METHOD FOR TRACKING FOOD PRODUCT EXPIRATION AND INITIATING SALES PROMOTIONS USING A FOOD PRODUCT SCALE

A method of selectively and timely promoting sale of a specific food product using a food product scale is provided, where the food product scale includes a weighing station including an associated mechanism for producing weight indicative signals, and a customer facing display is associated with the scale. The method involves entering product identification information of a specific food product into the food product scale using an operator interface of the food product scale; identifying an initial quantity of the specific food product; identifying expiration data for the specific food product; creating a shelf life record that is saved in memory, the shelf life record including the product identification information, the expiration data of the specific food product and the initial quantity; tracking subsequent transactions for the specific food product and quantity of each subsequent transaction; based upon the tracking step, automatically and selectively implementing a sales promotion for the specific food product when sales promotion criteria are met, the sales promotion criteria based at least in part upon remaining quantity of the specific food product; and when the sales promotion is implemented, displaying a sales promotional message on the customer facing display to notify customers of the sales promotion, the sales promotional message identifying both the specific food product and promotional price information for the specific food product.