October 19th, 2009
Delivery service for pizza lunch on Fridays at high tech firms is one kind of catered meal, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about attractive catered meals for business customers. We’re thinking of coffee and pastries for a breakfast meeting; croissant sandwiches and gourmet cookies for a working lunch, or your choice of three salads with French bread; and hot and chilled hors d’oeuvres for an early evening reception.
A nicely catered meal, with an attractive display, makes a simple meal an event. It inspires people, lifts the mood, gets people excited and talking about it, and changes the spirit in the room. When you want to make a good impression on your customers, your caterer can carry the day.
How are businesses affording catering these days? Flexibility.
Businesses are working with smaller budgets. If you’re flexible in working with them during these times, they’ll keep bringing their business back.
Talk to your caterer about your budget, generally they can customize a menu that will fit within your budget.
Here are some of the alternatives that people are asking for.
- Having the main part of the meal catered, while the employees bring desserts to share. (This is fine in one’s own business setting, but may not work in public venues)
- Having employees set up the event, decorations, tables, chairs, table cloths and place settings. The caterer brings the food and displays it, and then employees help with serving.
- Ordering less food.
- Ordering less expensive food.
- Not serving alcohol.
