Read Time: 7 minutes
Adding Items to a Menu is an easy and essential step to creating a Spoonfed Online Ordering Site. Once you understand the process, you can easily add and update your menus as they change throughout the year.
Other Helpful Readings
Read Here for a List of easy-to-reference Menu Terms.
Find out the difference between a Fixed Price and A La Carte Menu.
Read a full explanation on how to set up an A La Carte Menu.
Read a full explanation on how to set up a Fixed Price Menu.
Read how to add Items to A Fixed Price Menu Here.
Watch the short video below for a tutorial on using the Items Tab:
Add Items to an A La Carte Menu
Items in an A La Carte Menu are all ordered individually. These typically include Dessert Menus, Beverages, or Sides. A Customer chooses one of many available options.
Add Section
Add the Section Name. This is not where to add a Menu Item. In an A La Carte Menu, the Section is used to categorize different types of Items in the Menu.
A Sides Menu might be divided by Sections of Fries, Salads, and Fruit.
Fill in the Name and check 'Allow Bespoke Items' to allow the option to customize the Item in the Back Office.
Once Section Details are entered, click 'Add Item' in blue
All menus require at least one section and one item to allow customers to order from them.
Add Item
Enter the Item Name in the given box. If you've previously used or entered the Item in the system, a drop down will show all the options for you to select and auto-fill.
Otherwise, click Add New Item.
Add New Item
Enter the necessary details and any other information that you want you Customers to know about the Item. You must input an Item Name, Item Type, and Price.
Watch the short video for a tutorial on adding a new Item:
Item Code
Item Code
Enter an easy identifier for the Item to better find it in accounting and inventory. Our system can also be set up to auto generate a new numerical code.
Item Type
Item Type
The Item Type is a way to categorize stations that make the Item or help to run inventory and sales Reports.
Price and Tax Code
Price and Tax Code
For an A La Carte Menu Item, enter the Price of the Item.
The Tax Code automatically fills in the Default Tax Code you have set up. If this Item needs a different tax code, change it in the indicated box.
An Item Description is for Customers to read any details about the food on the Online Ordering Site.
Production Notes are for the kitchen staff to view when making the order. They can also include anything about how to make the food which could be useful in Production. These notes show up on the Production Reports in the Production Module.
Note that Customers can't see Production Notes and Kitchen Staff can't see Item Descriptions.
Allergens, Dietary Labels, Portions, and Energy Value
Allergens, Dietary Labels, Portions, and Energy Value
If enabled, scroll down to input caloric values, and portion sizes. You can also add any allergens that might be present in the food.
Speak with a Spoonfed Customer Success Partner to find out how to enable this feature.
Enter the nutritional information and calories below.
When all the details are entered, click Save.
Add More Items to the Section
To add more Items, click Add Item again.
If an Item is already added to the system, it will show up in the drop down list to select. This makes Menu entry much easier as you add more Menu Items!
If not auto-added, enter the Price of the Item under the Price Column.
On the right-side columns you can input Portion Size, , Min/Max Quantity, and a Daily Limit for each A La Carte Item.
Min and Max Quantity
Min and Max Quantity
Under the Min Qty and Max Qty Columns, set minimum or maximum order requirements.
If you price the Menu individually, rather than as a large group, you might not want to make an entire catering order for only a few people.
The Minimum allows you to indicate that a Customer must order a certain amount of the Menu before they can place the Order. A Minimum set to 10 won’t let the Customer order the menu unless they select at least that amount. The same rules apply to the Max Order amount.
If you have a Min or Max set on the menu, include this in the description so that Customers are better aware of the requirement.
Daily Limit
Daily Limit
If enabled, you can limit how many Items can be delivered in a single day.
Save Section
Click Save once all the items have been added. You must click Save every time you need to move on to a New Section. If you edit one section and go to edit another, the progress will be lost if you did not first save the progress.
A finished A La Carte Items Section might look like this:
Click 'Expand All' to view all the Items in every Section.
Delete an Item
Delete an Item
Click the X in the far right.
This won't delete the Item from the System, just the Menu.
If you delete the Item by accident, click the Undo button.
Otherwise, click Save to update the Item Order and Section.
View on the Online Ordering Page
Watch the short video below for a tutorial on ordering a Menu Online:
After you’ve added all the Items to be included in the Menu, it’s best practice to view the Menu on the Online Ordering site.
Read here to learn how your Customers can place an Order Online with Spoonfed.
A finished A La Carte Menu on looks like this on the Online Ordering Site.
That is how to add Items to an A La Carte Menu!