What is product mix?

Product mix refers to the number and percentage of each menu item sold by a restaurant over a certain period of time. This indicates to the operator which dishes sell and which need improvement.

Every item sold is recorded by the POS, and the information is collated into sales reports. The reports identify sales per menu item, by menu category, the best sellers, slow sellers, and the general sales mix.

Product mix information helps managers make choices about whether to change the menu, what prices to charge, what products to promote, which products to eliminate, etc. Analyzing product mix on a regular basis helps a restaurant become more profitable.

Important components of a product combination

There are four primary parts to a company's product mix.

• Length: The variety of items in a specific product line.
• Breadth: A company's total number of product lines.
• Depth: The range of alternatives in a specific product line, including various sizes, volumes, etc.
• Consistency: The degree to which product lines are similar in terms of use, manufacturing, and distribution methods.