Corporate catering: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering corporate catering
You supply meals and refreshments for meetings, conferences and office events. Companies want food that arrives on time, is labeled clearly and meets the dietary needs of their staff.
What customers ask
- Can you label every dish with its allergens?
- Do you deliver to the room or the front desk?
- How do you keep hot food hot until service?
- Can you handle a headcount change on the day?
- What are your options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free meals?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the headcount, the meal schedule, the delivery address, the room and the dietary needs
- Send a sample menu with the ingredients and allergen labels for each dish
- Confirm the building's delivery rules, the access time and the person who will receive the food
- Put in the quote the menu, the headcount, the delivery and setup times, the equipment and the cleanup
- Set a clear cut off for headcount changes and state it in the agreement
- Pack each dietary option in its own container with a label that matches the order
- Name a contact who is reachable during the delivery window
What to put on your profile
- Post photos of boxed lunches, buffets and breakfast spreads for meetings
- List the dietary options you offer, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and halal
- Show your labeling and packing system
- Describe your delivery area and the times you serve
- Add your permits and food handler certification status, described accurately
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a standing weekly order for the office
- Suggest a menu rotation so the team does not get the same meal each week
- Recommend a breakfast or snack plan for the next quarterly meeting
- Share a short guide for dietary labeling that the office can post
Licenses and permits
Food businesses commonly need a health permit or a food handler card from the local office that oversees food safety, and the kitchen you cook in may need its own approval. Caterers may also need a business license. Keep your permits and staff cards on file and follow the rules for each office or venue you serve.
Questions
Do offices require caterers to carry insurance?
Many do, especially for work on site. Keep a current certificate ready to send.
How do I handle a delivery that arrives late?
Call the contact at once, tell them the new time and keep the food at a safe temperature until it is served. Note the delay in your records.
What if a dietary label is wrong?
Stop serving that dish, tell the contact at once and offer a replacement that the guest can eat. Review your labeling process before the next order.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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