If you are required to cater for a business meeting there is little doubt that it is the ones held around lunchtime which will present you with the biggest challenge. Not only are you going to have to fight to gain attention, but you can guarantee that the majority of the attendees will be hungry which means they are not going to be happy with an assortment of sandwiches, a bit of salad and a few crisps.
While many businesses see caterers as an unnecessary expense this is in fact far from the truth. There is no need to spend large amounts of money, and you won’t have to fit out your kitchen, all you need to do is employ the services of experienced corporate caterers like the team here at Sadlergates who have successfully catered for business meetings on many occasions. Our team will be able to advise you on the best options when it comes to catering for those tricky lunchtime gatherings. In this blog we are going to take a look at some of the steps you should take to ensure that everyone attending your meeting is well fed and watered.
Pick a Reliable Caterer
Without stating the obvious the first thing you should do is make sure you find a caterer you can trust. There are a number of ways you can do this with word of mouth being one of the best. However if you don’t know anyone who has used caterers then google reviews are always a good source of information.
Some people choose to hold meetings in a pub or restaurant however this can cause problems if a session overruns as they often do not have the same flexibility as you get when using an outside caterer. Another downside to holding your meeting on licensed premises is the availability of alcohol.
While there is no doubt the majority of us enjoy a beer or a glass of wine it is more advisable to keep any distractions to a minimum during business discussions. This is just one of a number of very good reasons why bringing in a professional caterer is the perfect solution.
When you use a quality caterer they can prepare food in advance, they also have the ability to tailor the menu in line with any specific dietary requirements of the people attending the meeting. External caterers are able to order any special foods that may be needed if you give them enough notice.
Trusted and experienced business meetings caterers are well aware that the main purpose of this type of meeting is to conduct business. When people are hungry it is easy to lose concentration which can result in them making poor decisions or the kind of mistakes that businesses are generally keen to avoid. By choosing a caterer that can deliver the kind of delicious, nutritious food that can help prevent this occurring.
Choose an Appropriate Menu
Not every business meeting is the same and as we alluded to earlier the food you choose should not only be tasty but also nutritious. So, how does this impact your choice of menu, while sandwiches buffets are often a popular choice it is worth taking the kind of bread you use into consideration. By using wholegrain or sourdough bread you can avoid unnecessary spikes in blood sugar and they offer a healthy alternative to more traditional white bread. Once you have chosen your bread, think about what type of fillings you should choose as well as some alternatives to sandwiches.
Salads are often a good place to start and when you choose a professional caterer they will also be able to provide you with all the associated crockery and cutlery. Warm salad tend to be popular as they offer variety, while cheese boards give you the chance to provide staff with a dining experience that far exceeds the expectations of your staff.
Prepare your Space
Irrespective of whether you intend to hold the meeting onsite or are using somewhere off site that is larger making sure the space is suitable for storing and serving food is essential. If you need your caterers to supply napkins, cutlery, cups and glassware then you need to let them know as soon as possible to avoid any confusion. You also need to ensure the room you choose for the meeting is big enough for people to sit and eat or if not there is another room you can use.
When making a presentation from the front of the room and people are seated around small tables, arrange them so everyone faces that direction instead of having to turn their chairs away from the table and food. Lastly, for buffet-style events, arrange the food station away from the presentation area to prevent any disruptions during the talk.
These are just a few ways to effectively cater to business meetings of all kinds. Here at Sadlergates our team has many years experience as a catering company for business meetings of all different kinds and sizes. By offering a range of menu options that cater for all different tastes, dietary requirements and budgets we have all bases covered. We use only the finest ingredients and our well trained staff provide the highest level of service. So, if you are in need of reliable and high quality catering for your business meeting call and speak to the team here at Sadlergates today.
