Organizing a business lunch catering can be a daunting task – but it shouldn’t have to be. There are many factors that go into choosing the right vendor and food trucks for your particular meeting. Trying to get all of the details together can be a real pain, especially when you have other things on your plate (pun intended!) Luckily, we’ve made it easy for you with this step-by-step guide to ordering the right company lunch for any business meeting. Just follow along to ensure you are making the best choice for your business lunch catering!
Location
The first thing you want to consider when it comes to choosing the right catering option is the location of your meeting. Location will determine how much space you have for food and drink setup. It will also determine the layout and style of catering menu you might serve. If you are working with a small space, you might not want to set up a huge make-your-own station. Is the meeting room a more formal setup like a dining room or conference room? Or are you keeping things more casual in a kitchen or break-room area? All of these things will play into your decision.
Timing
How long will the meeting run? How much time can you reserve the location for? Are you planning to eat first and then move forward with the meeting agenda or will you eat while the meeting is taking place? These are important questions to ask yourself before making a decision. More time gives you more options to play with, as far as food goes. However, if your time is limited, you may want to choose something easy and fast like sandwiches or wraps.
Dietary Restrictions
Before you even begin looking for business lunch catering, figure out what dietary restrictions there are for the people attending your meeting. You want to make sure that you can have options available for everyone. If a catering company can’t accommodate everyone’s needs, then they aren’t the caterer for you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to find out that Susan from finance has a nut allergy and everything you ordered is cooked in peanut oil! Do your research ahead of time. Our boxed lunches are individually packed so you don’t have to worry about cross contamination!
Final Head Count
This one may seem like a given, but it’s very important! Make sure you not only get a headcount for who’s attending the corporate event but try and anticipate appetite if possible. You want to make sure you have enough great food so that everyone leaves feeling full and satisfied! Does your office consist of mostly heavy eaters who will go back for seconds or thirds? Or is one serving per person enough?
What Type of Meeting is It?
Think about the vibe you’re trying to achieve for this particular meeting. Is this a fun, casual, a BBQ, or buffet style meeting with your team? If so, you should ask your team for their suggestions on the menu. Don’t be afraid to pick something fun or new like veggies, soups, tacos, burritos, and delicious meat and cheese platters. Or maybe you’re meeting with stakeholders or clients. In that case, you may want to stick with something a little safer. Think about the people you’re meeting with and what they would like and try to go in that direction. If you’re meeting with a potential client or investor, you’ll want to pull out all the stops. Don’t go over budget, of course, but stick to delicious food you know is good quality and will be displayed well. Make sure not to choose a lunch menu that’s too messy or difficult to eat. You want to focus on putting your best foot forward and taking time to discuss the business at hand.
Narrow Down Your Options
Now that you have an idea of what type of lunch options you are looking for, you’re ready to look at potential caterers. Start narrowing down your top three or four office lunch catering options that can meet all of your dietary restrictions, serve within your time limit and fit the atmosphere of your meeting.
Choose Your Business Lunch Catering
Now that you have narrowed down your choices, you should be ready to make a decision. Get the team involved, if you can! Have people vote on their favorite option from your top three. Or, if you’re meeting with a client, think about their preferences and make a decision based on that.
Choosing a corporate lunch caterer for your business meeting doesn’t have to be so intimidating or stressful. If you follow this guide, you should be able to find the perfect meal for your team. Or take the quiz below and we’ll tell you which catering services we recommend!
