Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods worked example

Shelf-Life Loss with monthly expiry or write-off rate of 1,000 units / month: a worked example in nutraceuticals & functional foods

This scenario runs the shelf-life loss calculation on the strong side: monthly expiry or write-off rate of 1,000 units / month, with every other input held at its documented default. A planning or finance lead needs the cost of product that expires or is written off over a period to weigh against batch sizing and dating decisions.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Monthly expiry or write-off rate: 1,000 units / month (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 400)
  • Exposure window: 6 months (unchanged)
  • Cost per unit: 4.5 $ / unit (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Units expired or written off = monthly expiry or write-off rate × exposure window) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 27,000 $ for shelf-life loss value, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 6,000 units for units expired or written off.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 6 months for exposure window.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4.5 $ / unit for cost per unit.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where monthly expiry or write-off rate sits at 400 units / month and the headline result is 10,800 $, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 27,000 $.
  • Use it when sizing obsolescence reserves, evaluating run-size or demand-planning changes, or reviewing slow-moving SKUs. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Shelf-life loss value: 27,000 $ (headline result)
  • Units expired or written off: 6,000 units
  • Exposure window: 6 months
  • Cost per unit: 4.5 $ / unit

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Shelf-Life Loss calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.