Companies often request catering for their business meetings and internal events to ensure un-interrupted and more productive business outcomes.
When planning catering for your next business event, here are some criteria you need to look for in your next corporate catering provider.
Are They Flexible to Changing Needs?
Flexibility is a big thing to look for in your caterer especially for a business. There will be times when you may have last minute changes, dietary needs you were not aware of, additional members joining the meeting or dropping off.
You may have ordered individual meals or sandwiches for six colleagues, but the number have doubled or tripled overnight it may be better to change individual meals to buffet style.
Experienced catering providers understand this. They should have the capacity to accommodate. They need to be open to meet such last minute changes given the fluidity of fast-paced business environments. So, it is important that you both need to be on the same page to manage these types of contingencies prior to delivery date.
Can You Reach Them Quickly?
Effective caterers are also extremely responsive. They are easily accessible through multiple channels and do respond in timely manner all the time.
Due to constant and sudden changes in a business environment previously mentioned, and the need for flexibility, it is important for the caterer to have a go-to-point-person who can be accessed via phone, email or text without much delay in case of changes.
So, make sure you are able to reach your catering provider by phone call, text, or email. And that they can respond without delay.
Do They Deliver Their Own Catering?
Business meetings need to start on time and end on time. Boardroom and meetings rooms are often booked back-to-back, so meeting participants need to finish on time to allow for the next team meeting to take place.
There should be no flexibility about time of delivery. Make sure you catering provider are doing their own delivery instead of using a third parties for that. Third party delivery companies often deal with other deliveries in same time as yours. It’s best if your catering provider does their own delivery. Food usually involves sauces, marination that can easily spill and create a mess if not handled with care. Third party delivery companies rarely pay attention to that.
Make sure delivery personnel bring the food and set it up where it should be, and not just leave it at front desk. They are the one that know where the sauces are, which containers or trays need to be handled with more care. You don’t want to end up with a big mess in your office hallways, and hungry colleagues.
Can They Accommodate Dietary Restrictions?
Checking to make sure your caterer is capable of meeting dietary restrictions is just as important. Having anyone with allergies accidentally digest or even touch, in extreme allergy cases, can be a serious liability.
Ensure your catering provider has both nutrition facts and ingredient list. This can drastically mitigate the risk involved. Make sure you catering provider has a designated allergy menu prepped and presented to you with allergens such as gluten, vegan, halal, nuts, dairy, eggs…etc.
Do They Have Buffet Set-up Capabilities?
The way you want the food to be served lies at the essence of catering types. Buffet style works best for corporate catering. People can serve themselves conveniently with little interruption to meeting flow. Clean-up can be a breeze while you are still getting best value with quality food without the high cost.
So, ask your catering provider if they can accommodate buffet styles. They should be well equipped with serving trays, tongs, serving spoons, chafers where required. Also, are they able to set-up instead of just dropping the food off and leaving.
Do they include disposable cutlery, plates, napkins, and cups? Agreeing on what is part of the service they provide and what is not is the best way to manage expectations are met and there are no major hiccups at the event.
Zesty Catering Services
Zesty offers value-driven catering services Burlington, Oakville, Halton region and across Greater Toronto Area. Whether you’re planning a cozy event with friends and family in the comfort of your home, or inviting a large group of guests at a venue, Zesty will deliver on that promise.
We make the catering process easy on you. It all starts with the type of experience you would like to create and your budget. We work with you to ensure that we balance the occasion you are celebrating, the experience you would like to create and the budget you have in mind. We balance all to deliver the best return on your time and money.
We offer sampling of our menu before you decide. We are and remain extremely responsive and accessible throughout the catering process.
