FEFO (First-Expiry-First-Out) ships the product that expires soonest; FIFO (First-In-First-Out) ships the oldest received first. For perishables, FEFO is usually the method that protects freshness and reduces waste.
Why FEFO matters for perishables
Received date and expiration date aren't always aligned — a later shipment can expire sooner. FEFO ensures the soonest-to-expire product moves first, which is critical for food, beverage, and pharma.
When FIFO is enough
For products without meaningful expiration risk, FIFO keeps stock rotating cleanly by receipt order and is simpler to manage.
Executing it correctly
Good rotation depends on accurate lot and date capture at receiving. A cold-chain 3PL tracks lot, batch, and expiry so FEFO actually happens on the floor — not just on paper.
