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Understanding your dashboard
The DigiChef dashboard is your kitchen's command centre. It gives you an at-a-glance view of your food costs, purchasing activity, and recipe performance — so you can make informed decisions without digging through spreadsheets.
Navigate to the dashboard at any time by clicking DigiChef in the top navigation, or going to app.digichef.co.
Choosing a time period
At the top right of the dashboard, use the period selector to filter all metrics by a date range — last 7 days, 30 days, or 3 months. Every stat and chart on the dashboard updates to reflect your selected period.
Stat bar
The stat bar gives you three headline numbers for the selected period:
| Stat | What it means |
|---|---|
| Average Food Cost | Your blended food cost percentage across all recipes, based on current ingredient prices |
| Purchases | Total spend with your suppliers for the period |
| Price Variances | Number of products where the supplier price has changed |
TIP
The Average Food Cost stat is your most important number. Industry standard is typically 28–35% — if yours is creeping above that, DigiChef's recipe and price variance tables can help you find the cause.
Average Food Cost chart
The line chart shows how your food cost percentage has trended over the selected period. Look for:
- Upward trends — supplier price increases are cutting into your margins
- Sudden spikes — a single ingredient or invoice may have jumped in price
- Flat lines — your costs are stable, which is a great sign
INFO
The chart only appears once you have recipes built with ingredients. If you're just getting started, create a plating recipe to start seeing data here.
Recipe Cost Variances
This table highlights the recipes whose food cost has changed the most during the selected period. Use it to quickly identify which menu items need attention.
- A higher cost means the ingredients for that recipe have become more expensive — consider whether your menu price needs to increase.
- Click any recipe name to jump directly to the recipe's detail page to investigate the specific ingredients driving the change.
Product Price Variances
This table shows the individual products (ingredients) whose purchase price has changed the most. When a supplier charges a different price on a new invoice, DigiChef automatically updates the product cost and recalculates every recipe that uses it.
- Use this table to spot price increases early and respond proactively — whether that's negotiating with your supplier, switching products, or adjusting menu prices.
TIP
If a product price increases significantly and you don't want it to affect your recipe costs yet, you can review and adjust the cost from the Products page before it flows through to your recipes.
What to do when costs increase
If your dashboard is showing rising food costs, here's a quick action plan:
- Check the Recipe Cost Variances table — identify the highest-impact recipes
- Click into a recipe and review its ingredient cost breakdown
- Check the Product Price Variances table — find the products whose price changed
- Decide whether to adjust the menu price, portion size, or supplier
DigiChef does the tracking — you make the calls.