Menu engineering

Menu Engineering

Menu engineering is a multidisciplinary approach that involves the strategic planning and design of menus in restaurants and other food service establishments. It combines aspects of marketing, psychology, and culinary expertise to create a menu that enhances the dining experience, maximizes profitability, and aligns with the brand's identity.

Overview

Menu engineering is a critical aspect of the food service industry. It involves the analysis of the popularity and profitability of menu items, the layout and design of the menu, and the strategic placement of items to influence customer choices. The goal is to encourage customers to order high-profit items and to create a positive dining experience that encourages repeat business.

Principles of Menu Engineering

There are several key principles in menu engineering:

Profitability and Popularity

Menu items are categorized based on their profitability and popularity. The four categories are: stars (high profitability, high popularity), plow-horses (low profitability, high popularity), puzzles (high profitability, low popularity), and dogs (low profitability, low popularity). This categorization helps in making decisions about pricing, placement, and promotion of menu items.

Menu Layout and Design

The layout and design of the menu can significantly influence customer choices. Eye-catching designs, strategic placement of items, and the use of boxes, lines, and other design elements can draw attention to high-profit items.

Menu Item Placement

Research shows that customers typically scan a menu in a specific pattern. Understanding this pattern can help in placing items strategically to maximize profitability.

Menu Description

The way menu items are described can influence customer perceptions and choices. Descriptive and appetizing descriptions can make items more appealing.

Menu Engineering Process

The menu engineering process involves several steps:

1. Analysis of Current Menu: This involves analyzing the current menu based on profitability and popularity of items.
2. Menu Item Categorization: Based on the analysis, menu items are categorized into stars, plow-horses, puzzles, and dogs.
3. Menu Design: The menu is designed with attention to layout, item placement, and descriptions.
4. Testing and Revision: The new menu is tested and revised based on customer feedback and sales data.
5. Implementation: The final menu is implemented in the restaurant.

Benefits of Menu Engineering

Menu engineering can provide several benefits:

• Increased profitability: By promoting high-profit items and discouraging low-profit ones, menu engineering can increase a restaurant's profitability.
• Enhanced customer experience: A well-designed menu can enhance the dining experience by making it easier for customers to make choices and by creating a positive impression of the restaurant.
• Alignment with brand identity: The menu is a key component of a restaurant's brand identity. Menu engineering can ensure that the menu aligns with and reinforces the brand's identity.

See Also

• Restaurant Management
• Food Service Industry
• Marketing Strategy
• Consumer Behavior

References

• Miller, J. (2015). Menu: Pricing and Strategy. Wiley.
• Pavesic, D. (2005). Menu Engineering: A Practical Guide to Menu Analysis. Hospitality Press.

External Links

• Menu Engineering UK
• National Restaurant Association