Just as the holiday season approaches, restaurants are seeing an uptick in catering requests from their customers. Although the demand for catering has been recovering steadily since the pandemic, some restaurant chains have seen as much as a 43 per cent increase in this sector over last year.

As restaurants get ready to add catering to their rosters, it’s important to note some of the shifts in customer preferences to be able to really provide that elevated experience and grow your catering clientele.

Event size

As many employees have adopted a hybrid work schedule, more and more companies are looking for smaller to mid-size catering orders, offering restaurants an opportunity to significantly increase their revenues with volume. So, rather than the large, full-company office parties from years gone by, expect to see smaller, more intimate corporate gatherings as the demand grows.

Dietary restrictions

Menu flexibility is something that companies are expecting to see from restaurants. With so many allergies and dietary preferences, restaurants can really customize menus for each catering order, giving companies a personalized, unique experience. Offering items that address gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan (and more) will make your restaurant a more desirable destination for corporate events.

Packaging

You want to stick to your brand, of course, but make sure that your containers make sense. Offering dishes that don’t travel well, can’t stay at the optimal temperature, or do not look appealing after transport will lessen the guest experience. Remember, corporate events allow your restaurant to be experienced by a large number of new customers, so use this as an opportunity to impress with your taste and presentation.

What’s trending?

With so many foodies on social media, keeping up with the trends can help you get ahead of the competition. Do your research through blogs, magazines, and social media to learn what companies might be looking for from your restaurant. For example, sustainability remains a hot topic, so consider adopting greener packaging for your catering orders to offer something special to those companies.

Also, with so much remote work, many companies are hosting “virtual events” where employees participate from the comfort of their own homes. This involves some logistics, but if you get it right, it could really set your business apart.

And don’t forget those food trends, like dishes based on nostalgia and the season’s hottest flavours to make your menu more appealing to companies.

Catering is something that will likely grow in demand as the holidays draw nearer, so setting up a strategy for success now will get more attention – and more revenue – for your restaurant.