Expiry & lot tracking
Bakery expiry date tracking along a shelf-life ruler.
Every batch gets a lot number and a date. The register sells the oldest first, warns you before the date, and can refuse to sell what has expired. Drag the marker to see what happens to three real bakery products over their life.
Sell normallyDay 0
Lot L-0106-A · baked Jan 6 · expiry Jan 9
Plain answer
Why should a bakery track lots and expiry dates?
Because bakery stock ages by the day. Lots tell you which batch a box came from; dates tell you which box to sell first. Together they cut write-offs, make recalls a five-minute job, and let you answer the customer who asks “when was this baked?”
- Lot number
- One per batch or delivery. Printed on the label, stored on every sale.
- Expiry date
- Set per lot, or worked out from the product’s shelf life.
- FEFO
- First expired, first out: the register picks the nearest date.
Setup
Lots and dates in four steps
Once it is on, the work happens where it already happens: at the bake, at the label printer and at the till.
5 minTurn on lots and expiry
Switch on lot numbers and expiry dates in product settings, and choose what happens to expired stock.
per batchGive each batch a lot
When a production run or a supplier delivery comes in, record its lot number and its expiry date (or let shelf life work it out).
with the labelPrint the date on the label
Product labels and box stickers carry the lot and the best-by date from the batch.
every saleSell oldest first
The register picks the lot that expires first, alerts you before items expire, and can stop expired stock being sold.
Do date labels differ in the USA, UAE and Pakistan?
Yes. A summary for orientation, not legal advice — always check the current rules with your local authority.
| Market | Date marking on packaged bakery food | Who enforces it |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Date labels are largely voluntary at federal level (infant formula aside); some states regulate them. Packaged foods follow FDA labelling rules. | FDA; state and county health departments |
| UAE | Prepackaged food is expected to show production and expiry dates (GSO labelling standards). | Emirate municipalities (e.g. Dubai Municipality) |
| Pakistan | Packaged food needs date marking under provincial food rules. | Provincial food authorities (e.g. Punjab Food Authority) |
When a customer asks “which batch?”
These are sample reviews, written to show how bakeries use each feature. Real, named reviews replace them as customers share them.
“Mooncake boxes have a lot number and a best-by date on the label. When a customer asks, we can tell which batch it came from in seconds.”
“Staff weigh the barfi, the scale prints the sticker, the counter scans it. Nobody types a price per kilo any more, so nobody types it wrong on Eid.”
Expiry and lot tracking questions
What is lot tracking in a bakery?
Lot tracking gives every batch you bake or buy a lot number, and records which sales came from which lot. If there is ever a problem with an ingredient or a batch, you can see exactly what was made from it, when, and where it went.
How does expiry date tracking work?
Each lot carries an expiry (or best-by) date. Stock reports show what expires soon, the register sells the earliest-expiring lot first, and you can block the sale of expired items in settings.
What is FEFO and why does it matter for a bakery?
FEFO means “first expired, first out”: sell the stock with the nearest date first. For a bakery with short shelf lives it beats FIFO (first in, first out), because a later delivery can expire sooner.
Do I have to print expiry dates in the US?
At the federal level, date labels are mostly voluntary for foods other than infant formula, though some states regulate them and packaged food must meet FDA labelling rules. Many bakeries print a “best by” date anyway; it builds trust. Check your state rules and the FDA labelling guide.
What about the UAE and Pakistan?
Prepackaged food sold in the UAE is expected to show production and expiry dates under the GSO labelling standards enforced by each emirate’s municipality. In Pakistan, provincial food authorities (such as the Punjab Food Authority) require date marking on packaged food. Lots and expiry dates in GetBakeryPOS give you the data; the label rules are yours to follow.
Can the system stop someone selling an expired item?
Yes. You choose in settings whether expired stock can still be sold, and the system alerts you as items approach their date.
How do I handle day-old bread?
Use the alert window for “sell today at a discount”: when a lot is near its date, move it to a day-old price or a discount. Reports show what was marked down and what was written off.
Can I trace a customer complaint to a batch?
Yes. Look up the lot number printed on their box or receipt and see the production date, the recipe batch and the other sales from that lot.
Which plan includes lot and expiry tracking?
Bakehouse and Commissary.
No question matches that. Try another word, or ask us on the demo.
Works together with
Pre-orders & depositsPickup dates, deposits and balances on every order.
Custom cake ordersSize, flavour, inscription and reference photos on one order.- Weighing scalesScale labels scan straight into the sale, priced by weight.
- Daily production listsTomorrow's bake list from pre-orders plus par levels.
Recipe costingTrue cost per piece, wastage included.
Wholesale accountsCafé and restaurant accounts on price lists and terms.
Sell the oldest box first, every time.
