Author name: Sara Perez Webber

Sara Perez Webber has been the editor of Catering Magazine for 10 years. A veteran writer and editor, specializing in hospitality, travel and business topics, she previously held staff positions at Travel Agent and Caribbean Travel & Life magazines. Webber has also written for and edited a wide variety of publications, websites and marketing materials in a freelance career spanning nearly two decades. She graduated from American University’s School of Communication in Washington, D.C.

Introducing CFE News: Fresh Look, Same Trusted Source

We’re thrilled to announce that Catering, Foodservice & Events (CFE) has a new name—CFE News—and a new digital-first direction.

Perez Webber Media Group acquired the leading trade publication and digital communications platform from International Media Group, Inc., and former publishers Klaas and Antoinette De Waal. The new CFE News is led by longtime Editor-in-Chief Sara Perez Webber (editor since 2010) and Publisher Jay Webber, who will build on the publication’s legacy as the premier news source for catering, foodservice and events professionals.

Bill Hansen Unveils Innovative Catering Laboratory at 80th Birthday Bash

Miami caterer Bill Hansen—CEO of Hansen Group and Bill Hansen Catering—celebrated his 80th birthday on Aug. 16 with 300 guests at the Kovens Conference Center at Florida International University (FIU) in North Miami.

The event also marked the unveiling of the Bill Hansen Catering & Events Laboratory at FIU. The lab will provide students in FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management with hands-on training in event management.

Social Media Strategies

How much do people “like” you? Are engaged couples engaging with you online? Are you feeding customers who found you through your feed?

To learn more about how to increase interaction with potential clients through social media, CFE turned to two experts: Liese Gardner, a content strategy specialist who has advised hundreds of hospitality clients about their social media tactics since 2004; and Dora Fudali, marketing director for Bill Hansen Catering in Miami, who has organically grown the company’s social media follower count by about 10,000 since 2018. They shared some of their top strategies for creating powerful posts and expanding your virtual audience.

Feeding the Fans

From major golf tournaments to air shows to motorsports races, Proof of the Pudding knows how to keep sports fans well fed.

The Atlanta-based catering company is expanding its reach into major outdoor sporting events. A longtime partner of the PGA Tour, Proof recently added NASCAR races at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina and the Quad City Air Show in Davenport, Iowa, to its roster. That’s in addition to Proof’s many other large foodservice clients, including convention centers, sports and entertainment arenas, yachting shows and college stadiums.

A Breath of Fresh Air

The allure of the great outdoors is proving irresistible to a growing number of catering clients.

“At Constellation Culinary Group, we’ve seen a continued and growing preference for outdoor events across a wide variety of occasions,” says Katia Ponomareva, director of catering for off-premise events. “The pandemic certainly reshaped how people think about gathering spaces, elevating the appeal of fresh air and natural surroundings.”

To meet the rising demand for outdoor affairs, caterers and venues across the country are creating events that are a breath of fresh air.

What’s Next for Catering?

Signs point to a robust year for catering in 2025. That’s the consensus from three veteran caterers, who shared with CFE their outlook for the industry.

“It’s hard to believe that we are five years removed from the pandemic,” says Anthony Lambatos, owner and CEO of Footers Catering in Arvada, Colorado. “After the dramatic drop-off and then meteoric return of events, business has stabilized, and we are settling into an environment with a bit more predictability.”

Lambatos—along with Kevin Lacassin of Good Food Events + Catering in Tampa, Florida, and Robin Selden of Marcia Selden Catering in Stamford, Connecticut—pointed to six trends they see impacting their businesses going forward.

Pouring Profits

Have you tapped into the brewing demand for specialty coffee?

If not, the robust revenue stream may be just the jolt your menu needs. As of 2024, 45% of American adults reported consuming specialty coffee in the past day—an 80% increase since 2011, according to a report from the National Coffee Association. In fact, for the first time, specialty coffee consumption surpassed that of traditional coffee.

Eco-Friendly Events

There’s a growing appetite for sustainable events. Are you meeting the demand?

According to a recent report from Food for Climate League and Datassential, the foodservice industry research firm, 79 percent of consumers plan to eat more sustainably in the next year. That includes 33 percent who say they never eat sustainable foods but plan to start.

Whether you’re just starting out on your sustainable journey or looking to become even greener, we’ve rounded up 10 strategies to follow to minimize your company’s impact on the environment.

A Toast to Collaboration

When the leaders of Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP) chose the location of the group’s recent annual meeting, they knew what would appeal to their audience. After all, what better place for a group of foodies to come together than a stunningly beautiful locale known for its fine wines and innovative culinary scene?

More attendees than ever convened at ECEP’s fifth annual Symposium, which took place March 9-13 at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California. And while the picturesque surroundings and world-class dining added to the appeal, the 76 ECEP members and sponsors who attended also found sustenance in interesting discussions, dynamic speakers and plenty of bonding opportunities in the heart of wine country.

Personalizing the Big Day

Creating weddings that capture a couple’s personalities is what it’s all about for event planner Brian Worley.

Based in Atlanta, Worley has produced and designed about 250 weddings in his career—including his own mother’s. CFE recently caught up with Worley to get his take on wedding design trends and to learn what inspires him when planning a couple’s big day.

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