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Lime and avocado price shock

Free tool · Restaurants

When a case of limes or avocados jumps, see what it does to one plate. You also get the menu price that keeps your food cost % where it was.

What you paid for the case before the jump. Your last invoice has it. Example: 32.
What the case costs this week. Example: 58.
How many servings one case gives you. A 40 lb case of 200 limes cut in quarters gives 800.
How many of those servings go on one plate. A guacamole order might use one serving of 6 oz.
What the plate costs before the jump. Use the plate cost calculator if you need it. Example: 1.51.
What the guest pays for the plate now. Leave tax out. Example: 4.50.

Change per plate

+$0.0325

New food cost %

34.3%

Price to keep today’s food cost %

$4.60

Food cost % today

33.6%

New plate cost

$1.5425

Change per serving

+$0.0325

An estimate for planning. Check the numbers with your accountant before you decide.

How the math works

Change per serving = (new case price − last case price) ÷ servings per case. Change per plate = change per serving × servings per plate.

New food cost % = (plate cost today + change per plate) ÷ menu price. Price to keep today’s food cost % = new plate cost ÷ today’s food cost %. Round it to a price your guests are used to.

The example is a $4.50 fajita taco with a quarter lime when a 40 lb case goes from $32 to $58. Cut in quarters, 200 limes give 800 servings, so each taco costs $0.0325 more. A price drop shows as a negative change. The USDA Market News weekly report lists terminal market prices if you want to compare.