Meal category analysis: An application of the metafrontier approach

Chin Yi Fang, Fu Sung Hsu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study contributes to the literature on menu analysis by applying metafrontier-to-data envelopment analysis (MDEA) to the restaurant industry. MDEA, incorporating multiple outputs and inputs, was used to distinguish retainable, improved and undesirable items on a menu, and to identify differences in the proficiency level among heterogeneous meal categories based on the metatechnology ratio (MTR). The findings indicate that the MTR of meal categories (entrées and appetizers) prepared in each restaurant was inferior to the value of meal categories produced in a central kitchen. Slackbased improvements suggested from MDEA can improve the efficiency of menu items.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1083-1095
Number of pages13
JournalTourism Economics
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Oct

Keywords

  • Meal category
  • Menu analysis
  • Metafrontier approach
  • Metatechnology ratio
  • Profit enhancement

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

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