This policy, especially combined with a policy of keeping low backstock, is actually the best way to make sure you keep items on the shelf and moving. It means

This policy, especially combined with a policy of keeping low backstock, is actually the best way to make sure you keep items on the shelf and moving. It means that it's easy to find stuff in the back room if you are out on the shelf, it's easy to tae inventory and have accurate stock counts (and fix if you are off), and it's easy to make sure you don't end up with some idiot facing the aisles obscuring that you are out of stuff on the shelf when you have some in the back room (and reducing sales). Relatedly, it's a good way of making sure you order the right amount of things that sale and the right amount of things that don't sell. It's how you should run a grocery store. Most grocery stores get in new grocery loads 3-4 times a week, so there's not a real need to keep a lot of backstock (especially if your shelf space is allocated properly).