Same Product from Multiple Vendors

Why It's Important

Often, you buy the same product from different vendors. You might be looking for the best price or have an alternative vendor ready when your preferred choice is unavailable. However, creating duplicate ingredients for every product isn't advisable, as this approach requires you to constantly update recipes with the latest ingredient. The best approach is to link multiple products to a single ingredient. This allows you to manage pricing at the product level, ensuring the current cost is reflected in the ingredient and flows up to all recipes.

How To Use It

Here’s an example of an ingredient: apricots sourced from two different vendors. One vendor sells them in cases of 6 cans, while another offers 12 cans per case. Aside from the difference in case quantity, both products are identical.

The Pack Size field is crucial for calculating the cost per unit of measure (UOM). For instance, the #10 can, holding 105 oz, enables reciProfity to determine the cost per ounce. By consistently using the same unit of measure for both products, it simplifies the cost comparison between vendors. This consistency is essential for accurate cost analysis, ensuring a fair apples-to-apples comparison.

 The Unit Description, #10 Can, and the Packed In, Case, fields both add more flexibility to reciProfity. As each of the two fields, in conjunction with the Pack Size, offers unique information, reciProfity has the tools necessary for weight-to-volume and volume-to-weight conversions. All three units of measurement, ounce, #10 can, and case, can be used in a recipe.

The inventory count sheet and inventory reports reference the Unit Description and Packed In fields. As shown in the image above, these two descriptions are utilized during a physical count, meaning the product can be counted by cans and/or cases.

What occurs when product sizes vary?

The preceding example examined two products, each with a volume of 105 ounces. The #10 can is a standard size for production kitchens, due to its cost-effective volume. Now, let's consider a stark contrast using the same apricots, but in a 16-oz can meant for domestic kitchens.

 In this instance, comparing the 105 oz and 16 oz volumes isn't equal, although the unit of measure, ounces, is consistent. As long as the unit of measure remains the same for both products, reciProfity will facilitate a direct cost comparison. You can swiftly review and assess the cost per ounce across different product sizes. The #10 can is the more efficient choice for managing recipe costs.

Count Sheets: Assigning Products Purchased from Multiple Vendors to Locations