Doudlah Farms Old World Popcorn Amazon Replenishment
Overview
As of November 2025, Doudlah Farms had approximately 3 months of Old World Popcorn inventory remaining on Amazon FBA. The team decided to self-pack the next replenishment order rather than continue using TS Foods as a third-party packer, primarily to eliminate a $1.25/unit fee that was cutting into margins. The plan is to send 4 pallets (2 white, 2 yellow) directly to Amazon, providing an estimated 4–5 months of stock.
A separate but related issue — Amazon's failure to rotate inventory on a FIFO basis — was identified and escalated to Amazon support.
Replenishment Decision
Problem: TS Foods Packing Fee
Doudlah Farms had been using TS Foods to prep and pack units for Amazon FBA. At $1.25/unit, the fee was deemed too high relative to the volume being sent. Self-packing the order eliminates this cost entirely.
Solution: Self-Pack 4 Pallets
The next order will be packed in-house before shipping to Amazon:
| Pallet | Variety |
|---|---|
| 1 | White popcorn |
| 2 | White popcorn |
| 3 | Yellow popcorn |
| 4 | Yellow popcorn |
Rationale: 4 pallets provides approximately 4–5 months of stock — enough runway to avoid running out while remaining a manageable volume for self-packing operations.
Action Items (from this decision)
- Karly: Email Mark and Jason the full order details, including the prior order for reference
- Mark: Order bags and stickers (Uline/McAdams) and schedule the TS Foods pickup or alternative logistics once self-packing is confirmed
Product Shelf Life Reference
Accurate expiration dates are required for FBA labeling compliance:
| Product Category | Shelf Life |
|---|---|
| Beans & Wheat Berries | 3 years |
| Popcorn & Mill Products | 2 years |
Amazon Inventory Management Issue (FIFO vs. LIFO)
Problem
Amazon FBA warehouses are not rotating stock correctly. Newer inventory is being picked and shipped while older inventory sits in the warehouse, eventually expiring. This is a LIFO (last in, first out) pattern rather than the expected FIFO (first in, first out) standard.
The practical consequence: product expires in Amazon's warehouses, resulting in disposal fees and lost inventory value.
Action
Gilbert Barrongo is opening cases with Amazon Seller Support to address the inventory rotation issue. He was added to the following week's standing call to provide an update.
- Karly: Add Gilbert to the next weekly call agenda to discuss Amazon inventory/FIFO resolution status
Related Context
- This call also covered the B2B site setup and gift basket strategy — see [1] for the broader client picture
- TS Foods is a third-party fulfillment/packing vendor used historically for Amazon prep; this decision moves away from them for popcorn replenishment
- Old World Popcorn is sold under the Doudlah Farms brand on Amazon FBA
Source
Meeting: Doudlah Farms — Marketing Call: B2B Site, Amazon Inventory & Gift Baskets (2025-11-07)
Attendees: Gilbert Barrongo, Lucy Doudlah, Mark Doudlah, Jason Doudlah, Avokerie Onorimuo, Karly Oykhman