Shelf filler

Shelf fillers stock shelves with goods in a supermarket or shop. They display and price goods, record stock levels and keep the shop neat and tidy. Some might be expected to work on a till or provide customer service when required.

Also known as:

• Replenishment assistant
• Supermarket shelf filler

Work activities

Shelf fillers stock shelves with fresh supplies. They might check shelves themselves to see where there are gaps, or they might be told what to re-stock. They collect goods from the warehouse, stockroom or cold store. They usually have to load and push a trolley or cage full of goods. They unpack the goods and check for any damaged items, setting those to one side. They arrange items neatly and safely on a shelf, rack or display counter, or in a chiller cabinet or freezer, for example.  They might have to clean or re-arrange the shelves before setting out the stock. They might have to follow a chart (called a planogram) that shows them where to display the items.

Shelf fillers have to rotate stock depending on the “sell-by” and “best before” dates on goods. The newer stock is placed at the back or underneath, to allow the older goods to be sold more quickly. Then they clear away the wrappings and boxes, often flattening out and crushing boxes ready for recycling. The floor area must be kept clear and tidy. Any new stock that cannot be fitted on to the shelf or display must be taken back to the right storage area and put where it can be easily found again when needed. Some shelf fillers might have to price the goods, but bar-coding is usually used instead (a code is printed on the item and a machine at the till reads the price from it). If price tickets are used, shelf fillers must remove the old ticket before a new price is put on, to avoid mistakes. They might also put reduced price stickers on goods that are damaged, on special promotion or at their sell-by date, sometimes moving them to a special area in the store.

A record of all goods displayed must be kept on stock sheets. A shelf filler also has to make sure that the goods and the shelves are clean and might have to clear up after goods have been spilt or broken. Unless they are working during the night when the shop is closed, the job can also involve advising customers about the goods and directing or taking customers to the right area of the store.  Some shelf fillers could sometimes be asked to do checkout or warehouse work. Shelf fillers usually work in clean, well-lit shops or supermarkets, and some wear a uniform.

Personal qualities and skills

As a shelf filler, you will need:

• To be physically fit, as the work involves standing and walking, as well as lifting and bending.
• To be methodical and careful.
• Written communication and number skills, for counting and recording stock levels.
• A neat appearance.
• A pleasant, helpful manner as the work usually involves some customer service.
• Teamwork skills.
• A positive approach.
• To be reliable and punctual.
• An eye for visual effect.
• The ability to work unsupervised.

The following future skills shortages have been identified within the industry:

• Customer service skills.
• Communication skills.
• Teamworking skills.
• Problem-solving skills.

Pay and opportunities 

The pay rates given are approximate. Shelf fillers earn in the range of £14,000 a year, rising to up to £19,000 a year.

Shelf fillers may work 38-40-hour week and might be required to work evenings and weekends and split shifts. Many work on a part-time basis. For example, many students do shelf filling work to support their studies.

Employers include small shops, supermarkets, stores and warehouses. Opportunities for shelf fillers occur in every town and city throughout the UK.

What’s happening in this work area?

Rising high street costs, the dominance of online shopping has led to many retail store closures and job losses. The rise of automation means that some tasks are carried out by machines.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, in stores, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You can enter this career by applying directly to individual shops and stores.

Stores generally provide on-the-job training for shelf fillers. This covers things like stock rotation and health and safety procedures (for example, lifting). It could also include training in other areas, such as checkout operating and customer service.

It is common to work towards an Award, Certificate or Diploma in retail skills, or an Award or Certificate in warehousing and storage, particularly if you are in the role for a long time.

Although no apprenticeship programmes are available in this particular role, relevant schemes include:

• Customer service practitioner (level 2/intermediate)
• Retailer (level 2/intermediate)

Shelf fillers often progress to team leader and supervisor posts.

Qualifications

No formal minimum academic requirements are usually needed for entry to this job. However, some employers might prefer applicants to have basic English and maths.

To begin an intermediate apprenticeship, you typically need GCSEs in English and maths. However, you may be able to complete these qualifications, or functional skills, during your apprenticeship.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant skills, developed through warehouse or stores work, are an advantage.

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