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If you are holding a business meeting then it is important that you make the right impression for all of your delegates. Whilst you need to make sure that you have all of the relevant resources, you have found the right venue and picked a date and time that works for everyone, you also need to consider the extra touches that can elevate your meeting to the next level.
People now have high expectations and so when it comes to providing food at your meeting, a dry croissant and a few biscuits simply will not cut it any more, so now it is the time to look at corporate event caterers.
These people are the experts in providing food for professional occasions and can make sure that they will serve up something that will impress everybody and help your meeting to get the results that you were hoping for.
It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to choosing the right catering service for your business meeting, which is why we have put together our top tips to help you out.
The first thing you need to think about is how much you have to spend on your business catering. Think about the type of meeting that you are holding, the number of people in attendance and the type of food that you are hoping to serve up.
This will help you to narrow down your options and work out which catering companies and which menus are within your budget.
Different catering companies will work in different ways depending on where you are holding your meeting. You need to consider whether your venue has a kitchen that your caterers can work from, whether it has space for them to set their own up or whether the food needs to arrive ready to serve. When you understand the constraints of the venue, it is then easier to pick a caterer who is able to work around this.
Don’t leave without reading our Guide on Food Catering for Large Events!
When working with a new catering company, you cannot always be sure of the quality of the food that you will receive until the day of the event. It is therefore a good idea to ask if you can sample any of their food to make sure that they offer the kind of things that you are looking for. Once you have tasted it and loved it, you can book their services with a lot more confidence.
Reputation counts for a lot in catering, as you will want to know that the business you pick is capable of delivering what you want and to the standard that you require. It can therefore be worthwhile looking at recommendations and testimonials, as well as examples of other work that they have done to check that they are a good fit for your event.
Food hygiene standards should be incredibly important to you and the company that you hire as you do not want to make any of your delegates unwell.
Make sure that any company you work with has all of the relevant food safety and hygiene qualifications and certificates and don’t be afraid to ask questions about how they prepare their food to make sure they work within the rules.
Check out our article on Food Safety Regulations in Workplace Catering
If any of the individuals attending your meeting have special dietary requirements, then you need to be sure that they will be fully catered for.
Whether it is allergies, intolerances or lifestyle choices, your caterer should be capable of preparing food that takes this into account and can still deliver something delicious and special that is suitable for your guests.
You might be interested in our blog on Dietary Restrictions in Workplace Catering.
It is important to think about the type of food that you are looking to serve in order to find an appropriate corporate caterer.
Did you want an exciting breakfast or a cold buffet or a three course meal for example?
Had you set your heart on an Asian, Mexican or Spanish theme for example?
If you know what you want before you start looking, it is much easier to find a caterer who can meet your needs.
When you first start talking to corporate event caterers, look at the kind of communication that they offer.
Consider how closely they are listening to your requests and pay close attention to the ideas that they are putting forward.
If the answer to all of these questions is yes then you might have found a caterer that you can work with in a constructive way.
The inclusion of alcohol is not always appropriate at a work event, but if you have decided to include it, then you need to check whether your caterer has a licence to serve it.
You should also make sure that there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages on offer as an alternative, and check that your caterers are sensible with what they serve to prevent things getting a little too carried away.
They say that we eat with our eyes, and so how our food is presented can be very important. That does not just mean how it is laid out on the plate, but how the table looks and the way in which it is served.
You might want your delegates to get the full VIP service including table linen like tablecloths and napkins as well as flowers and decorations, so you should check whether these are included as they can often be extra.
Choosing the right corporate caterer can be very important for your event, as the food that you serve can tell people a lot about you, your business and how you view the people at your event, so do your homework and pick someone to wow your guests.
Our office catering services are perfect for treating clients and visitors to delicious food during meetings, conferences and events both small and large! Our food options are suitable for a range of dietary requirements and are simply delicious. From hot and cold foods, to puddings and more. Browse Workplace Refreshments today and find the perfect catering option for your meeting.
