes orders up, fear of waste pushes them down. The middle comes from stock cover, delivery frequency and remaining shelf life.

Use by is a safety limit and selling past it is prohibited; best before is a quality date. The markdown decision comes from the gap between stock on hand and what can sell in the days left.

Log waiting, loading, and extra stops; compare product temperature at dispatch and arrival using the same approved method.

Measure nearby stops on one round; calculate route, handling and temperature-control cost per delivery.

In an open display cabinet the product is kept cold by a thin stream of air rather than a glass door. When that stream is disturbed, the cabinet works fine while the product warms.

Track empty containers, returns and pallets separately on the return run. Keep quantity, condition, recipient and next action in one record.