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Raley’s reins in shrinkage from expired products

West Coast grocer rolls out date check system to all stores

Russell Redman

June 26, 2019

2 Min Read
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Raley’s expects a sizable reduction in product shrinkage with the chainwide deployment of expiration date management software.

The West Coast supermarket chain has implemented Date Check Pro from Pinpoint Software Inc. following a successful pilot of the solution in the Sacramento, Calif., area division last spring.

Raley’s said it adopted the system after determining that a technology-based solution supporting inventory management would aid ongoing efforts to provide customers with the freshest and highest-quality products. Previously, the West Sacramento-based retailer took a more operational approach to flag out-of-code items by bolstering team member training and auditing processes to best manage disposal of expiring products.

Date Check Pro provides real-time updates and proactive notifications on close-dated inventory, establishing more consistency and accountability versus traditional rotation and spot-checking methods, in which out-of-date items can be missed by human error, according to Raley’s. In turn, the grocery chain said it’s able to ensure that it’s offering shoppers the freshest products and recoup savings on what would have been expired shrink.

“Date Check Pro is not only a great partner in operations, but also a trusted consultant on our existing markdown and expired item loss-prevention strategies,” Matt Hilbrink, director of asset protection at Raley’s, said in a statement.

Related:Raley’s emphasizes wellness with store-brand chicken relaunch

In the 18-store pilot of the system, Raley’s said it saw a 15% reduction in known expired shrink. The company noted that it also realized other benefits, including a better classification of shrink as an expired loss instead of an unknown loss, standardized methodologies for weekly management of category/SKU-specific inventory, and greater visibility and accountability in store-level execution.

Date_Check_Pro_screen_Pinpoint_Software.png

Date Check Pro's dashboard shows shrink savings and real-time ROI from identification of expiring products. (Image from Pinpoint Software)

By identifying expiring items more quickly, Date Check Pro prevents customers from finding these products in the store and positions retailers to mark down near-expiring items for sale, putting 50% to 72% of a potential loss from shrink back on the bottom line, Madison, Wis.-based Pinpoint Software said on its website. The system also saves store associates hours spent performing spot-checks and enables retailers to use data to determine which items should be ordered less, have fewer facings or be discontinued.

“They are genuine advocates for our business and, in addition to their software, they provide us with new and interesting ways that we can provide our customers with an exceptional experience,” according to Raley’s Hilbrink.

Related:Raley’s revamps private label lineup

Overall, Raley’s operates 129 stores in California and Nevada under the Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, Food Source and Market 5-ONE-5 banners.

Other food retailers using Date Check Pro include Metcalfe’s Markets, Skogen’s Festival Foods, Fresh Madison Market, Trigs and Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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