How to Choose a Corporate Catering Service
Choosing a catering service can be one of the most important details for your corporate event. For annual conferences, holiday parties, awards ceremonies and many other occasions, you may require corporate catering services near you. As you start to plan your upcoming event, check out the following tips about how to choose corporate caterers!
5 Tips for Choosing Corporate Caterers
As highlighted in this checklist from Eventbrite, planning corporate events often begins many months before they are set to take place. While you may have that kind of time when organizing the next holiday party, you may not have it for that last-minute luncheon. For any planning scenario, here are 5 tips to consider in choosing a corporate catering service near you:
1. Gather key event details before starting your search.
The type of event for which you need corporate catering is only one factor to consider in choosing a caterer. The location, number of guests, and date and time are also important, not to mention the intended budget. For example, if you want to have this month’s appreciation party in the courtyard area of your building, then plated service may not be the most fitting choice for this space. Instead, build-your-own hot dog or burger bars may be a better fit for the setting and perhaps a welcome change from the usual catered options. Solidifying event details prior to picking a catering service can also help you avoid potential issues. After all, you don’t want to set your mind on a particular corporate caterer and find out later that they aren’t actually available to provide the necessary services on your event date.
2. Think about the type of food you want to offer.
Once you have finalized many of the event details, you may now have a better idea about what kind of food you’ll want for your event. For an afternoon meeting, a beverage station and platters of appetizers may be appropriate. An all-day training may call for multiple menu selections, from buffets filled with breakfast bites to sundae bar catering for a welcome afternoon treat. For some additional inspiration, check out these corporate catering ideas!
3. Add personalization.
Once you have narrowed down your potential menu choices, you will likely want to think about opportunities for guests to customize their meals. In general, people appreciate the ability to have their food just the way they like it. Personalizing a meal might be as simple as having a choice of condiments, but it may also be more nuanced, as when dietary considerations are involved. In some cases, you may be able to gather information from event participants in advance to help inform your menu. If not, then offering build-your-own meals or the opportunity to pre-order a meal, such as the individual bagged lunches on the Freddy’s catering menu, are two potential options for customization.
4. Explore the services available from each caterer.
For formal events, you may be looking for corporate catering near you that can provide a multi-course menu and dedicated staff for setup, service and cleanup. On the other hand, catering services that offer carry-out or delivery may be ideal for more impromptu team lunches or catered snack bars during the company’s busy season. In addition to the menu specifics and service styles, make sure to find out exactly what to expect in working with any potential catering company, including details like tableware, decor and equipment rentals.
5. Revisit your budget.
Before planning even begins, the budget for an event may already be established. For some events, the entire budget may be intended for catering needs, but it’s important to remember that catering cost considerations often include more than the food itself, as highlighted at Thumbtack. On the other hand, the catering expenses may only be one part of the total event cost. Therefore, before finalizing any catering orders or contracts, you’ll want to revisit the budget and ensure that your intended corporate catering decisions will work within those parameters.
If you are looking for corporate catering near you, consider the variety of options available at your local Freddy’s. Our catering menu includes 5 different build-your-own bars, featuring items like hot dogs, steakburgers and Freddy’s frozen custard. We also offer 10 individual bagged lunches that include options like the California Style Double, Grilled Chicken Club and Veggie Burger. Each of these meals also comes with a bag of chips and a chocolate brownie. If you are interested in Freddy’s catering services for your next event, please contact the Freddy’s location near you, as prep time and order minimums may vary by location!