Items, Categories and Combos

Items and categories in FoodServa and POSERVA let you define everything you sell at the counter: the price, the tax and service charge rules, the barcode, the stock settings and the printer each item goes to. Retail shops use items for every product on the shelf; F&B outlets use them for drinks, retail goods and anything sold through the Point of Sale. Combo packages bundle several items and sell them at one price.

Before You Start

• You need a manager or owner role that can see Settings > Point of Sale.
• Decide your default tax and service charge in Settings > Tax and Settings > Service Charges first. Categories and items can then inherit those defaults, so you only override the exceptions.
• FoodServa outlets set up dishes in Settings > Menu. See FoodServa Menu Setup.

Create an Item Category

1. Go to Settings > Point of Sale. Make sure the Categories view is selected (not Suppliers).
2. Press Add beside the category list. The Add Item Category dialog opens.
3. Enter the Category Name and an optional Description.
4. Set Tax (%), Service Charge (%) and Tax Mode, or leave them blank to use the organisation default.
5. Choose a Printer if items in this category should print to a particular printer.
6. Set the Sort Order to control where the category appears on the POS screen, and leave Status as Active.
7. Press Save.

Add an Item

1. In Settings > Point of Sale, select the category and press Add. The Add Item dialog opens on the General section.
2. Fill in the fields in the table below.
3. Tick Track stock for this item if you want the system to count stock. Enter a Min Stock Alert level so the item is flagged when it runs low.
4. Press Save.

Item Options

Use Item Options when one item is sold in several sizes or servings, each with its own price. Under Item Options press + Add and enter a Label and Price for each option. For volume items you can also set Pour ml. At the till, the cashier is asked to choose an option before the item goes into the cart.

Refundable Deposit Items

Tick Refundable deposit item for items such as a returnable container or equipment deposit. These are collected and later refunded or forfeited from the Deposits part of the Point of Sale.

Create a Combo Package

1. Go to Settings > Point of Sale and open the combo section, then press Add Combo Package.
2. Enter the Combo Name, Description and Price.
3. Under Combo Items, press Add Item for each item in the bundle and set its quantity.
4. Tick Let staff choose at the till if the customer picks some of the items (for example, any two drinks).
5. Choose where the combo appears under Display in Categories, add a Combo Image if you like, and set Tax (%) and Service Charge (%) if they differ from the default.
6. Press Save.

When a combo is sold, the stock of each component item is reduced.

Import and Export Items

For large catalogues, use the buttons above the item list:

• Export downloads every item in the branch as a CSV file.
• Import adds new items or bulk-updates existing ones from a CSV file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does an Item Not Appear on the POS Screen?

Check that the item and its category are both Active. Inactive items and items in an inactive category are hidden from the till.

What Is the Difference Between Exclusive and Tax-Inclusive?

With Exclusive, tax and service charge are added on top of the price. With Tax-inclusive, the price you enter is the final amount the customer pays and the tax is worked out from inside it.

Can I Copy an Existing Item?

Yes. In the stock list, use the copy button on an item to create a new item with the same settings, then change the name and price.

Can One Item Have Different Prices for Different Sizes?

Yes. Add each size as an Item Option with its own label and price.

Related Guides

• FoodServa Menu Setup
• Stock Management
• Checkout at the Point of Sale
• FoodServa and POSERVA Overview