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Menu Profitability

Measuring the profit contribution of each menu item by comparing sales revenue against ingredient costs and required preparation labor.

Measuring the profit contribution of each menu item by comparing sales revenue against ingredient costs and required preparation labor.

Related terms

  • Contribution Margin — Revenue minus variable costs for a specific item, showing actual profit per sale. This is the key metric for menu engineering decisions.
  • Plate Cost — The total ingredient cost for preparing one serving of a menu item, including every component from proteins to garnishes.
  • Menu Engineering — A systematic method for analyzing menu items by profitability and sales volume to maximize restaurant revenue and reduce waste.

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