Food can make or break a catered office event, whether it’s a routine meeting or a holiday party. There are many factors to consider when you coordinate with a catering business to ensure that all participants have access to enough food and that their preferences are met. The four tips below will help you make sure your next catered office event is a hit.

Planning Checklist for Office Catering

1. Know Your Meal

Choose your meal based on the time of day. A morning event should have coffee, juice, and breakfast dishes. A routine meeting during the day or a surprise hosted lunch works well with a wrap platter or some salads with cold appetizers. If you’re hosting a dinner event, they may expect something more involved such as appetizers, hot entrees, and desserts.

2. Plan Around the Event

The food should be a complimentary part of the event, rather than the main focus. A hot buffet is appropriate for a party as it lets people pick their meals on the spot and eat elsewhere in the venue. If you’re hosting a lunch meeting, sandwich and wrap platters can satisfy your employees without taking up too much time.

3. Provide Options

Everyone has their own preferences, so only offering one dish type will likely leave a few people unhappy. Offer at least two main course choices, along with multiple complementary side dishes. If you’re offering a salad, provide at least three dressing choices. Serve all condiments for sandwiches on the side. If possibly, ask attendees whether anyone has special dietary restrictions or preferences. You may need to provide vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free options.

4. Take a Head Count

At a catered event, running out of food can instantly dampen participants’ spirits. Ask your caterer when they need a final headcount, as they will need time to prepare the food for your event, and remind team members to RSVP in time. Overestimate your head count in case you have last-minute attendees.

Fortuna’s Deli & Caterers of Westport is the trusted catering service for businesses in the greater Fairfield, CT, area. They have a delicious selection of hot and cold homestyle Italian-American dishes and more for your event, providing something for everyone. See their catering menu online and call (203) 226-3587 to schedule your event.