By Alexus Medina, senior director of product management, Sabert
Spring is packed with several catering touchpoints, from holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day to events like weddings, birthday parties and graduations. As the weather gets warmer, there’s another key trend that will drive additional catering business opportunities.
In the last few years, there’s been a growing interest in experiential events at non-traditional dining venues, using catering to deliver an elevated, differentiated experiences centered on gathering. From upscale beach picnics to al fresco dining on a private farm, these immersive events offer catering companies an opportunity to “wow” customers with an elevated presentation and atmosphere. That’s where packaging comes in.
How Packaging Can Deliver Elevated Experiences
How food is transported, presented and served all hinges on the packaging choices a catering company makes.
Here are three ways packaging can elevate catered events:
1. Ensures Safe Transportation and Food Quality
Especially for experiential events at locations that might be farther from a catering operator’s kitchen, choosing food packaging that is compact and maintains temperature control will be critical to ensure food quality does not diminish during transportation. Solutions such as platters with lids that feature stacking capabilities allow caterers to stack more platters at a time, saving space and reducing unloading time.
Catering trays, such as Kraft Pop-Up trays, enable operators to mix and match different containers within the larger tray by leveraging accompanying paperboard inserts. As a result of this nesting feature, caterers can transport a variety of foods while making setup faster and more seamless.
2. Enables Customization for Enhanced Presentation
Event attendees today are looking for “shareable” moments to post on social media. Catering companies have an opportunity to bring attention to their brand—not just through food, but also through the way the food is presented.
Custom printing can be a great way to showcase a brand and add to the event atmosphere. Whether it’s pops of color or leveraging QR codes to deliver on-brand messaging, food packaging can help bring brands to life while enhancing food presentation. Even cutlery and plates can influence the overall look and feel of the event. When selecting these items, caterers need to balance style with performance to ensure their choices complement the venue and create a cohesive experience.
3. Delivers on Sustainability and Food Waste Reduction
For caterers looking to reduce waste and their environmental footprint, sustainable packaging options can help meet those goals while delivering the quality and performance customers expect. From recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) to compostable molded fiber and recyclable paper, there are a variety of options that enable more eco-friendly parties and events, leaving customers and attendees feeling good about their choices. Sustainability-minded packaging suppliers will work with catering companies to select products suitable for recycling and processing capacity in their region.
The Value of an Innovative Packaging Partner
As outdoor events pick up steam, catering companies can expect to see a continued increase in experiential events in non-traditional settings. Make sure to work with an innovative food packaging supplier who is on top of consumers’ needs and industry trends, helping to identify the best packaging options that can help you deliver on presentation, sustainability and performance.
About the Author
Alexus Medina is the senior director of product management at Sabert Corporation, a global leader in innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions. In her role, she works with customers to create a suite of packaging options to suit their foodservice needs.
