That’s for one container of wholesale batter, IHOP is not paying that price because they’re buying a lot more.
I don’t know if this is helpful, but when I worked at Olive Garden 10 years ago, a spaghetti and meat sauce cost them $1.09. That includes everything, labor, etc.
If that really does include everything, why do I always hear about how thin margins are in the food service industry? That doesn't sound like a thin margin to me.
Margins are thin on things that aren’t pasta. OG also had a great thing going with the wine focus. You could get a glass of estancia Pinot noir back then for like $7. The bottle was $8 retail.