Quality control | Expiry-date checks

Expiry Date Checking & Shelf Quality Control

Trained field agents check dates on shelf, in fridges and in back rooms, flag short-dated stock early and remove expired stock before a shopper buys it – with photo proof for you.

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Quality Control Division

Expired Stock Never Reaches the Customer.

Expired and short-dated goods on a shelf put shoppers at risk and put your brand's name on the line. Our trained quality control field agents check dates in every store they visit, pull problem stock before anyone buys it, and report back to you with photo proof.

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  • Date checks, shelf to back room

    Agents check best-before and use-by dates on shelf, in fridges and freezers, and in back-room stock.

  • Early short-date alerts

    Stock nearing expiry is flagged at points agreed with you, such as 30, 14 and 7 days, so it can be promoted, moved or recovered in time.

  • Remove and quarantine

    Expired or unsafe stock is pulled from sale on the spot and moved into our returns process for your decision.

  • Compliance reporting

    Photo-verified store reports and scorecards by store, region and product, so you can see where the problems are.

45 suppliersserved compliance notices by the National Consumer Commission after nationwide inspections found expired and undated food (2025)
R1 million or 10%of annual turnover: the maximum administrative fine the National Consumer Tribunal can impose
Section 55, CPAgives every consumer the right to safe, good-quality goods. A shelf check is how you protect it.
  1. 01

    Plan

    Agree stores, products and check frequency.

  2. 02

    Check

    Agents scan dates on shelf and in back rooms.

  3. 03

    Flag

    Short-dated stock is reported before it expires.

  4. 04

    Remove

    Expired stock is pulled and logged as a bad return.

  5. 05

    Report

    You get a photo report and store scorecard.

Retailers: see our independent compliance audits and ShelfSafe store certification.

Built forSuppliers & brandsRetail chainsWholesalers & cash-and-carryIndependent & township stores
More from the Quality Control division

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When you issue a recall, our agents clear every affected store nationally and send photo proof of removal.

Short-date recovery

Stock flagged early is moved to discount channels or food banks before it expires, so you recover value instead of writing it off.

Shelf Health Index

Data showing where expired-stock risk is highest, by region, retailer and product.

Spaza compliance pathway

We help township stores get ready for their Certificate of Acceptability and ShelfSafe certification.

Read more: The NCC crackdown on expired food: what suppliers and retailers must do.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an expiry date checking service?
Trained field agents visit stores to check best-before and use-by dates on shelves, in fridges and freezers and in back-room stock. They flag stock nearing expiry and remove expired stock before a shopper can buy it.
Why should suppliers pay for expiry date checks?
Expired goods on shelf damage your brand and expose suppliers to action under the Consumer Protection Act. In 2025 the National Consumer Commission served compliance notices on 45 suppliers after inspections found expired and undated food, and fines can reach R1 million or 10% of annual turnover.
What happens to expired stock you find?
It is pulled from sale on the spot, photographed and logged as a bad return in our Returns Control Portal, and you decide whether it is dumped or returned.
How often do agents check a store?
Visit frequency is agreed with you per store and product, for example weekly for short shelf-life dairy and bakery lines and monthly for long-life goods.
Do you report back?
Yes. You receive photo-verified store reports and scorecards by store, region and product.
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A six-month store certificate with a QR sticker shoppers can scan.

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Ready to take control of your shelf?

Talk to us about merchandising, returns, quality control or ShelfSafe certification anywhere in South Africa.

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