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Bulk import products

Use a structured spreadsheet import when a store needs to add or update categories, products, or product modifiers at scale. An importer can process rows against stable external identifiers, but it is a catalog-write operation: confirm the target store, file structure, mappings, and approval path before uploading anything.

Imports can create or overwrite catalog data

An upload can change categories, products, modifiers, descriptions, prices, tax, fees, images, and availability. Test the import with an approved small dataset in a non-production store, then inspect the result before importing a full catalog.

What an importer can represent​

The documented multi-importer workflow can organize:

  • Categories
  • Products
  • Product modifiers, including extras, options, and sub-options

Each row represents an element to create or modify. The importer associates that row with the intended business, category, product, or modifier through external IDs. This is useful when migrating a catalog, uploading a large menu, applying repeatable bulk updates, or managing a complex modifier structure.

Prepare the file and mappings​

The source workflow describes this sequence:

Prepare importer structure
        ↓
Prepare the importer file
        ↓
Match the Business External ID
        ↓
Upload the file
        ↓
Review the resulting categories, products, and modifiers

Before uploading:

  1. Use a CSV or spreadsheet format supported by the approved importer.
  2. Set a unique external ID for every business and for each mapped catalog element.
  3. Confirm that the Business External ID in the file matches the intended store.
  4. Keep decimal price values in dot format, for example 5.5, when the selected importer expects that format.
  5. Decide which mappings the importer needs: Category, Product, Extra Product, Extras, Extra Options, and Extra Option Sub-options.
  6. Validate a small sample before using the full file.

Configure the importer​

Open More actions → Importers from Stores → Stores or the destination catalog in Stores → Products. Choose the file-importers tab when the panel also shows menu importers. Open an existing importer or use Add importer to configure the file type, mappings, and destination. Confirm the mapping against a small test file first.

Upload and review the result​

In the file importers list, select the importer and open Import file. Review the intended store, filename, and mappings, then run the import. Open the resulting job or log and check its errors and the destination catalog before retrying. For an Ordering.co menu URL rather than a file, use the menu importer.

Common import patterns​

  • Categories and products only: leave unnecessary modifier fields empty when the approved schema permits it.
  • Update existing products: keep the existing product external IDs so the intended records can be matched; verify the result because a row mapping does not prove only the desired fields changed.
  • Multiple modifiers: use the modifier mappings deliberately when one product needs extras, options, or sub-options.

Final checklist​

  • Every external ID is unique where the importer expects uniqueness.
  • The business external ID matches the target store.
  • Price values use the expected decimal format.
  • A small, approved test dataset has been reviewed first.
  • The selected importer, uploaded file, target store, and returned status all match the intended operation.

Related guides: Products overview · Create a product category · Importers