Don’t Let Uncertainty Stop Your Success
For a lot of caterers, running their companies during the COVID-19 pandemic felt like trying to navigate their way home through a raging forest fire.
Business Tips
Trends: Four Reasons to Consider a Virtual Kitchen
At this time last year, the average eater or chef didn’t know much about virtual kitchens. Now, these often delivery-only concepts are popping up in almost every U.S. city and are slated to be a $1 trillion global market in the next 10 years.
How to Protect Your Business
Being the life of the party can be exhilarating, and—as a caterer—you are the unseen life of the party. Unfortunately, you are also on the hook if things go terribly wrong.
Green Your Takeout
As a result of the pandemic, more people than ever are ordering takeout food. While some may worry about the environmental impact of disposable ware, there is a way to “green” your business while increasing your to-go orders: compostable containers.
Bringing the Party Home
Hopefully we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic and its transformative effect on catered events. Yet even during the strictest days of lockdown, innovative caterers found ways to help clients celebrate events from home. And according to the two top caterers profiled here, clients will continue to book similar events even when society emerges from the COVID-19 danger zone—and the loyalty earned during these trying times will pay off for years to come.
Plan for the New Year
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 your food. Here are three reminders and tips to get you started.
Effectively Disinfecting Your Catering Business
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 regulations that will be costly to the catering industry. Decision-makers must learn from the lessons of 2020 when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting their businesses.
Safe Set-Ups
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).
Drinks: Sipping Strategies
Jason Savino of Potions in Motion explains how his company is serving drinks safely at weddings—and what guests are ordering
Mixing It Up
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.
