The lunch meeting is perfect for connecting with clients and collaborating with colleagues. It's a way to spark open conversations around a specific project or defined challenge within the team. Shared meals help create a relaxed environment where people can let their guard down, participate and express what they really think. Which is why it is so important to know how to choose office caterers that will deliver on all of this.
But we'd be remiss if we didn't start with a word of caution. Employees must get a proper break and a moment's headspace away from work. So, whilst an occasional lunch meeting works wonders, making them a regular occurrence could be detrimental to workplace wellness.
The quality of the catering can make or break a lunch meeting. A good meal sets a mood for excitement and engagement, whilst underwhelming food makes participants wish they were somewhere else (without the stale sandwiches).
Avoid the dreaded lunch meeting flop by choosing the best caterer for the job. Here are some things to look out for:
What to consider before exploring caterers
- Understanding cut-off times.
- What is their minimum order?
- Do they take large orders?
- Can they cater for last-minute changes?
- Do they have flexible menus?
- How do they handle headcounts?
- Do they cater for specific needs and dietary requirements?
- What are their sustainability policies?
Choosing your caterer
Find the perfect match for the occasion
Not all caterers are born equal. Some do tasty food better than others. But, without teaching fish how to swim, the caterer of your choice should match your own unique company culture. For example, a catering company that specialises in formal silver service events would work well for a traditional law firm, whilst a trailblazing tech company would be better matched to a catering company that takes inspiration from international street food.
Selecting a tasty and energising menu
Food that’ll get people talking
Your choice of menu sets the tone for your team meeting. It’s worth having a conversation with your caterer about what cuisine will enhance your meeting. Searching for new ideas for the next marketing campaign? How about a Persian mezze platter full of flavours to get those creative juices flowing. Maybe it’s a meeting covering sustainability and CSR policy? A menu focused on locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients is just the trick. A good caterer will be able to listen and respond with a menu that will power up your lunch meeting.
Avoiding hiccups
Make sure everything goes smoothly
A top-notch catering company ought to pick up on every little detail to ensure that your lunch meeting goes swimmingly. First of all, they’ll be able to set up, serve up and clear up at the end – to provide a stress-free experience for the meeting organiser.
A good caterer will also be able to come up with smart solutions to fit all of your meetings requirements. For example, ensuring that the serving of the food is suited to the venue size and meeting headcount (no more overcrowding in a small space around the serving table). Here are some other important considerations to assess your caterer by:
– Health & safety precautions
– Dietary requirements and allergies
– Responsible sustainability practices
– Striking the perfect balance between budget and requirements
Is Corporate Catering That Important?
Workplace catering can often be overlooked in a large business, but it can make a huge difference in an employee's working day. Serving great food for your team can produce a huge range of benefits: boosting employee wellbeing, increased productivity due to energising meals and a free incentive to engage more during meetings due to the welcoming culture that delicious meals can create.
Catering for Hybrid & Growing Workplaces.
As our workplaces change and develop, contract catering encourages unity in the face of hybrid working. There are various ways catering companies can adapt to fluctuating headcounts: Buffets, delivered-in meals, salad and sandwich bars are just some of the ways you can incorporate exceptional food into your team lunches that are easy to control for headcount differences.
It's a wrap!
From our own experiences catering for Central London workplaces at Fooditude, we know we’ve done a good day’s work when our food receives glowing reviews from the meeting attendees, and the organiser on the client-side had a stress-free experience. Of course, there’s no better feeling than when we’ve provided a feast that perfectly matches the occasion for our clients.
Above all else, our top tip is to choose a caterer that understands your company culture and the purpose of your lunch meeting. It’s all about hitting the right tone with your catering choice, so be mindful when selecting your caterer. The results? A team meeting where the food excites and encourages a flow of participation from an energised team.
How can Fooditude transform your team meeting?
Not to brag, but we’ve been perfecting delivered catering since 2005. Over the years, we’ve served some of London’s most exciting workplaces, helping them achieve productive team meetings with bespoke catering solutions (a.k.a getting the taste exactly right)… Read more
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