Warehouse & logistics
FEFO (First Expired, First Out)
By the Supply Chain Manager team · Updated October 16, 2026
FEFO (first expired, first out) is a picking rule that ships the units with the earliest expiry date first, whatever order they arrived in.
It is the standard for perishable and dated goods. It differs from FIFO when a later delivery has a shorter shelf life than stock already on hand. FEFO needs lot or expiry dates recorded at receiving.
FEFO only works if the warehouse can see expiry dates at the point of picking, either on a scanned label or in the system. It also changes replenishment: if typical shelf life on arrival is short, order quantities need to be small enough to sell well before expiry, even if a larger order earns a better price.
FEFO example
Illustrative: lot A arrived first with expiry in March; lot B arrived a week later with expiry in February. FIFO ships lot A first; FEFO ships lot B first, so less stock expires on the shelf.
Why FEFO matters for distributors
For distributors of food, chemicals or adhesives, expired stock is a write-off. FEFO keeps waste down, and many customers require a minimum remaining shelf life on delivery.
Common FEFO mistakes
- Not recording expiry dates at receiving.
- Ordering quantities that cannot sell before expiry at the current pace.
Examples on this page use made-up round numbers to show the calculation. They are not benchmarks or results from real businesses.