As a distributor, the Item Connections tool lets you turn any item detail page into a selling opportunity. In Pepper Management Center (PMC), you can choose which Similar Items (substitutes) and recommended ‘You Might Also Like’ items (add-ons) appear when buyers view an item – helping guide what they purchase next, promote priority SKUs, and keep orders moving.
How Item Connections Help You Sell More
Increase average order value with add-ons: Use recommended 'You Might Like' to surface complementary products.
Get priority products in front of buyers: Attach new items, private label, or high-margin SKUs to high-traffic item pages so buyers discover them without needing to search.
Reduce lost sales with substitutes: Add Similar Items so buyers can quickly choose an alternative if their first choice isn’t available or isn’t the right fit.
Reduce buyer friction: Help buyers find alternatives and add-ons without leaving the item page or running a new search.
React quickly to promos and inventory changes: Update connections in PMC anytime (seasonal swaps, promo bundles, preferred substitutes) without waiting on manual updates.
Control what shows up first: Reorder Similar and Recommended ‘You Might Also Like’ items to prioritize the options buyers see first.
Types of Item Connections
On an item detail page, users may see two types of related items:
Similar Items: Substitute options for the item a buyer is viewing.
You might also like: Complementary items that pair well with the item a buyer is viewing. For example, on an item detail page for a hotdog, different condiments and toppings could be suggested.
Tip: It’s up to you what items are displayed and what section they appear in!
Example: If no direct substitutes are available for an item, suggest items within the same product category under ‘You Might Also Like’.
The ‘You Might Also Like’ section suggests other fruit items a user might add to their order, since they are likely purchasing other types of fruit. The Similar Items section highlights close alternatives that could be used as a direct substitute for Apple, Gala.
How to Use the Item Connections Tool
Step 1: Search for an item to add connections to:
In the search bar, search by item name or id. Then, click on the item.
Searching for an item to add connections to.
An item with no connections.
Step 2: Add connections:
In the search bars, search the catalog by item name or id.
Add up to 3 Similar Items:
Add up to 5 Recommended Items:
Step 3: Change the order of how items appear:
Click and hold the drag handle (dotted icon) and drag the item to reorder it:
Step 4: Save changes:
Click the green Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen.
Note: Items connected will only show if an operator has the items available in their catalog.
How to Enable Two-Way Connections
By default, Item Connections are one way: editing Item A only changes what appears on Item A’s item detail page.
If you'd like the relationship to work both ways (so Item A shows Item B and Item B also shows Item A), use the Two-Way button:
The Two-Way button is green when selected.
How the Two-Way button works:
All changes saved while the Two-Way button is selected will have a two-way relationship.
Updating previously configured item connections: Click the Two-Way button > search for the item and click on it > click Save Changes
Adding new item connections: Click the Two-Way button > follow the normal steps under ‘How to Use the Item Connections Tool’ > click Save Changes
Note: Toggling the button off doesn’t remove existing connections. Clicking the button to turn it off does not undo connections that were already created. It only affects new connections you save going forward.
To remove a connection that already exists (whether it was created normally or via the Two-Way button):
Search for the item that currently shows the connection and click on the item.
Hover over an item to reveal an X button, and click to remove the item.
Click Save Changes.