CRP Menu Development & Engineering Flashcards

What is menu engineering primarily used to analyze?

Answer: Profitability and popularity of menu items

Menu engineering analyzes each item's profitability and sales popularity to optimize the menu mix.

In menu engineering, a 'Star' item is characterized by which of the following?

Answer: High popularity and high profitability

Stars are the best menu items — they sell frequently and generate strong contribution margins.

Which menu pricing strategy sets prices based on what competitors charge for similar items?

Answer: Competitive pricing

Competitive pricing benchmarks menu prices against similar restaurants in the same market.

What does 'contribution margin' mean in the context of menu costing?

Answer: Selling price minus food cost of the item

Contribution margin is the amount each menu item contributes toward covering overhead after its food cost is subtracted.

A restaurant's food cost percentage is calculated by dividing food cost by which figure?

Answer: Food sales revenue

Food cost percentage = (food cost ÷ food sales revenue) × 100, a key metric for menu pricing.

Which menu design principle suggests placing high-profit items in the upper-right area of the menu?

Answer: Eye movement pattern / golden triangle

Research shows diners' eyes naturally gravitate to the upper-right and center areas, known as the 'golden triangle.'