The eighth column in the new items spreadsheet is dedicated to a simple flag, to mark whether the product in question is packaged or random weight. The number 1 is placed in this column if so, to trip a function in the system that will weigh this item at the cash register, but is otherwise left blank.
For as much time as he spends arguing with alcohol zealots, heightened now by hiring Jake Gifford for what you may as well call an Executive Beer Hipster position, the random weight items – mostly in the bulk department – are easily the most confusing and labor intensive category this side of the deli. And yet they do not have a merchandiser assigned to this department, which is all the more surprising considering that Bellwether Snacks owns them, and their wares fall entirely under this bulk banner.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jasonmcgathey.wordpress.com/2021/04/05/tales-of-a-scorched-coffee-pot-chapter-30/
