Location audit
Store Audit Checklist for District Managers
- Who checks
- District or regional manager
- When
- Scheduled visit every 2–4 weeks; unscheduled after a sales drop, complaints or inventory count results
- Time
- ~90 min · 38 items
| Location | Date and time | Inspector | Signature |
A district manager's visit isn't a stroll through the store — it's a snapshot of every store process at once: how merchandise is displayed, what's on the shelf in terms of dates, how checkout works, what state the stockroom is in and whether the store manager can run a shift. Using the same checklist for every store in the district lets you compare locations and track progress from visit to visit, rather than impressions.
Start outside through the customer's eyes, then the sales floor, freshness, checkout, and only then the stockroom and the conversation with the store manager. Keep samples random: the district manager picks the fixtures and products, not the store manager. Turn every issue into a task with an owner and a deadline — on the next visit, the "Follow-up on past actions" items are checked first.
Exterior and entrance
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1
The sign works and every element is lit After dark, the sign is fully lit with no dead letters; in daylight, it's clean and undamaged.☐ Yes☐ No
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2
Window displays match the chain's current campaign Posters and mannequins follow the current guide; glass is clean, no stickers from past promotions.☐ Yes☐ No
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3
The entrance area and parking lot are free of litter The bin isn't overflowing; no cigarette butts or cardboard at a staff entrance visible to customers.☐ Yes☐ No
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4
Automatic doors open without delay and the entrance mat lies flat Walk through the entrance: doors react immediately and don't close on people; the mat has no curled edges.☐ Yes☐ No
Sales floor and merchandising
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5
Sampled fixtures match the current planogram Check 3–5 random fixtures against the planogram: products on the right shelves, facing counts match.☐ Yes☐ No
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6
No empty shelf spaces when the item is in stock Note 10 gaps and check stock in the inventory system; a gap with positive stock on hand is a violation.☐ Yes☐ No
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7
Promotional displays are set up according to the current promotion Promo items are displayed in the promo area and in their home location; POS materials match the dates and terms.☐ Yes☐ No
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8
Every item in the sample has a price tag Walk one full fixture: an item with no tag or with the neighboring item's tag is a violation.☐ Yes☐ No
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9
Shelf price matches the register price for a sample of 10 items Scan 10 random items on a price checker or at the register; even one mismatch is a violation.☐ Yes☐ No
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10
Shelves and fixtures are free of dust and sticky spots Run your hand along the back of the shelf and under the product in 2–3 places.☐ Yes☐ No
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11
Aisles are clear of boxes, stretch wrap and roll cages During opening hours, stocking from roll cages follows chain rules and aisles are clear for carts.☐ Yes☐ No
Product quality and dates
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12
No expired product in a sample of 20 perishable items Dairy, deli, meat, bread — check both front and back rows; skip this item for non-food formats.☐ Yes☐ No
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13
The item with the nearest date is at the front of the shelf For 3 items, compare the dates of the first and last unit in the row: fresh stock isn't placed in front of older stock.☐ Yes☐ No
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14
Refrigerated cases hold the temperature stated on product labels For grocery formats: reference thermometer in 2–3 cases; chilled is typically 0…+5 °C (some regulations allow up to +6 °C), frozen −18 °C or below.☐ Yes☐ No
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15
No defective items or damaged packaging on shelves Crushed boxes, torn bags, stained or snagged items are pulled from sale and sent for return or markdown.☐ Yes☐ No
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16
Marked-down items are displayed in a separate area with clear labeling Customers can see the reason for the markdown and the new price; markdowns aren't mixed in with regular stock.☐ Yes☐ No
Checkout and service
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17
An extra register opens when the line exceeds the chain standard Observe the checkout line for 5–10 minutes at a busy time; a line longer than the standard (usually 3–4 people) doesn't last more than a couple of minutes.☐ Yes☐ No
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18
Cashiers follow the chain's service script Watch 3 transactions in a row: greeting, loyalty card or bag question, thank-you at the end.☐ Yes☐ No
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19
A receipt is issued for every purchase In 3–5 observed purchases, a receipt is handed to the customer or sent electronically, as permitted by your country's laws.☐ Yes☐ No
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20
Register drawers hold no cash above the set limit Ask the cashier for the amount and check against the register report; excess cash is dropped to the safe with paperwork.☐ Yes☐ No
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21
Floor staff walk customers to the product rather than pointing For stores with sales associates: ask where an item is — the associate walks with you to the shelf.☐ Yes☐ No
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22
Staff wear uniforms per the standard and name tags Check every employee on the floor and at the registers.☐ Yes☐ No
Stockroom
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23
Stockroom goods are on racks or pallets, not on the floor Each product group is in its assigned location; nothing blocks stockroom aisles.☐ Yes☐ No
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24
Heavy goods are on lower levels and stack height doesn't exceed the limit Cases don't overhang the rack edge, stacks are stable, the top level is no higher than the mark set by chain rules.☐ Yes☐ No
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25
Damaged goods and returns to vendors are stored separately and labeled A separate area or rack with a sign; each box shows the vendor and the reason for return.☐ Yes☐ No
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26
Recent deliveries are posted in the inventory system Take 3 delivery notes from the past week: documents are signed and goods were received into the system on the day of delivery.☐ Yes☐ No
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27
The refrigeration temperature log is filled in on schedule For grocery formats: entries for cases and walk-ins exist for every day since the last visit; deviations are noted with the action taken.☐ Yes☐ No
Safety and compliance
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28
Fire extinguishers are in place, seals intact, inspection date current Check every extinguisher on the plan: accessible, not blocked by merchandise, inspection tag up to date.☐ Yes☐ No
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29
Emergency exits are clear and Exit signs are lit Walk the route to each emergency exit: no merchandise or containers in the way, the door opens from inside.☐ Yes☐ No
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30
EAS anti-theft gates are working Carry a test tag through — the gates alarm and the employee at the entrance responds.☐ Yes☐ No
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31
CCTV is recording and footage is available for the required period Open footage from any day last week for the checkout area and stockroom.☐ Yes☐ No
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32
Customer information is posted as required by your country's laws Required consumer notices are accessible; retailer details, opening hours and complaint contacts are current; customers can easily see how to leave feedback or a complaint.☐ Yes☐ No
Team and management
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33
Actual shift staffing matches the schedule Check those present against the schedule and timesheet; shift swaps are approved.☐ Yes☐ No
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34
The store manager can state sales-to-plan for the month to date Without looking at a report: monthly target, actual, gap, and what's being done to close it.☐ Yes☐ No
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35
Follow-up on past actions: tasks from the last visit are completed and verified Go through the task list from the last audit: each is closed with a photo or document, and no issues have recurred.☐ Yes☐ No
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36
New hires have completed safety and standards training, with signatures Pick 2–3 employees hired in the last month and find their signatures in the training log.☐ Yes☐ No
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37
There is an analysis and action plan from the last inventory count The store manager shows the list of categories with shrink, the causes and what was changed.☐ Yes☐ No
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38
Customer complaints for the month have been reviewed, each with a response Check the log of complaints from all channels (in store, phone, online): each one has a recorded resolution and response date.☐ Yes☐ No
This template is a starting point. Check the limits and wording against your local regulations, your company standards and the equipment manufacturers' instructions.
jeCheck · https://jecheck.io/en/templates/store-manager-visit
Common violations
- The store manager picks the fixtures and products to check — the district manager sees prepared spots instead of the store's real condition.
- Issues are noted verbally "for the record" with no tasks or deadlines: nothing is fixed by the next visit, and nobody is accountable.
- A mismatch between shelf and register price is dismissed as minor: to the customer it's deception, and in many countries it's a consumer protection violation that carries fines.
- The audit ends on the sales floor and the stockroom isn't checked — that's exactly where damaged goods, unreceived stock and blocked aisles pile up.
- Visits always happen at the same time: the store prepares for them, while problems on evening and weekend shifts stay invisible.
Frequently asked questions
Typically every 2–4 weeks per store, more often for new locations and underperforming stores. An unscheduled visit is needed after complaints, a large shortage or a sharp sales drop.
Scheduled visits can be agreed in advance so the store manager is there to discuss targets and the team. But some visits should be unannounced — it's the only way to see how the store runs day to day.
Calculate the percentage of items passed, weighted: critical issues should count more than minor ones. Compare scores across stores in the district and against the previous visit, not against an abstract benchmark.
If an item fails two visits in a row, it's no longer a shift problem but a process or management problem. Work out the root cause with the store manager and lock in a fix: owner, deadline and how it will be verified.
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Run this inspection on your phone
Move the checklist into jeCheck: photos on every item, tasks for each issue with an owner and a deadline, and location comparison by results.