How To Keep Perishable Inventory Fresh at Your Pet Store: 8 Tips

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Managing perishable inventory in your pet store can be a recipe for disaster if it’s not stored properly. Between pet food, treats, and other fresh products, it’s easy for things to spoil if you’re not careful.

Your inventory of pet food can be the single most lucrative product in your inventory, which means keeping it fresh is important — for your bottom line and your customers.

Pet food is big business, too. In 2024, Americans alone were expected to spend over $150 billion on pet food, making it one of the most lucrative markets in the pet industry. With that kind of investment, keeping your pet food inventory fresh is a must. After all, customers expect only the best for their pets — and that means stocking fresh, quality products on your shelves.

In this blog, we’re sharing eight practical tips for how to manage pet food, treats, and other perishable items, so they stay fresh and ready for sale.

Why Managing Perishable Inventory Is Important

If something expires, goes bad, or isn’t stored properly, it could end up on your shelves for longer than it should. Not only does this affect your profits, but it can also harm your reputation — and most importantly, whatever pet consumes it.

Here’s the good news: With the right approach, you can keep your perishable inventory fresh, minimize waste, and avoid lost sales (and that includes dry food, too).

Let’s dive into some easy-to-follow tips that will help you manage perishable inventory at your pet store.

1. Use FIFO

One of the best ways to keep your perishable products fresh is by following the first in, first out (FIFO) method. This means the first products you receive should be the first ones sold. This prevents older pet food and treats from sitting on the shelf too long and going past their expiration date.

A simple trick is to regularly check your stock and move older items to the front of the shelf. This makes it easier for customers to grab the older stock first. Plus, it helps prevent any forgotten products from lingering around and becoming stale.

2. Store Your Products at the Right Temperature

Some pet food and treats require a specific temperature to stay fresh. If you're storing anything in coolers or freezers, it’s important to keep those temperature settings in check. Even a few degrees off can affect how long your products last.

Make sure to regularly monitor your coolers and freezers, and perform maintenance checks to avoid any sudden breakdowns. Also, get your team on board with proper storage practices so they’re aware of how to handle temperature-sensitive pet food and treats right away.

3. Keep Track of Expiration Dates

Nothing is worse than realizing you have expired products sitting on your shelves. To avoid this, always keep an eye on expiration dates. Many store owners find it helpful to set up a reminder system that alerts them when products are close to expiring.

With a good inventory system, you can automate this process and get notified when pet food or treats are nearing their expiration date. This way, you can move products before they go bad and avoid having to throw out anything you can’t sell.

4. Organize Your Pet Store Layout for Freshness

The layout of your store plays a big role in keeping your perishable inventory fresh. Items that need refrigeration should be close to your coolers, making them easy to find and sell. This also ensures that products are sold more quickly.

Arranging products in a way that makes older stock more visible helps keep your pet food and treats moving. Clear signage and organized shelves can also guide customers to what they need without much searching, reducing the chance that items sit too long.

5. Use Inventory Management Software

Handling perishable inventory manually can get overwhelming, especially as your store grows. This is where a solid inventory management system makes all the difference. With an inventory system designed for pet stores, you can track your stock, get alerts for products nearing their expiration, and easily spot trends that help you manage pet food and treats more effectively.

A well-designed inventory system automatically updates stock levels, tracks sales patterns, and avoids overordering, so you’re only carrying what you need. This is especially helpful for perishable products like pet food and treats, which can have varying shelf lives.

6. Train Your Team Properly

Your team plays a key role in keeping your perishable inventory fresh. Make sure they know exactly how to handle pet food and treats, including checking expiration dates, organizing shelves, and properly storing items.

Create a simple protocol for your staff to follow when managing perishable inventory. This can include guidelines on when to rotate stock, how to check for damage, and how to store products. And don’t forget to keep training your team, especially when you get new inventory.

7. Maintain a Clean and Organized Store

A clean store doesn’t just look nice — it helps keep your inventory fresh. Dust, dirt, and moisture can affect the quality of your pet food and treats, leading to potential spoilage. Make sure to keep areas where perishable items are stored clean and tidy. Regularly wipe down shelves, coolers, and storage areas to keep everything in top condition.

Related Read: 12 Unique Pet Shop Display Ideas

8. Build Relationships With Your Suppliers

Having a good relationship with your suppliers is key to efficient perishable inventory management. They can provide valuable insights into product shelf life and help you stay on top of new inventory releases. If there’s ever an issue with a batch of products, working closely with your suppliers makes it easier to address the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

Don’t hesitate to ask your suppliers about the best ways to handle and store their products. A strong partnership can help ensure you always have fresh, high-quality stock on your shelves.

How To Manage Food Inventory With eTailPet

By following a few simple strategies, like using FIFO, keeping track of expiration dates, investing in an inventory management system, and training your team, you can keep your pet store’s perishable products fresh and reduce waste.

If you’re struggling to keep track of your pet food and treat inventory, consider investing in a specialized inventory management system. A good system helps you automate stock tracking and monitor expiration dates — plus, it sends you real-time alerts when products are nearing their expiration. It also allows you to spot trends, ensuring that you’re ordering only what you need.

At eTailPet, our inventory management system is designed specifically for pet stores like yours. With features like automated stock updates, expiration tracking, and insightful reporting, we make managing perishable inventory easier than ever.

Ready to take control of your inventory and reduce waste?

Schedule a free demo today to see how eTailPet can help your store stay on top of your pet food and treat inventory.