Features
The following provides a list and details regarding which menu features are supported by ezCater presently with the Menu Integration.
Menu Per Location
Integrated menus are managed by location. Attributes of the menu can be modeled differently per location. For pricing differences per location please ensure your pricing approach conforms with ezCater’s pricing policy.
Categories
Sections that group items together.
Items
The items you sell.
Item Prices
The price of an item measured in cents. Item prices must be greater than $0.
Item Sizes
Indicates the size of the item (e.g. Small, Medium, Large). If items only have one size, this field can be left blank. Some integrations only support one size per item. Please check your specific integration provider’s size support.
Item Serving Sizes
A numeric field that allows the customer to know how much each item serves. We cannot accommodate ranges.
Item Min and Max
Indicates the item minimum, maximum, or increment of ordering.
Item Descriptions
A text field that includes level-setting information about what the item is
Images
An image representative of the menu item. Review ezCater’s technical requirements for photos to ensure they meet our technical requirements for images on ezCater menus.
Tax Classifications
The tax designation of each item. Values stored by menu items describing tax classifications. The classification is used by ezCater to look up tax rates and charge taxes per order. Tags used to classify how a given item is taxed. Values include:
- BAKERY_ITEMS
- CAKES_AND_PIES
- CANDY
- CHIPS_AND_SNACKS
- COFFEE_TEA_MILK
- DRESSINGS_AND_CONDIMENTS
- EXEMPT
- ICE_CREAM
- MISCELLANEOUS
- NON_SODA_DRINKS
- PREPARED_FOOD
- SANDWICHES
- SODA
- WATER
Tags
Food Labeling and Dietary
Describe qualities of an item or choice related to labeling.
- Values include: GLUTEN_FREE, HALAL, HEALTHY, KOSHER, SPICY, VEGAN, VEGETARIAN.
- If an item is “vegetarian” when certain option choices are selected, then the option choices that are also vegetarian should also be tagged as “vegetarian” in addition to the item.
Item Type and Choice Type
These values are specifically used for upsell opportunities. Please ensure all beverage and dessert items are tagged accordingly.
- Values include: DESSERT, DRINKS, UTENSILS, ICE
- For items tagged as utensils, refer to the Utensils section.
Quantity Unit
A Unit of Measure (UOM) for ordering items. Default to “ITEM” if not provided.
- Values include: BAR, BOTTLE, BOWL, BOX, BUFFET, CAKE, CAN, CARAFE, DOZEN, FOOT, FULL_PAN, GALLON, HALF_GALLON, HALF_PAN, ITEM, KIT, LITER, PACKAGE, PAN, PERSON, PIE, PIECE, PINT, PIZZA, PLATTER, POUND, QUART, ROLL, SIX_PACK, SKEWER, SLIDER, TACO, TRAY, TWELVE_PACK, TWO_LITER
Options
A group of choices or item modifier selections. There are various features built into options:
Required Option Choices
This feature requires customers to select a choice within an option before adding the item to cart.
These should only be turned on when there is a “selection” option where the customer is selecting a choice that is included with the menu item (i.e. selecting cheese for a sandwich). Required options should not be added to “optional” modifiers such as add-on options where every choice is an additional cost or in substitution options where the customer can substitute one choice for another (i.e. subbing gluten-free bread).
If there is a “Most Popular” or “Assorted” choice, those choices default to being selected.
Min and Max Option Choices
The number of choices the customer can make for a given option. This number can be anywhere from 0 to unlimited.
Option Prompts
The field on each option that dictates the prompt to the customer (i.e. “Select Cheese” or “Add”)
Caterer Labels
Text fields within options that generate on the ezCater invoice for partners. This field can serve as a connector between the item and choice selection.
Choices
The individual selections available for a given option.
Choice Descriptions
A text field that includes level-setting information about what the choice is.
Utensils
A general term used to describe the varying utensil items a customer will need. See the Utensils Section for more information.
Identification Mapping Data
An external id representing the third party identifier.
Individual Wrap Status
Identifies if the item is individually wrapped.
The following provides a list and details regarding which menu features are not currently supported by ezCater presently with the Menu Integration, and recommendations for workarounds where they may exist.
Dayparts
ezCater currently does not support designating times of day for specific items on the menu.
RECOMMEND: Add context in the item description (i.e. “Only available from 8am to 10am”).
NOTE: This will not stop the customer from adding the item to their cart outside of the desired time frame.
86’ing Items
ezCater currently does not support temporarily de-activating menu items. Items added to your menu should be considered highly available and stable items so that customers can order many weeks in advance.
RECOMMEND: If items are marked as inactive or not sent to ezCater’s menu, the item will not be available for ordering. This includes short term outages and many weeks into the future.
Quantity Modifiers
ezCater currently does not have the functionality for customers to add option quantities to an item (i.e. a customer selecting 4 turkey sandwiches, 5 ham sandwiches, and 1 hummus sandwich in a sandwich platter).
RECOMMEND: Add option groups with naming to represent the selections. (Select First Sandwich, Select Second Sandwich, etc)
Nested Modifiers
ezCater currently does not have the functionality to have secondary options nested into initial options (i.e. a boxed lunch that comes with a choice of salad, which when selected, would open up a choice of salad dressing).
RECOMMEND: Consider expanding choices to include the level of detail needed (i.e. House Salad w/ Ranch Dressing, House Salad w/ Italian Dressing, Spinach Salad w/ Italian Dressing, etc).
Pricing
Zero Dollar Items
Items that do not have a price (items priced at $0) will not show on the ezCater marketplace.
RECOMMEND: Determining a base price for an item and utilizing options if there are variations of price based on choice selection.
Negative Dollar Amount Option or Choice
ezCater does not support choice selections to decrease the price of an item.
RECOMMEND: Create a separate item with a lower price.