Menu Engineering: Process and Benefits
Menu engineering is a strategic approach used in the restaurant and hospitality industry to analyze and optimize the profitability of a menu. It involves applying principles of accounting, marketing, and consumer psychology to design menus that maximize revenue and profitability while catering to customer preferences. Menu engineering aims to identify and promote the most profitable menu items and strategically position them to drive sales and increase the overall profitability of the restaurant. Process of Menu Engineering: The process of menu engineering typically involves the following steps: Menu Item Classification: The first step is to categorize menu items based on their popularity (sales volume) and profitability (contribution margin). Menu items are usually classified into four categories: Stars: High popularity and high profitability items. These are the menu's "winners" that contribute significantly to overall revenue and profit. Plowhorses: High popularity but...