What is PLU (Price Look-Up)?

PLU (Price Look-Up) is a unique identification number for specific food items or products used within a restaurant's POS system. PLUs make it easy for employees to find out what the cost of an item is and then to quickly process an order since they can be entered automatically rather than being entered manually. The most common uses for PLUs are for items that have been ordered many times, for foods that have a variable open food entry alternative, and for items that do not have a barcode.

How PLU Functions?

Each menu item is given its own predetermined PLU code within the Restaurant POS System. When an order is entered by a cashier or server, the cashier enters or selects the PLU from their POS system, and the item name and price, along with any configured modifiers, will be displayed automatically on the screen.

PLU speed up the work for the cashier or server, thereby lowering the number of errors made when entering an order and providing a consistent price for the guest throughout all transactions. In addition to providing a consistency in pricing for guests, PLU also provides the restaurant owner with the ability to analyze individual items through sales history, thus allowing the restaurant owner to effectively manage their menu.