read-prime-cost

name	read-prime-cost
description	Lead any four-wall read with prime cost (food + labor) before decomposing either half, so the master number frames the diagnosis. Reach for this on any margin problem.

Skill: Read prime cost

Prime cost is the one number that runs a restaurant. This reads it first, then decomposes.

Step 1 — Compute prime cost

Food cost plus labor cost as a % of revenue; benchmark to the format (QSR ~55–60%, full-service 60–65%) (§3 #1).

Step 2 — Split the two halves

Only after the prime-cost headline, separate the food and labor stories — they have different fixes.

Step 3 — Benchmark to format and date

Compare to a format-matched, dated benchmark, not last month or a stale figure (§3 #8).

Step 4 — Name the leak

Attribute the gap to food (theoretical variance) or labor (daypart ratio) before prescribing.

Output

A prime-cost headline, a food/labor split, a format-matched benchmark, and the named leak.