Grocery Floral Department Opening Checklist SOP

Daily opening procedure for a grocery floral department, including cooler temperature verification, bucket water changes, sanitation checks, and readiness review before customer service begins.

Steps

• The associate verifies the floral department is safe to enter by checking for water spills, broken glass, and unobstructed aisles; record any hazards on the safety log
• The associate verifies the floral cooler temperature is 34–38°F using the wall thermometer; record the reading and time
• The associate confirms required PPE and uniform are in place before handling product
  Check that the associate is wearing the required uniform and PPE for floral handling, including closed-toe shoes and gloves. Replace or obtain missing PPE before continuing.
• The associate rotates floral stock using FIFO and removes damaged or expired product
  Move older product to the front, place newer product behind it, and remove any wilted, damaged, or unsellable items from the cooler and display. Dispose of product according to store policy.
• The associate refreshes bucket water and straightens the floral display
  Empty old bucket water, clean buckets as needed, refill with fresh water, and arrange stems so the display looks full, clean, and customer-ready. Remove debris and wipe visible moisture from surfaces.
• The associate boots the POS/register and completes the till count
  Power on the register or POS terminal, confirm it is functioning, and complete the opening till count according to store cash-handling procedures. Report any error messages or shortages immediately.
• The associate requests supervisor walkthrough sign-off for readiness
  Walk the department with the supervisor or department lead to confirm cooler condition, display readiness, sanitation, and opening status. Address any issues identified during the walkthrough before opening to customers.
• The associate escalates any out-of-tolerance cooler reading or unresolved opening issue
  If the cooler is outside the acceptable range, if there is standing water, broken glass, equipment failure, missing PPE, or any unresolved sanitation issue, stop the opening process and notify the supervisor immediately. Do not open the department until the issue is resolved or a manager authorizes a restricted opening.