Importing Inventory (SKU's)

Modified on Thu, 15 Apr, 2021 at 10:43 PM

If you have a large list of inventory items, adding them one at a time can be a time-consuming task. If you would like to do a Mass Import, please follow the steps below:


Vendors must be created or imported before a SKU import can be done as the SKU import requires an existing Vendors Name to be imported against.
See: Manually Add Vendors: Vendor Help Video
See: Mass Import Vendors: Importing Vendors 


  1. Download and open the Importing Template: cheddr_sku_import.csv (Located at the bottom of this article page)
    1. Do NOT delete the Header Row (Row 1) as the column titles must remain in the document (Company, name, etc.)
      1. The only exception here are the location columns. If you have removed these locations from your CheddrSuite account then you can remove them or replace these column headers with new locations as described below.
    2. Review the sample data on Row 2 if needed then Delete it once it is no longer needed as reference else it will be added as a SKU to your CheddrSuite account.
  2. Fill out the Excel file with the data that you would like to import. Please note the following 6 required fields for each SKU that is imported: sku_num, name, price, expense_account, contact, and buying_unit
    1. sku_num: The Vendors SKU for the Inventory Item. (i.e. 9463895) | REQUIRED
      1. IMPORTANT: SKU’s are NOT unique in the CheddrSuite system so please validate your SKUs carefully so that you don’t duplicate 1 SKU into multiple different items.
    2. name: The Inventory Item's Name (i.e. Pepsi Syrup) | REQUIRED
    3. price: The Inventory price per buying_unit as defined below on step 6 (i.e. 41.99) | REQUIRED
    4. expense_account: Expense account the cost will be associated with as defined in your CheddrSuite account (i.e. Beverage Cost) | REQUIRED
      1. Must match existing Expense Categories spelling exactly as it is written in your CheddrSuite account.
        (Access within your CheddrSuite account via Settings > Cost Options - Expense Categories)
    5. contact: Vendors name as  it is seen in your CheddrSuite account. This must match the vendor spelling exactly, capital/lowercase letters as well must match. (i.e. SLO Beverage Company| REQUIRED
    6. buying_unit: (i.e. Box) | REQUIRED
      1. Must pick one from the following list. This is a predefined list of options so the value MUST match one of these. Please make sure first letter is capital as spelling is case sensitive for the import of buying_unit:
        BagCartonGramPound
        BasketCaseJarPortion
        BottleContainerJugRoll
        BoxEachKegSleeve
        BucketFlatOunce
        CanGallonPallet

    7. par_type: This value simply equals "standard" without quotes. Every imported item will use this value so just be sure that it is defined.
    8. reorder_qty: Qty of buying_unit's to reorder when inventory numbers are equal too or less than par_qty value (i.e. 10) - [10 Box's will be added to next order when inventory reaches 5 or less Boxes on hand]
    9. par_qty: Triggers re-order of reorder_qty amount needed when value is equal to or less than this value. (i.e. 5) [When Inventory on this SKU reaches 5 it will trigger 10 Boxes to be added to next order] 
    10. cost_method: 3 options to choose from
      • Blank: Not a menu item
      • Quantity: Must have a capital Q. Used for items that have weight or volume.
      • Weight: Must have a capital W. Used for items that come only in defined units, where weight or volume do not apply.
    11. location_walk-in: Number value defining how many buying_units are still in inventory for this SKU. See following list for possible values:
      1. Leave Blank : Units are not stored in this location
      2. 0 : Units are stored in this location but you are not running inventory right now, just pre-defining this location as a possible location for inventory.
      3. 1-99999 : Actual number of units currently in this location via Inventory review 
    12. location_refrigerator: Number value defining how many buying_units are still in inventory for this SKU. See following list for possible values:
      • Leave Blank : Units are not stored in this location
      • 0 : Units are stored in this location but you are not running inventory right now, just pre-defining this location as a possible location for inventory.
      • 1-99999 : Actual number of units currently in this location via Inventory review
    13. ADDING ADDITONAL INVENTORY LOCATIONS - Same value options from steps 10 & 11
      1. You can add additional locations that have already been pre loaded into your CheddrSuite account
        (See: What is an Inventory Location?)
      2. You can include the additional storage locations using each open column to the right of the last column with a title. Use the format of “location_LocationName” where LocationName matches the location spelling exactly but must be all lowercase regardless of how it displays in the UI; spaces are OK to use. (i.e. if your CheddrSuite account location is titled as "Front Counter" the import column should be titled "location_front counter" without quotes.
Importing SKU's can only be used for adding NEW SKU's. You can NOT use the import to mass update existing SKU's already in your CheddrSuite account.


Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select at least one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article