The problem is that your profits are made on the fresher items. The marked down items are being sold at cost or at a loss. That conditions customers to shop for

The problem is that your profits are made on the fresher items. The marked down items are being sold at cost or at a loss. That conditions customers to shop for marked down items and cannibalizes the fresh sales. I myself used to buy the "Manager Meat Special" leg of lamb when it came up. But the stores near me stopped doing it. They find it more profitable to dispose of it at a 100% loss than discount.