Definition
Par level
The target quantity of a product to have on hand at a defined point, usually just after delivery, sized for expected usage between orders plus a safety margin.
Worked example
Average use 1.2 bottles/day, deliveries every 4 days with 1-day lead time → cover 5 days = 6 bottles, plus 2-bottle safety for weekend spikes → par 8 bottles. After Sunday count shows 3 on hand, suggested order = 5 to return to par. If a patio season doubles velocity, raise par temporarily rather than living in perpetual stockouts.
When operators use this
Set a par only after a counted period. /par-level-calculator runs the arithmetic. set par levels is the method. Well pars are bottles on the rail; cage pars are cases. A playoff week is a reason to raise coverage temporarily, not a reason to keep two extra cases all season. sitting inventory is what happens when pars only go up.
Common mistakes
Copying a distributor par, using a sister bar's sheet, or treating a four-week holiday spike as the new normal will park cash on the rail. Partial counts should not silently rewrite pars for SKUs that were out of scope.
How ExactPour handles it
ExactPour stores pars per product and location, compares them to closed-count on-hands, and builds reorder suggestions. Alerts fire when stock crosses thresholds so ordering is tied to the last trusted count instead of a walkthrough guess on delivery day.
Qualification
Pars based on short or atypical usage periods misstate need; review after menu, season, or delivery-schedule changes. Partial counts should not silently rewrite pars for products that were out of scope.