PLU report woes
QMy stocktaker told me that he couldn't give me a PLU variance report because my tills aren't programmed properly.
How can I fix this?
AA PLU variance report is one of the most important reports that a stocktaker can provide.
Modern tills produce a report called a "Period Sales Report" which gives a breakdown of individual product sales for a particular trading period in the units they were sold in, for example, 1,200 pints of Guinness.
The stocktaker then compares these figures directly with the stock usage that he has calculated and produces a line-by-line variance for each product.
Incidentally, the PLU variance report is calculated automatically on EPoS systems that have a stocktaking package attached to them.
What your stocktaker probably means when he says your till is not programmed properly is that certain products that have a common selling price, such as liqueurs, whiskies and so on are amalgamated.
Each product really needs to have its own PLU button on the till so that the stocktaker can identify the actual sales and not have to make assumptions.
Call in the till company and make sure everything that you have on offer across the bar has its own PLU button.
Tests on spirits Q A friend of mine who also runs a pub, tells me that his stocktaker always tests the strength of open bottles of spirits.
Is this necessary?
A In my opinion random testing of spirit strengths by the stocktaker is crucial.
Professional stocktakers will carry a portable hydrometer kit so they can test the strengths of spirits.
There are two reasons for these tests: firstly, so that you know that everything is in order, and secondly, if you do receive a visit from Customs & Excise and they find adulterated spirits on your premises, providing proof that your stocktaker checks your spirit regularly may be the only thing that saves your licence.
If your stocktaker ever does find a bottle that has been tampered with, make sure he tests all open bottles and examines the seals on unopened bottles as well, and then gives you a report.
