Plain-English summary#
Modifiers are the "how do you want that?" questions on top of a menu item. Size (Regular / Large), spiciness (Mild / Hot), add-ons (Cheese, Bacon), preparation (Well-done, Medium). You define them once as a Modifier Group with options, then attach the group to the products (or whole product categories) that should show them at the counter.
When you'd use this#
- Drinks come in three sizes → one "Size" group with 3 options
- Shawarmas need spice level → one "Spice" group with 3 options, default Medium
- Burgers allow add-ons → one "Extras" group, multi-select, each with a price
- Pizzas need crust choice + size + toppings → three separate groups on the one item
Without modifiers, every variation is a separate menu item — it clutters the catalogue and makes reporting impossible. With modifiers, the base item stays one item and the variations become structured options that add up cleanly in reports.
How to access#
- Sidebar: admin.foodops.io → Catalog → Modifiers (next to Items / Categories / Menu Groups)
- Modifiers use the Products permissions: Products: View to see the page, and Products: Create / Edit / Delete to change groups. Check the role group's permissions under Settings → Organization → Users → Role groups
Prerequisites#
- At least one product or product category to attach the modifier group to
- A role group with the Products: Create permission to add new groups
Walkthrough — create a modifier group#
This covers setting up modifiers in the admin backoffice (admin.foodops.io → Catalog → Modifiers).
1. Click "Add modifier"#
This opens a full-page form.
2. Fill the group-level fields#
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Group name | Your own name for the group (e.g., "Size", "Spice Level", "Add-ons") |
| Shown to customers as | Optional. What the cashier sees at the till, if you want a friendlier label |
| How many can they pick? | Exactly one, Any number, or Between… (choose a minimum and a maximum, or tick No maximum) |
| Must be answered before the item can be added | Tick to make the cashier choose before the item goes on the order (it sets the minimum to 1) |
| Open automatically at the till | Controls whether the modifier picker opens automatically when the cashier adds the product at the counter. If at least one of the product's modifier groups has this on, the picker opens on add. If none do, the product goes straight into the cart with each group's default options applied - the cashier can still open the picker later with the pencil (edit) icon. |
3. Add options#
Type an option name in the box and press Enter to add it, or paste a list such as "Small, Medium, Large" to add several at once. Each option has:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Option name | Option label shown to the cashier and on the receipt |
| Extra charge | Extra cost on top of the base item price. Zero for no-cost variants (e.g. "Medium spice"); positive for add-ons. Shown as (+5.00) next to the option name when above zero |
| Pre-select marker | Click it to make the option a default: pre-selected when the picker opens |
| Description on the menu | Optional extra detail, shown as a small line under the option name in the picker |
| Can be taken more than once | Lets the cashier pick more than one of this option (e.g. 2× cheese) - the counter shows + / − buttons next to it. Set a minimum and maximum quantity, or tick No limit |
| Deducts stock from | Link the option to a stocked variant. Leave it on "Nothing — price only" for options that don't use stock |
| Uses per serving and Unit | How much of the linked variant one selection uses, plus the unit. E.g. an "Extra Cheese" option linked to the "Cheese Slice" variant with 2 pcs deducts 2 slices per selection |
4. Choose where the group applies#
Where it's offered has two selectors:
- Product Categories — pick existing categories. Apply to "Beverages" and every beverage gets this modifier group.
- Products — pick individual products for finer control.
You can combine both — e.g. apply "Size" to the "Beverages" category AND to the "Shawarma Platter" product. Nothing stops you doing this, but it can make the same picker show twice for one item, so avoid attaching a group to both a product and its category.
5. Save#
Click Save. The modifier group is live. Orders already open keep the modifier choices they were placed with; new orders use the updated group.
Key concepts#
- Modifier group — a named set of options (e.g., "Size", "Add-ons"). What you create and attach.
- Modifier option - one choice within a group (e.g., "Large"). Has its own name, extra charge, pre-select setting, and quantity behaviour.
- How many can they pick? - exactly one, any number, or between a minimum and a maximum. Change it later by editing the group.
- Open automatically at the till - a speed-up. When the cashier adds a product whose modifier group has this on, the picker appears straight away.
- Pre-select - the default option is pre-selected when the picker opens; the cashier can change it. Useful for house standards (e.g., spice = Medium by default).
- Can be taken more than once - lets one option be picked more than once. "2× cheese" on a burger, without creating a "Double Cheese" option. Limited by the minimum and maximum quantity (or unlimited with No limit).
- Where it's offered - how groups are attached. Modifier groups aren't stored on items; they target categories and products. Changing a group updates every attached item straight away.
- Extra charge - the amount an option adds. Added to the line total at the POS. Zero-price options are free variants (spice levels); positive are upsells (extras). Foodops always recalculates the line price from the item's current price plus the chosen modifiers, so the receipt always reflects your current prices.
Common questions#
Q: Is a modifier the same as a menu item variant? A: Close, but they work differently. A "variant" is usually one item per variation (Regular Coke, Large Coke = two products). A modifier keeps one base item (Coke) and lets the cashier pick Size at order time. Modifiers are cleaner for reporting because total Coke sales stay together.
Q: Can a modifier option deduct different stock? A: Yes. On each option, use Deducts stock from to pick a stocked variant, then set Uses per serving and the Unit. For example, "Medium" can use 150 g of chicken and "Large" 200 g.
Q: How do I force the cashier to choose a size? A: Tick Must be answered before the item can be added on the group. The cashier then has to make a choice before the item goes on the order. If you also want the picker to open by itself, tick Open automatically at the till.
Q: Can I apply a modifier group to ALL products at once? A: Yes - in the Where it's offered section, tick every product category. There's no "all products" switch, so you have to tick every category.
Q: What if I edit a modifier group mid-service — does it affect orders already placed? A: No. Orders already open keep the modifier choices they were placed with. New orders use the updated group. The counter picks up the change on its own - no message appears - so there's nothing to press; just make sure the till was online when you saved.