What is the primary purpose of a Price Lookup Number (PLU)?

The primary purpose of a Price Lookup Number (PLU) is to assist in pricing produce. PLUs are numeric codes assigned to various fruits and vegetables, enabling cashiers and self-checkout systems to quickly identify and price them accurately. This system streamlines the checkout process, making it easier for both customers and cashiers to manage produce pricing efficiently.

While options such as managing inventory or tracking sales data may involve similar processes, they are not the direct intention behind PLUs. PLUs specifically focus on the accurate pricing of items at the point of sale, particularly for items that do not have a barcode. Identifying customers is also unrelated since PLUs pertain specifically to products, not individuals. Thus, the emphasis on pricing produce is why this option stands out as the primary purpose of a PLU.