1. A method for batching items, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a first item for a batch, analyzing the characteristics of said selected item, creating a profile of said selected item, determining qualification criteria for forthcoming items, forming batches with items having desired characteristics, the selected first item determining the characteristics of the batch into which said first item is batched, and the qualification criteria for forthcoming items being based on said profile created from said first item selected for said batch, the characteristics of an item, which do not comprise the desired characteristics for any existing batches, determining the characteristics of a new batch.