If your company is sponsoring a corporate event, it usually involves food and beverages as well. No matter how great all of your presentations and marketing materials are, everything can fall apart with bad food.
Even though you did not prepare or serve the food, negative impressions will be against your company. That is why it is imperative to find a good corporate catering company.
Whoever is in charge of the event will also be affected. It could mean losing his or her job if the catering is terrible. Make sure to do research, before just picking any company that says they do catering. Family parties do not count toward corporate catering. They need to be able to set up for Check the references, read reviews, then set up a tasting.
A good company will be able to service all your needs for whatever kind of function you are having. Can they do continental breakfasts or hot/ cold meals? Will they help cater to those with allergies or Vegan preferences?
Do they also have soups, salads, snacks, and desserts? You want a company that you can always depend on to have what you need when you need it.
It is a good idea to have caterers that also provide servers, and or bartenders. When you sponsor an event, you do not want to have to worry about bringing out foods, beverages, plates, and utensils. You want to concentrate on entertaining, or if a training event, training your guests. You do not have time to be running all over the place, “fetching” things.
A good catering company has tons of experience and knows to ask you questions. Most people don’t realize all that is needed to sponsor food at an event. They can tell you whether it is a good idea to have a sit down served meal, buffet, finger foods, and or snacks.
They will know to tell you, perhaps you should not have messy food where you are training and teaching employees. They also inform you of how much you need per person for buffet-style setups.
You will also need to set up a certain amount of food. This means if you have 25 attendees, you would need at least 50 pieces of chicken, however, some guests tend to take more. Do you schedule to have another platter brought out, or not? Sometimes it is better to have a sit down served meal. Although it tends to cost more, it is better in the long run, as you know, everyone will get their fill.
The company you pick will be able to handle simple meals but also can do upscale Hors D’Oeuvres, with specialty cheeses, if needed. Caterers usually also offer the linens and tablecloths for your event. If they do not, this is a good thing to know beforehand, so that you can rent them from a party goods store.
As soon as you know that your company is having an event, you should start thinking about the food. Is there a theme to the event? If it is a Polynesian theme, then you will want to go with a company known for preparing this type of food. Of course, until you know where your event will be, you will have to wait to choose a company. However, as soon as you have booked a location, you must immediately research the catering companies nearby.
Start scheduling appointments early so that you can ensure that the company you want, will be available on the dates needed. Start early, research, and your event will be a huge success for your company, and you!
