A practical guide for restaurant operators

Compare supplier prices on a like-for-like basis.

Use the invoices you already have to check repeat purchases. A different pack size can look like a price increase until you compare the same unit.

Five checks

From two invoices to a useful comparison.

  1. 1. Choose repeat purchases

    Find two or three invoices from the same supplier on different dates. Start with products you order regularly, rather than the total invoice amount.

  2. 2. Check the package and unit

    Match the product, grade, brand where relevant, package size, and reporting unit. A case of 10 lb and a case of 40 lb are different quantities. Convert to the same unit only when the source supports that conversion.

  3. 3. Compare unit prices

    Subtract the prior comparable unit price from the latest unit price. Divide that difference by the prior price, then multiply by 100 for the percentage change. A prior price of zero cannot produce a meaningful percentage.

  4. 4. Review the evidence

    Check credits, discounts, deposits, tax, delivery fees, substitutions, and extraction corrections before treating a difference as a supplier price change. Keep both source invoices available.

  5. 5. Choose a next action

    Confirm the price or package with the supplier, compare a later invoice, or keep monitoring. An increase identifies cost exposure; it does not prove an error or guarantee that money can be recovered.

Illustrative sample—not customer results

A comparable 40 lb case.

A prior case price of $91.20 and a latest price of $108.40 differ by $17.20, or about 18.9%. Both purchases must represent the same product and 40 lb case basis.

The worksheet includes blank rows and one labeled synthetic example. Enter reviewed values from your own invoices and calculate the difference using the steps above. It contains no macros or external connections. Save a separate copy for your records.

If the dates, product, or package basis do not match, leave the comparison unresolved. A matching item with no price change is still useful history.

See the workflow

Review the source before acting.

Watch the existing 28-second walkthrough, then inspect the sample report. Both show the product with illustrative data.

Start with proof

Try a comparison on your own invoices.

The no-card trial includes two uploads. Choose the same supplier on different dates; your files may not contain comparable repeat items. You can request a larger evaluation by email, subject to eligibility.

Illustrative sample data—not customer results.

Invoices reviewed10
Vendors5
Tracked products47
Cleanup notes6
Example movement+18.9% chicken