We have been able to run as low as 28.5% annual cost (food, paper, cleaning supplies, condiments, packaging) If we use it up, we count it in this figure. We have also run as high as 32%. Long term our number is between 29% and 30%. As far as I am concerned, boxes are as important as sauce or cheese, but at least my crew can not mess up the portions on them!
This year we are running more coupons than we have in the past so I expect that the cost will creep up to 31%, but as business picks up we will tighten things a bit on the offers and get back under 30%.
Month to month our number varies far more. In really big months, we can get down to 26%, slower months we hit 34%.