Are Your Supplier Costs Creeping Up? Here’s How to Catch It Early
You don’t need a full-blown cost crisis to start bleeding margin. Most venues don’t realise they’re paying more for stock until the problem’s already hurting — not because they’re ignoring invoices, but because they’re just trying to keep up with service, staff, and everything else.
But here’s the kicker: supplier cost creep is one of the biggest hidden threats to your bottom line — and it’s fixable.
1. The Creep Is Slow — That’s Why It Hurts
It usually goes like this:
– You start buying a bottle of gin at $34
– A few months later, it’s $38.50
– Nobody updates the recipe cost
– Your GP drops by 5–8% and no one knows why
Fix: Track historical pricing for your top 20 SKUs. If it’s changed more than 5%, raise it with your supplier or adjust your menu accordingly.
2. Most POS Systems Don’t Catch It
POS platforms track what’s sold — but not what it cost you this week. If your backend recipes are using outdated costs, your reports are basically fiction.
Fix: Update drink costing in your POS or inventory system every time a key supplier price changes. Or link it to a tool that pulls invoice data automatically.
3. The Price Isn’t Always the Problem — It’s the Packaging
Suppliers will sometimes swap brands, bottle sizes, or units on the invoice — and it throws your recipe math off.
Fix: Read the fine print. Set up alerts or run a monthly scan for any SKU where the unit price has shifted more than 5%.
4. Use the Data to Negotiate Better
You’ve got more leverage than you think — especially if you’re consistent. Showing a supplier how their pricing has shifted over time builds trust and helps you negotiate smarter deals.
Fix: Use a tracker to log changes. When you're up for renegotiation, bring the data.
Grab the Tools
Want a simple supplier pricing tracker template?
👉 Download it here — plug in your top SKUs and get alerts when things change.
How Raise The Bar Tracks Supplier Price Creep (So You Don’t Have To)
- Invoice Integration
We pull your supplier data straight from PDFs or accounting software.
- Unit-Aware Pricing
We catch sneaky changes in pack size or volume that mess with your costings.
- Alerts for Price Jumps
Set your thresholds and get notified when something spikes — before it kills your GP.
- Historical Tracking
Visualise how pricing has changed over time, so you’re ready to renegotiate with confidence.