Importing Products to Build a Collection (CSV File)

If you're managing a large inventory or planning your menu strategy outside the Buddi Admin Portal, you can build a Collection by uploading a CSV file — making it faster and easier to group products at scale.

This method is especially helpful if you’ve exported a product list from your POS system, or if your live inventory is already syncing into Buddi and you want to export from My Menu to help plan your Collections more strategically.

Two Ways to Gather Product Data for Bulk Import

There are two common workflows when using the CSV Import feature:

Method 1: Export Directly from Buddi
This method is best when your products are syncing into Buddi and visible in 'My Menu'.
Video Tutorial (using the buddi-licious demo store): How to Set up Featured Products

Method 2: Export from your POS System
Use this method when you want to build Collections before products are synced into Buddi — or when working from your master POS catalog (e.g., for launch prep, backstock planning, etc.).

How to Create + Upload the CSV File for Bulk Import

1. Access Collections:
   1. Go to Admin Portal > Promotions > Collections > 'New Collection'.
      
      
2. Download the Template:
   1. Click the link to download Buddi’s Sample CSV Template.
       
3. Export Your Product List
   You can choose one of the following methods:

   1. From Buddi: Go to My Menu → Import/Export, then export your full menu (we recommend choosing ‘Export without Hidden Items’).

   2. From your POS system: Export your product or inventory catalog directly from your POS dashboard.

      
      

4. Prepare your CSV File:
   1. Open the exported product list and Buddi’s template side by side.
   2. Copy and paste the following columns into the template:

      • Product Name

      • Barcode (UPC)
        Tip: You may need to format the Barcode column as “Fraction” in Excel to view the full code.
        
        
5. Save your File:
   1. Save over the template file.
   2. Rename it to match the Collection and/or Date.
      
      
6. Upload to Buddi:
   1. Go back to the 'New Collection' page in Buddi.
   2. Click on 'Imported Products from CSV' to upload the prepared template file.
      
      
7. Fill out remaining details in your Collection.
   
   
8. Hit 'Save'.
   

Optional:

• Checkmark 'Apply Collection as a filter' if you want a button for it on the menu.
  
• Set up Special Messages using the pre-built Collection (this will quickly tag each listing with a caption).