We’ve made it this far…now what? Three tips for profitability in 2021 By Sandy Korem If you survived 2020, I want to congratulate you. You were doing something right, whether it was saving cash to get you through the hard times or finding alternative revenue streams. And I want to encourage you to continue what you’ve been doing—while also searching for more ways to serve … [Read more...] about Plan for the New Year
Business Tips
Effectively Disinfecting Your Catering Business
10 questions you should ask about equipment and spray solutions By Peter Cantone, CEO of PandemicSolutions.net During the COVID-19 pandemic, few industries suffered more from stringent safety rules and regulations than the catering sector. Governmental authorities, including state and local health departments, will continue to monitor and enact new disinfection laws and … [Read more...] about Effectively Disinfecting Your Catering Business
Safe Set-Ups
How caterers are adding precautionary protocols to their stations and buffets By Sara Perez Webber Whither the buffet? Due to safety concerns, this easy method of serving lots of guests has taken a hit since the advent of COVID-19. Foodservice operators have eliminated self-serve and buffets, according to a recent study by The Food Group (thefoodgroup.com). Even cruise … [Read more...] about Safe Set-Ups
Drinks: Sipping Strategies
Jason Savino of Potions in Motion explains how his company is serving drinks safely at weddings—and what guests are ordering While corporate business is still hard to come by, wedding business in South Florida is coming back, says Jason Savino, CEO of Boca Raton, Fla.-based Potions in Motion Catering & Events. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Potions in Motion catered … [Read more...] about Drinks: Sipping Strategies
Mixing It Up
By Sara Perez Webber Chris Tucker worked as a hair stylist for nearly a decade before pivoting to a baking career, drawing on a love instilled in him as a child by his Southern grandmother. A turn as a contestant on ABC’s “The Great American Baking Show” led him to opening Betta With Butta, a Los Angeles-based bakery. Like many others in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, … [Read more...] about Mixing It Up
How to Hire Seasonal or Temporary Workers
Bring on temporary help efficiently by heeding these five tips By Becca Freiberg, Society Insurance Typically, this is the time of year when ski resorts across the country would be hiring tens of thousands of workers, and the retail industry would be looking for people to staff the holiday shopping season. College students would be planning to work during winter break … [Read more...] about How to Hire Seasonal or Temporary Workers
Butler’s Pantry Micro Wedding
How the St. Louis-based caterer transformed a wedding for 150 guests into one for 25 St. Louis-based Butler’s Pantry “has mastered the Pandemic Pivot—taking an event originally planned for hundreds and transforming it into a private ceremony for 50 or less,” says Bridget Bitza, vice president of sales and catering. The challenge is harder than it may seem. Not only do … [Read more...] about Butler’s Pantry Micro Wedding
Staying Safe
Melissa Johnson of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events shares the company’s best post-COVID safety practices By Sara Perez Webber As vice president of Cameron Mitchell Premier Events (CMPE) in Columbus, Ohio, Melissa Johnson oversees a team that generates more than $15 million in revenue for the Cameron Mitchell Restaurant group, one of the largest and most successful … [Read more...] about Staying Safe
How to Organize Your Business Finances
Position yourself for recovery by streamlining your financial systems By Gerri Detweiler Organizing your finances may be the last thing on your mind right now, especially if your business is just struggling to survive. “So many food-based businesses are pivoting right now, and pivoting in multiple directions. Caterers are no different,” says Kristy McDonough, a … [Read more...] about How to Organize Your Business Finances
It’s Your ONE Chance to Reset
Steps caterers can take now to be successful and profitable Every two weeks, 11 successful catering CEOs from across the country meet via Zoom. Our sales range from $1 million to $13 million. For our first couple of meetings in March, we used the “pivot” mantra. But since that time, every one of us committed to immediate performance that will guarantee our company’s … [Read more...] about It’s Your ONE Chance to Reset
