which are complete bought-in meals, and ready to use (RTU) which require extra labour, not for cooking but for dishing out. While airline caterers have been using component products to some degree for several years, the range of offerings is becoming more sophisticated and their use far more pervasive (Caira, 1995). Hence, the flight provider might need to purchase four or five different sizes of one particular product, for example, beef filet. Under these circumstances, product specifications are essential if the correct supplies are to be procured.