What is the purpose of a Price Look-Up (PLU) system?

The purpose of a Price Look-Up (PLU) system is primarily to identify bulk produce items. In retail, especially in grocery stores, PLU codes are assigned to fresh produce and bulk items that do not have a specific barcode. When customers purchase these items, the cashiers can look up the price using the PLU code associated with each item. This system not only facilitates accurate pricing for perishable goods but also speeds up the checkout process, ensuring efficiency in handling items without packaging.

By using PLU codes, retailers ensure consistency and accuracy in managing inventory and pricing for bulk goods, thus enhancing customer satisfaction as shoppers benefit from a smooth shopping experience. This focus on identifying and pricing bulk produce effectively distinguishes the correct answer from those that focus on other areas such as employee monitoring, tracking expenses, or managing customer data, which are unrelated to the specific function of a PLU system.