Combo Deals at the Bar: Setup and Analysis

Combo Deals at the Bar: Setup and Analysis

A combo is a way to raise average bar spend without pressuring the customer. Instead of “would you like anything else?” — a ready offer of “energy drink + chips at a discount.” The customer sees the value, decides faster, spends more.

Why Combos Outperform Individual Items

A customer at the counter makes several decisions: get something? what exactly? how much? Each decision is a drop-off point. A combo removes some decisions: the combination is already chosen, the price is clear, there is a noticeable discount.

Attach rate — the share of sessions where a customer ordered from the bar. Combos raise it through two effects: easier decision-making and higher perceived value.

Combo Pricing Logic

Base Formula

Combo Price = Sum of Individual Items × (1 − Combo Discount %)

Combo discount: 10–20%. Less — not noticeable. More — margin falls below target.

Illustration:

Say an energy drink costs 120 and chips cost 80. Total = 200.

At 15% combo discount:

Combo Price = 200 × (1 − 0.15) = 200 × 0.85 = 170

The customer saves 30 — that is noticeable.

Checking Combo Margin

Before approving the combo price, verify the margin:

Combo Margin = (Combo Price − Sum of Component Costs) / Combo Price × 100%

Continuing the example: energy drink cost 50, chips cost 30. Total = 80.

Combo Margin = (170 − 80) / 170 × 100% = 52.9%

This is above the 40% floor — the combo is economically justified. If margin falls below 40% — reduce the discount or rethink the composition.

More on margin calculation → Bar Pricing: Target Margin.

How to Create a Combo in IZI

IZI has no dedicated “combo” module — a combo is created as a regular catalog item in the bar.

Step 1. Create a “Combos” Category

In Settings → Bar → Catalog, create a category called “Combos” or “Bundles.” This makes combos visually distinct — the cashier and the customer in the app immediately see them separately.

Step 2. Create the Combo Item

Click “Add Item” in the Combos category.

Name: specific and clear. “Energy Drink + Chips” is better than “Combo #1.”

Selling price: the calculated discounted price from the formula above.

Purchase price: the sum of costs for all components. Required for correct margin analytics.

Photo: add an image of both products — the customer in the app immediately understands what is included.

Step 3. Set Up Stock Tracking

This is the key operational point. A combo item has its own stock count (the number of “bundles” available). When a combo sells, this count decreases — but the stock of individual components does not automatically change.

Two approaches to this:

Approach A: separate physical combo stock. Pre-assemble the bundles physically (place together), track them as a separate unit. Simple tracking, but physically inconvenient.

Approach B: periodic adjustment. Sell through the combo item, adjust stock of individual components via stock count at end of shift or day. Slightly more work, but no need to physically assemble bundles.

More on stock counts → Bar Write-Offs and Spoilage.

Step 4. Set the Opening Stock Level

Specify how many combos are available via Warehouse → Receipt. When stock reaches 0 — the item is automatically blocked.

Types of Combos for Different Situations

Basic “Drink + Snack”

The simplest and highest-converting. Energy drink or soda + something to snack on. Works for any session.

Pricing: 10–15% discount off the sum of individual items.

Long Session Combo

When purchasing a 3+ hour tariff, offer a “long game” bundle: two drinks + snacks. The customer knows they will get hungry — the offer is timely.

Pricing: 15–20% discount. Higher total means the discount needs to feel more significant.

Morning/Daytime Combo

During quiet hours, create special items with better pricing. Attracts customers in low-traffic periods, raises bar revenue without increasing footfall.

Example: “Daytime” — coffee + croissant on weekdays before 4pm, cheaper than separately.

Event Bundle / Tournament Combo

For birthdays, tournaments, corporate groups: a bundle of drinks for the group. One item = 5 drinks, bundle price lower than 5 individually. Convenient for the customer, reduces order processing time.

How to Measure the Combo Effect

Before/After Metrics

Record baseline figures for 2–4 weeks before introducing the combo:

• Bar revenue per shift
• Bar share of total shift revenue
• Average number of bar orders per shift

After 2–4 weeks — compare the same metrics. Growth = combo effect.

How to view bar revenue → Bar in the Shift Report.

What Each Metric’s Growth Means

Bar revenue grew, number of orders the same — customers are spending more per order (combo instead of one item). Average bar spend increased.

Number of orders grew, average spend the same — combos are converting customers who previously ordered nothing. Attach rate increased.

Both metrics grew — the combo is working on both levers.

Nothing changed — problem is in positioning (cashier is not offering it), in the discount (not noticeable enough), or in the composition (wrong combination for this audience).

Combo Rotation

After 4–6 weeks, change the composition or introduce new combos. Customers get used to the offer and stop responding. A new combo creates fresh interest.

Script for the Cashier

The combo offer should be natural, not mechanical.

❌ “Would you like anything else?” ✅ “Want the combo — energy drink and chips? Cheaper together.”

A specific offer with a specific benefit works better than an open-ended question. The cashier names the items and names the saving — the customer decides faster.

More on upselling when starting a session → Combo: Tariff + Bar.

What’s Next

• Bar Pricing: Target Margin — how to calculate combo price with correct margin
• Setting Up the Bar Menu: Categories and Cards — how to create a combo item in the catalog
• Bar Margin: How to Measure and Improve — profitability control through IZI analytics
• Bar in the Shift Report — where to see the combo effect