Loading and Using Demo Data#

Demo data is a great way to explore MenuM8's features with realistic sample data before adding your own ingredients and recipes. This guide explains how to load, use, and remove demo data.

What is Demo Data?#

Demo data is a pre-configured set of sample ingredients, recipes, and costings that demonstrates MenuM8's capabilities. It includes:

• 30+ Sample Ingredients: Common cooking ingredients with realistic prices
• 15+ Sample Recipes: Various dishes from appetizers to desserts
• 5+ Sample Costings: Example menus and event costings
• Suppliers: Sample supplier information
• Tags: Pre-configured tags for organization
• Allergens: Common allergens assigned to appropriate ingredients

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When to Use Demo Data#

Demo data is useful when you want to:

Explore Features#

• See how inputs, products, and costings work together
• Understand component recipes (recipes using other recipes)
• Learn how markup and pricing work
• Explore report generation (shopping lists, job sheets)

Training#

• Train new team members on MenuM8
• Demonstrate MenuM8 to stakeholders
• Practice workflows before using real data

Testing#

• Test integrations
• Verify calculations
• Understand system limits

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How to Load Demo Data#

Loading demo data is simple and takes just a few clicks:

Steps to Load Demo Data#

1. Navigate to Account Settings

   • Click Account in the main navigation
   • Or click your profile/account icon

2. Find the Demo Data Section

   • Scroll to the "Demo Data" or "Data Management" section

3. Click "Load Demo Data"

   • Click the button to load demo data
   • Confirm the action if prompted

4. Wait for Loading

   • Loading typically takes 5-10 seconds
   • You'll see a success message when complete

5. Explore the Demo Data

   • Navigate to Inputs to see sample ingredients
   • Check Products for sample recipes
   • View Costings for example menus

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What's Included in Demo Data#

Sample Ingredients (Inputs)#

Demo data includes common ingredients across various categories:

Proteins:

• Chicken Breast
• Ground Beef
• Salmon Fillet
• Eggs

Vegetables:

• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Bell Peppers
• Lettuce

Dairy:

• Milk
• Butter
• Cheese (various types)
• Cream

Dry Goods:

• Flour
• Rice
• Pasta
• Sugar
• Salt

Herbs & Spices:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Black Pepper
• Paprika

All ingredients include:

• Realistic pricing in your chosen currency
• Appropriate units of measure
• Assigned allergens where applicable
• Sample supplier information

Sample Recipes (Products)#

Demo recipes demonstrate various complexity levels:

Simple Recipes:

• Tomato Salad
• Herb Butter
• Garlic Bread

Medium Complexity:

• Pasta Carbonara
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Tomato Soup

Component Recipes (using other recipes):

• Pizza (using Pizza Dough base)
• Lasagna (using Bolognese Sauce)

Each recipe includes:

• Complete ingredient lists with quantities
• Calculated costs per serving
• Allergen information
• Output quantities

Sample Costings#

Demo costings show different use cases:

Restaurant Menu:

• Multiple dishes with markup
• Shows menu pricing strategy

Catering Event:

• Demonstrates quantity scaling
• Shows shopping list generation

À La Carte Menu:

• Individual dish pricing
• Different markup percentages

Sample Tags#

Pre-configured tags for organization:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Dairy-Free
• Main Course
• Appetizer
• Dessert
• Seasonal

Sample Suppliers#

Example supplier information showing:

• How to track multiple suppliers
• Price comparison possibilities

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How to Use Demo Data#

1. Explore Inputs#

1. Navigate to Inputs
2. Browse the ingredient list
3. Click on an ingredient to see full details:
   • Pricing and UOM
   • Supplier information
   • Allergens assigned
   • Which recipes use this ingredient

Try This:

• Edit an ingredient price and see how it affects recipes
• Add a new tag to ingredients
• Upload an image to an ingredient

2. Explore Products#

1. Navigate to Products
2. Browse the recipe list
3. Click on a recipe to see:
   • Complete ingredient/component list
   • Cost breakdown
   • Cost per serving
   • Allergen information

Try This:

• Edit a recipe and change ingredient quantities
• Add a new component to a recipe
• Create a new recipe using demo ingredients

3. Explore Costings#

1. Navigate to Costings
2. Browse the sample menus
3. Click on a costing to see:
   • Items included in the menu
   • Cost and selling price for each item
   • Total cost and revenue
   • Profit margins

Try This:

• Change the global markup percentage
• Add a new item to a costing
• Generate a shopping list
• Create a job sheet

4. Generate Reports#

Use demo costings to practice generating reports:

Shopping List:

1. Open a costing
2. Click "Generate Shopping List"
3. See consolidated ingredient quantities
4. Understand how quantities aggregate

Job Sheet:

1. Open a costing
2. Click "Generate Job Sheet"
3. See production instructions for your kitchen team

Menu with Allergens:

1. Open a costing
2. Click "Generate Menu" or "Print"
3. See customer-facing menu with allergen information

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Learning Exercises with Demo Data#

Exercise 1: Understand Cost Propagation#

1. Go to Inputs and find "Flour"
2. Note the current price (e.g., £1.20/kg)
3. Edit the price to £1.50/kg and save
4. Go to Products and open "Pizza Dough"
5. Notice the cost has updated automatically
6. Open "Margherita Pizza" (which uses Pizza Dough)
7. See that this cost updated too!

Learning: Price changes flow through all dependent recipes automatically.

Exercise 2: Build a Component Recipe#

1. Create a new product called "Tomato Sauce"
2. Add ingredients: tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs
3. Save with output of 1 liter
4. Create another product called "Pasta with Tomato Sauce"
5. Add components: pasta (input) + tomato sauce (product)
6. Save and see the nested cost calculation

Learning: Products can use other products as components.

Exercise 3: Price a Menu with Different Markups#

1. Create a new costing called "Test Menu"
2. Set global markup to 150%
3. Add 3-4 demo products
4. Note the selling prices
5. Now change global markup to 200%
6. See how selling prices update automatically
7. Try setting item-specific markup on one product

Learning: Understand how markup affects pricing.

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When to Remove Demo Data#

You should remove demo data when:

• You've finished learning and are ready to add real data
• Demo data is mixing with your real ingredients/recipes
• You want a clean slate to start fresh

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How to Remove Demo Data#

Option 1: Delete Individually#

Manually delete demo items:

1. Go to each section (Inputs, Products, Costings)
2. Identify demo items (often have obvious demo names)
3. Delete each item individually
4. MenuM8 will prevent deletions if items are used elsewhere

Best For: Keeping some demo data while removing specific items

Option 2: Reset Account (if available)#

Some plans may offer account reset:

1. Go to Account → Data Management
2. Look for "Reset Account" or "Remove All Data" option
3. Follow the prompts
4. Warning: This removes ALL data, not just demo data

Best For: Complete fresh start

Option 3: Start with a New Account#

If you can't remove demo data easily:

1. Create a new MenuM8 account
2. Start adding your real data from scratch
3. Cancel or don't use the demo account

Best For: Clean separation between testing and production

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Tips for Using Demo Data#

1. Don't Rely on Demo Prices#

Demo ingredient prices are examples only. Your actual supplier prices will vary significantly based on:

• Your location
• Your suppliers
• Market conditions
• Bulk purchasing discounts

2. Understand Demo Recipes Are Simplified#

Demo recipes are simplified for learning purposes. Real recipes may have:

• More ingredients
• More complex preparation steps (not tracked in MenuM8)
• Yield variations
• Waste factors

3. Experiment Freely#

Demo data is meant for experimentation:

• Edit recipes
• Change prices
• Add new tags
• Create test costings
• Delete items
• Make mistakes and learn

You can always reload demo data if you want to start over.

4. Use It for Training#

Demo data is excellent for training team members:

• Walk them through the workflow
• Show them how to create items
• Demonstrate report generation
• Let them practice without risk

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Transitioning from Demo to Real Data#

When you're ready to move from demo data to real business data:

Step 1: Plan Your Data Structure#

Before removing demo data, plan:

• Which tags you'll use
• Your supplier list
• Your UOM preferences
• Which recipes to start with

Step 2: Remove Demo Data#

Clear out demo items using one of the methods above.

Step 3: Start with Core Ingredients#

Don't try to add everything at once:

• Add your top 20-30 most-used ingredients
• Focus on current menu items
• Expand gradually as needed

Step 4: Build Key Recipes#

Start with your most important recipes:

• Signature dishes
• Best-sellers
• High-profit items
• Menu staples

Step 5: Create Working Costings#

Build costings for:

• Current menus
• Upcoming events
• Catering quotes
• Price comparisons

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Next Steps#

Now that you understand demo data, explore these articles:

• Basic Workflow: From Ingredients to Costs
• Creating Your First Ingredient
• Creating Your First Recipe
• Menu Costings