A scale system, comprising: - a plurality of weighing scales (SC1, SC2) located within a store, each weighing scale including a weighing station, each weighing scale configured for weighing and pricing fresh items, a multiplicity of the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) configured to produce labels for fresh items that have been priced for sale: - a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) at which items being purchased from the store are identified and paid for, wherein purchase transaction records from the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) are collected and stored by a POS server in communication with the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3); and - a scale management computer in communication with each of the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) and in communication with the POS server, characterized in that each weighing scale (SC1, SC2) incorporates: - an interface enabling an operator to enter data regarding fresh items being discarded, including data regarding (a) fresh item identity and (b) quantity of fresh item discarded; - a transaction data tracking function that stores a fresh item transaction record for (a) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale (SC1, SC2) in which a fresh item is priced for sale and (b) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale in which a fresh item is discarded, wherein each fresh item transaction record includes data identifying at least (i) fresh item identity, (ii) quantity of the fresh item involved in the transaction, (iii) fresh item price or fresh item value, (iv) transaction date, (iv) fresh item brand and (v) fresh item supplier; and in that the scale management computer includes a transaction data collection function that obtains fresh item transaction records from each weighing scale and purchase transaction records from the POS server, enabling identification of inconsistencies between fresh item transaction records from the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) and purchase transaction records from the POS server. - a plurality of weighing scales (SC1, SC2) located within a store, each weighing scale including a weighing station, each weighing scale configured for weighing and pricing fresh items, a multiplicity of the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) configured to produce labels for fresh items that have been priced for sale: - a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) at which items being purchased from the store are identified and paid for, wherein purchase transaction records from the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) are collected and stored by a POS server in communication with the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3); and - a scale management computer in communication with each of the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) and in communication with the POS server, characterized in that each weighing scale (SC1, SC2) incorporates: - an interface enabling an operator to enter data regarding fresh items being discarded, including data regarding (a) fresh item identity and (b) quantity of fresh item discarded; - a transaction data tracking function that stores a fresh item transaction record for (a) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale (SC1, SC2) in which a fresh item is priced for sale and (b) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale in which a fresh item is discarded, wherein each fresh item transaction record includes data identifying at least (i) fresh item identity, (ii) quantity of the fresh item involved in the transaction, (iii) fresh item price or fresh item value, (iv) transaction date, (iv) fresh item brand and (v) fresh item supplier; and - a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) at which items being purchased from the store are identified and paid for, wherein purchase transaction records from the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3) are collected and stored by a POS server in communication with the POS terminals (POS1, POS2, POS3); and - a scale management computer in communication with each of the weighing scales (SC1, SC2) and in communication with the POS server, - an interface enabling an operator to enter data regarding fresh items being discarded, including data regarding (a) fresh item identity and (b) quantity of fresh item discarded; - a transaction data tracking function that stores a fresh item transaction record for (a) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale (SC1, SC2) in which a fresh item is priced for sale and (b) each fresh item transaction completed at the weighing scale in which a fresh item is discarded, wherein each fresh item transaction record includes data identifying at least (i) fresh item identity, (ii) quantity of the fresh item involved in the transaction, (iii) fresh item price or fresh item value, (iv) transaction date, (iv) fresh item brand and (v) fresh item supplier; and