Catch weight
By Marji · Sources and editorial policy
Also called: random weight · variable weight
A catch-weight item is billed by its actual weight, which varies case to case — beef primals, whole fish, block cheese. The invoice line shows a different quantity and total every delivery even when the per-pound price hasn't changed.
Worked example · Same price, different invoice
- Week 1 — beef tenderloin, 11.8 lb at $17.90/lb
- $211.22
- Week 2 — beef tenderloin, 13.4 lb at $17.90/lb
- $239.86
- Apparent increase in spend
- +13.6%
- Actual price change
- 0%
- Per-pound price
- unchanged
Two records make catch weight manageable: the per-unit price, and the actual weight received. With both, cost tracking works normally. With only the line total, it can't.
The guide that works it through
How to Compare Restaurant Supplier Prices When Case Sizes Differ
Compare supplier quotes by purchased and usable units, including pack sizes, yields and known fees. Follow a worked case-to-portion example.
Related terms
Case price vs. unit price
Case price is the cost of a whole package; unit price divides that cost by its total weight, volume or item count.
Invoice reconciliation
Checking that what you ordered, what arrived, and what you were billed are the same three things.
Pack size
How a product is packaged — units per case and size per unit. Changes to it are price changes in disguise.
Credit memo
A supplier document reducing what you owe — for a short, damaged, or wrongly-priced delivery.