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Menu Decay

The natural decline in sales for existing menu items over time. Operators should refresh dishes periodically to maintain customer interest and engagement.

The natural decline in sales for existing menu items over time. Operators should refresh dishes periodically to maintain customer interest and engagement.

Related terms

  • Dog Menu Item — Low-popularity, low-profitability dishes that underperform on both metrics. Dogs should typically be redesigned, repriced, or removed from the menu.
  • Puzzle Menu Item — A low-popularity, high-profitability dish that sells infrequently but contributes strong margins. Marketing efforts can often unlock more sales.

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