Catering is one of the essential parts of corporate event management, or any other type of event. Since event organisers prioritise the experience of the guests, they should provide a great dining experience. On the other hand, if the food isn’t good enough, the guests can feel that the event isn’t well organised.

Whether it’s a seminar, team-building, product launch, or other corporate celebration, planning the catering should be one of the priorities. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for planning catering for corporate events.

1. Consider the Type of Event

Before you get started, you should finalise the event's format, purpose, and schedule. Once it’s done, you can start looking for the ideal catering service. Keep in mind that each catering business has different requirements, so it’s best to find one as early as possible. At the same time, their requirements should match the type of event you’re organising.

2. Know Your Guest Numbers

Another thing to consider when it comes to catering for corporate event management is knowing your guest numbers. If the food is too little, the guests may end up being disappointed, while ordering too much can cost a lot, and a significant amount of food can go to waste.

When planning the guest list, you should also consider setting a deadline for the RSVP, so that you have an idea of the number once you start looking for the catering business.

3. Ask About Dietary Requirements

When sending out invitations, you should also include a question or options about dietary needs or restrictions; that way, once they RSVP, you already have an idea about the food you can provide during the event. Make sure to indicate intolerances, allergies, and dietary preferences. For instance, some may be vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or halal consumers. At the same time, let the catering service know about these details.

4. Choose a Menu That Suits the Audience

The menu should be appetising, and the guests should remember it as a good experience. It can be a mix of familiar and versatile options, especially since you have a diverse corporate audience.

For instance, it can be a combination of various appetisers, side dishes, main dishes, desserts, and drinks.

5. Match the Food to the Schedule

The timing of serving food should also be considered, so the catering service should be able to follow your timeline. Besides, if you’re in the middle of a huge presentation and the lunch is served at the same time, it may interrupt the programme.

However, even if you’re yet to serve the main food for the day, there should be constant refills of snacks and drinks to prevent guests from feeling hungry.

6. Work With an Experienced Caterer

When looking for the best catering service, make sure to choose an experienced one. You can check their online portfolio and get to know the past clients they have, including how the service went. At the same time, they should be able to match the venue, schedule, size, and budget of the event.

7. Consider Your Budget

As mentioned, the catering business should be able to match your event budget. So, as early as possible, it should be discussed, including the number of guests. Usually, even during the initial consultation, it should be discussed so that you can get the ideal quotation.

8. Think About Presentation

Aside from the variety and taste of the food, you should also consider the presentation. Besides, many catering services offer delicious food, so sometimes, you should just make the decision based on the presentation. Since corporate events are often documented through photos, this can encourage more guests to attend future events.

9. Plan for Beverages

When it comes to catering, you shouldn’t just focus on food, but also the drinks. Make sure that the drinks served by your chosen catering business suit the event and the food served. At the same time, there should be a lot of choices, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices, soft drinks, and water.

10. Confirm the Venue Requirements

Some venues have limitations when it comes to catering. For instance, you’re not allowed to serve alcoholic drinks, so you should confirm it before looking for a catering business. Meanwhile, there are also venues with partner catering businesses, so you might not be allowed to hire a third-party.

11. Arrange a Tasting When Possible

Before signing anything, you should first taste the food and drinks yourself. You can also invite some of your co-event planners, so that there are many perspectives when making the decisions.

12. Have a Backup Plan

No matter how prepared you are, there can also be challenges along the way. And since the food is an essential part of the event, you should make sure that there’s a backup plan. In doing so, you should know who to contact in case of delays, and at least another catering business to take over if your initial choice won’t be able to fulfil their duties.

Final Thoughts

Corporate event catering isn’t something you should decide on the last minute. It should be one of the first things to be decided on by considering the budget, schedule, venue, and menu selection.