Grocery Store Weekly Ad Setup Verification

Pre-ad-start inspection checklist verifying featured item in-stock status, price change accuracy, signage placement, and display readiness before the weekly ad goes live. Supports compliance with store pricing policies and OSHA 29 CFR 1910 general housekeeping standards.

Inspection Details

• Inspector name and role
  Full name and job title of the person conducting this verification (e.g., Store Manager, Department Lead, Pricing Coordinator).
• Store number / location
  Enter the store number or location identifier.
• Ad week start date
  The first day the weekly ad is active (typically Wednesday or Sunday).
• Ad week end date
  The last day the weekly ad is active.
• Inspection date and time
  Date and time this verification is being performed. Should be completed before store opening on ad start day.

Featured Item In-Stock Status

• All front-page featured items are on the shelf and available for purchase
  Walk the sales floor and confirm every item highlighted on the front page of the ad circular is stocked and accessible to customers.
• Number of ad items verified as in-stock
  Enter the total count of ad-featured items confirmed on the shelf during this walkthrough.
• Number of ad items found out-of-stock
  Enter the count of ad-featured items that are not available on the shelf at time of inspection. Zero is the target.
• Out-of-stock items have been escalated to the department manager or buyer for immediate action
  Any out-of-stock ad items must be communicated to the responsible department manager or buyer before the store opens.
• Rain check availability confirmed for any out-of-stock ad items (per store policy)
  Confirm that rain checks are available at the customer service desk for any ad items that cannot be stocked, per store rain check policy.

Price Change Accuracy

• All ad price changes have been loaded into the POS/register system prior to ad start
  Confirm with the pricing coordinator or IT that the weekly ad price batch has been successfully uploaded and activated in the point-of-sale system.
• Spot-check: scan a sample of 10 ad items at a register or handheld scanner — all ring at the advertised price
  Use a handheld scanner or POS terminal to verify that at least 10 randomly selected ad items ring at the correct ad price. Document any discrepancies.
• Number of price discrepancies found during spot-check
  Enter the count of items that scanned at an incorrect price. Target is zero.
• All price discrepancies identified have been corrected or escalated before store opening
  Any scanning errors found must be resolved in the POS system or escalated to the pricing team before customers enter the store.

Shelf Tag and Signage Placement

• Ad shelf tags are placed directly below or adjacent to the correct product on the shelf
  Walk each department and confirm that ad price shelf tags are positioned at the correct shelf location for the advertised item — not a neighboring item.
• Shelf tag advertised price matches the POS system price for each verified item
  Cross-reference the printed shelf tag price against the POS scan price for a sample of items. Discrepancies must be corrected before opening.
• All shelf tags are legible, undamaged, and correctly oriented
  Tags must be readable from a standing customer position. Torn, faded, or upside-down tags must be replaced.
• Previous week's ad shelf tags have been removed or replaced
  Confirm that no expired prior-week ad tags remain on the shelf, which could cause customer confusion or scanner accuracy issues.

Promotional Displays and Endcaps

• Endcap displays are set to the correct ad item(s) per the weekly ad plan
  Compare physical endcap setup against the ad plan or planogram. Confirm the correct product is featured.
• Endcap and feature displays are fully stocked and faced
  Displays should be filled to capacity and fronted/faced for a full, customer-ready appearance at store opening.
• Display signage matches the ad price and item description
  Confirm that any header cards, shelf talkers, or hanging signs on the display show the correct advertised price and product name.
• Aisle clearance around all displays meets minimum 28-inch width (OSHA 1910.22(b))
  Ensure that no display, pallet, or merchandise stack obstructs the aisle below the OSHA-required minimum clearance width.

Department-Level Readiness Sign-Off

• Produce department ad setup confirmed ready
• Meat and seafood department ad setup confirmed ready
• Deli and bakery department ad setup confirmed ready
• Grocery / center store ad setup confirmed ready
• Dairy and frozen department ad setup confirmed ready
• Overall ad setup readiness rating
  Rate the overall readiness of the store's weekly ad setup before opening.
• Inspector signature
  Sign to confirm this verification was completed accurately and all deficiencies have been documented.