What Are Products?
Products are the individual menu items that customers browse and order from. Each product belongs to a category and includes details like name, description, price, and optionally an image and allergen tags.
Products are the heart of your digital menu. Well-presented products with appealing descriptions and photos encourage customers to explore your offerings and place orders.
Adding a New Product
Step 1: Navigate to the Category
- Go to Branches in the sidebar
- Select the branch you want to manage
- Click the Menu tab
- Find the category where you want to add the product
- Within the category, click the Add Product button
- The product creation form will open
Step 3: Fill in Product Details
Complete the following fields:
Product Name
Enter the name of the dish or item as you want it displayed to customers.
- Be clear and descriptive: "Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter" instead of just "Salmon"
- Use the name your customers know and expect
- Include preparation style if relevant: "Pan-Seared", "Wood-Fired", "Hand-Cut"
Description
Write a brief but appetizing description of the product.
- Mention key ingredients: "Tender chicken breast marinated in garlic and herbs, served with seasonal vegetables"
- Highlight what makes it special: "Our house specialty since 2015"
- Keep it to 1-3 sentences
- Avoid overly long descriptions that customers will skip
Price
Enter the price for the product.
- Use the currency configured for your branch
- Enter the price as a number (e.g., 24.90)
- Make sure prices are accurate and up to date
Product Image
Upload an image to showcase the product visually.
- Click the image upload area or button
- Select an image file from your computer
- The image will be uploaded and previewed
Products with images receive significantly more attention from customers. Invest in good food photography whenever possible.
Step 4: Save the Product
- Review all the information
- Click Save or Create
- The product will appear in the category
Editing an Existing Product
To update a product that already exists:
- Find the product in the menu editor under its category
- Click on the product or the Edit button
- The product edit form will open with the current details
- Make your changes to any of the fields
- Click Save to apply the updates
Common Reasons to Edit
- Updating the price due to cost changes
- Improving the description for clarity or appeal
- Replacing the product image with a better photo
- Adding or updating allergen information
- Correcting typos or inaccuracies
Deleting a Product
To remove a product from your menu:
- Find the product in the menu editor
- Click the Delete button or trash icon
- Confirm the deletion when prompted
Deleting a product is permanent. If you want to temporarily remove a product, consider updating its name to indicate it is unavailable, or note that it will be completely removed from the customer menu.
Reordering Products
The order of products within a category affects how customers browse your menu. Place your best items strategically.
How to Reorder
- Within a category, hover over the product you want to move
- Click and hold the drag handle
- Drag the product up or down within the category
- Release to place it in the new position
- The new order saves automatically
Strategic Ordering Tips
- Most popular items first - Place best-sellers near the top where they catch attention immediately
- High-margin items prominently - Position items with better margins where they are most visible
- Group logically - Keep similar items close together (all grilled items, all pasta dishes)
- Specials at the top - Feature daily or weekly specials at the beginning of a category
How Products Appear to Customers
When customers view your digital menu, each product is displayed with:
- Product name in a clear, readable font
- Description below the name with ingredient and preparation details
- Price prominently displayed
- Image (if uploaded) shown alongside or above the product details
- Allergen and dietary tags as small icons or labels
Mobile Display
Since most customers access your menu on their phones:
- Product names should be concise enough to display on small screens
- Descriptions should be short enough to read without scrolling
- Images are automatically resized for optimal mobile display
Regularly scan your own QR code on a mobile phone to see exactly how your products look to customers.
Product Photography Tips
Good photos make a significant difference in how appealing your menu items look:
Basic Tips
- Use natural lighting when possible
- Shoot from a 45-degree angle for the most appetizing view
- Keep the background clean and uncluttered
- Show the dish as it would be served to a customer
What to Avoid
- Dark or blurry photos
- Cluttered backgrounds with other items visible
- Photos taken from directly above (unless it is a flat-lay style)
- Images that are obviously stock photos
Consistency
- Try to maintain a consistent style across all product photos
- Use similar lighting, angles, and backgrounds
- This creates a cohesive and professional-looking menu
Best Practices
Writing Effective Descriptions
- Lead with the most appealing aspect of the dish
- Use sensory words: "crispy", "tender", "fresh", "smoky"
- Mention cooking method: "slow-roasted", "wood-fired", "hand-rolled"
- List key ingredients customers care about
- Avoid generic descriptions like "very tasty" or "delicious"
Pricing Strategy
- Keep prices updated as your costs change
- Ensure pricing is consistent with your brand positioning
- Round prices to avoid awkward numbers (24.90 instead of 24.87)
Regular Maintenance
- Review your product list monthly
- Remove discontinued items promptly
- Update photos when you change plating or presentation
- Refresh descriptions periodically
Next Steps
Learn how to add allergen and dietary information to your products for customer safety and transparency.
See also: Allergen and Dietary Tags for adding important food safety information to your products.