Independent Retail Compliance Audits
Unannounced, photo-backed shelf compliance audits of your branches – expiry dates, rotation, cold chain, labelling, recalls and hygiene – reported straight to head office.
Independent Compliance Audits.
When store staff check their own shelves, problems get missed or covered up. Our auditors don't work for the store and don't report to its managers, so the findings can't be compromised. Head office gets an honest picture of every branch.
What we audit
- Expired and short-dated stock on shelf and in back rooms
- Stock rotation (FIFO) and date-label visibility
- Fridge and freezer temperatures and cold-chain storage
- Product labelling and shelf pricing
- Recalled products removed from sale
- Back-room storage, hygiene and pest signs
Why it holds up
- Independent: no link to store staff or management
- Unannounced: visits are not scheduled with the store
- Evidence-based: time-stamped photos for every finding
- Scored: a compliance score per store, region and category
- Straight to head office: reports go to you, not the branch
- Actioned: expired stock removed and logged on the spot
Scored, evidence-based and unannounced.
- 01
Agree scope
Branches, categories and audit frequency.
- 02
Unannounced visit
An independent auditor arrives without notice.
- 03
Score 22 points
Six categories, with photos for every finding.
- 04
Act on the spot
Expired stock is removed and logged.
- 05
Report to head office
Branch scores and league tables, not filtered by the branch.
| Category | Weight | Examples of what is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Date control | 30% | No expired stock on shelf, in fridges or back room; short-dated stock set aside; date codes not covered or altered |
| Stock rotation | 15% | First-expiry-first-out on shelf and in back room; dates checked on delivery |
| Cold chain | 15% | Fridges 0–5 °C, freezers −18 °C or colder, temperature records kept |
| Labelling & pricing | 15% | Full labels with dates, prices on or next to products, store-packed items labelled |
| Recall & quarantine | 10% | Recalled products removed, marked quarantine area, disposal records |
| Hygiene & storage | 15% | Clean shelves and fridges, no pests, stock off the floor, valid Certificate of Acceptability |
Stores that pass can be certified under ShelfSafe, with a QR sticker shoppers can scan.
Frequently asked questions
Why use an independent compliance auditor?
Are the audits announced?
What standard do you audit against?
Does this replace a municipal health inspection?
What do we receive after an audit?
Explore our other services
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Store returns found, photographed, coded and approved by you – then collected or dumped.
Learn moreExpiry-date quality control
Field agents remove expired and short-dated stock before a shopper buys it.
Learn moreShelfSafe certification
A six-month store certificate with a QR sticker shoppers can scan.
Learn moreReady to take control of your shelf?
Talk to us about merchandising, returns, quality control or ShelfSafe certification anywhere in South Africa.