Menu matrix
How to read the profitability × popularity matrix and what each classification means.
The Kasavana & Smith model
MenuWright classifies every menu item on a 2×2 matrix:
- X-axis: Popularity — units sold relative to the menu average
- Y-axis: Profitability — contribution margin (revenue − food cost)
The matrix divides items into four quadrants:
| Classification | Profitability | Popularity | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star | High | High | Protect and promote — these drive your business |
| Crowd Pleaser | Low | High | Reprice or reduce cost — popular but under-margining |
| Hidden Gem | High | Low | Promote and reposition — profitable but under-ordered |
| Leftover | Low | Low | Cut or reimagine — dragging down your menu |
Reading the scatter plot
The interactive scatter plot shows every item as a dot:
- Position — profitability (vertical) vs. popularity (horizontal)
- Color — quadrant classification
- Size — total revenue contribution
- Hover — item name, margin %, units sold, classification
Click any dot to open the item detail panel with AI recommendations.
Thresholds
By default, the median profitability and median popularity define the quadrant boundaries. You can adjust thresholds in Settings → Matrix Configuration:
- Custom median — set your own profitability/popularity cutoffs
- Category-scoped — compute medians per category instead of menu-wide (useful when appetizer and entrée margins differ structurally)
Time periods
The matrix reflects the selected time period (7, 30, 60, or 90 days). Shorter windows surface recent trends; longer windows smooth out seasonal noise. Compare periods using the date-range picker at the top of the dashboard.