Final answer:
The best way to manage a plowhorse in menu engineering is not to remove it due to its popularity, but to optimize costs, maybe by tweaking the recipe or enhancing its perceived value, and to increase its visibility on the menu.
Step-by-step explanation:
In menu engineering, a plowhorse is typically an item that is popular but has a lower profit margin. To manage a plowhorse effectively, you would not typically remove the item from the menu since it's popular (high sales volume). Instead, the best way to manage a plowhorse might involve creative strategies such as optimizing the cost or enhancing the item's perceived value to justify a higher price. This could include negotiating with suppliers for a better cost, tweaking the recipe to reduce expenses, or repackaging the item with a side or garnish that increases the perceived value without significantly increasing the cost. An alternative could be to improve the item's visibility on the menu, thereby giving it top priority, in an effort to increase its sales further, even if it contributes to a lower profit margin per item.