Menu Engineering Matrix

Sorts a menu item into a Star, Plowhorse, Puzzle, or Dog (Kasavana-Smith) from its contribution-margin dollars and popularity share against the menu average. Classifies on margin dollars, not food-cost percent -- the decision that drives what to promote, reprice, or cut.

Run the calculator

Formula and source

contribution_margin = price - food_cost; popularity_share = units_sold / total_units; popularity_threshold = (1 / item_count) x 0.70; quadrant from margin >= average and share >= threshold.

Kasavana & Smith menu-engineering model, by name.

Audience

This tile is built for kitchen and the adjacent professions in the Kitchen and Food Service group. The interactive calculator runs entirely in your browser. No account, no fee, no advertising, no tracking.

Related tools

Posture

Rough Logic answers the math question the working professional asks on the job. The site is a calm, fast, ad-free, account-free, ever-free reference. It does not interpret code. It does not replace the licensed professional. It does not store your inputs. The Authority Having Jurisdiction governs all installations and inspections.