Here are 8 Tips for Selecting the Right Catering Company for your Next Event
When you are choosing a catering company for an upcoming event, there are essential pointers that you need to consider. Such as food quality, variety, service excellence, and its flexibility to meet your requirements, among many others.
As an event planner, it’s only natural for you to conduct a thorough research, request references, and menu tasting. This is true especially when you have narrowed down to one catering company. There are still elements that you need to review before signing a contract with them.
Here are top 8 things that you need to remember during the process of choosing the right corporate caterer for your next event.
1. Check their availability
The availability is one of the first things that you need to check with your preferred catering company. Check and verify their confirmed bookings during the date of your event. Ensure that they can provide all your catering needs on the scheduled date before signing a contract and paying them.
Make sure to be clear about the terms and conditions of the contract. Request for a breakdown of the total cost of catering service outlining all inclusions, to avoid an inflated bill before your event.
Invest ample time to check in with different catering companies well ahead of time. Ideally, start looking for a catering one to two months before your event. Make sure to check in with your preferred venue and confirm their availability on your event date, too.
2. Name your budget
It is imperative that you have a clear understanding about all associated costs related to hiring a catering company for your event. To get a better idea of which caterer offers more value, ask caterers to list inclusions in their quotes.
If you are working on a limited budget, it’s best to inform the catering companies in advance, so they can create a custom catering menu that is within your budget. A reliable catering company will be able to customize a catering package based on your event needs and budget.
Always review the inclusions and exclusions from quotes across caterers. The allocation of costs varies from one catering company to the next. By doing this, you’ll know where your budget goes and what else needs budget allocation.
3. Food quality
When you are choosing a catering company for an important event, you want an outstanding presentation and excellent food in terms of taste and overall quality. Do not forget to ask for the portfolio of the caterer you wish to work with. Portfolios typically contain photos of the food they include in their catering menu.
In this day and age, the sustainability and quality of produce used for a catering company’s menu should be scrutinised. Do not skip this test, as quality should be a major gauge among event planners when arranging catering services for a large-scale event. You may ask them what seasonal produce they’ll be using for the menu and if such ingredients will influence the taste and quality of the food that will be served at the event.
4. Request for a menu tasting session
Ideally, catering companies should offer tasting sessions, especially for large-scale events. The last thing that you want is to serve your guests with unpalatable dishes and subpar customer service.
It’s always best to experience the quality and taste of food first hand before committing to work with a catering company. During a tasting menu, you will also have the opportunity to see their unique offerings in terms of style and presentation.
5. Expertise and experience
Expertise and experience go hand-in-hand especially when selecting a catering company. A caterer with years of experience in catering to corporate events and large social gatherings most likely have perfected their system on how to serve to a large group of people. They have created strong connections with suppliers and other catering partners, making it possible for them to deliver an outstanding menu .
6. Check their specialties
Catering companies take pride in their respective specialties. There are catering companies that excel in corporate events, while some are go-to suppliers for weddings and birthday celebrations. Always make sure to match your event with the catering company, to ensure that the caterer has enough resources and experience in pulling off their service without a hitch at your upcoming social event.
7. Do not forget to ask for references
To check the veracity of a catering company, interview past customers. Request a list of references from the catering company, so that you can ask about their overall experience working with them. It’s also a smart idea to look for unbiased reviews online from past clients.
8. Read the contract thoroughly before signing
Before signing a binding contract with a catering company, make sure to read through all the pages. Make sure that you understand all terms and conditions and that you agree to all of them prior to signing. When you have any questions or clarifications, do not hesitate to ask the catering company, so that both parties are aware of the concerns and that such things are resolved before the payment process begins.
Square Catering is an industry-leading catering company offering affordable and quality catering services for corporate events in Sydney. If you have any questions regarding the services we offer or if you wish to schedule an appointment with us, you may call our direct line today.
