A catering business provides professional food services for various types of events in a specific venue or location. Most provide food in bulk and in a buffet style setting. It can be operated part-time or full-time, depending on your capacity and availability. If you are interested in starting a catering business, here are some important factors to consider:
Menu
You will need to determine the menu that can either be diverse or unique. A diverse menu can attract and serve a wide variety of clients, whilst a unique menu can fill a niche that has not been fulfilled by other caterers in your area. Carefully choose the menu to suit your capabilities and the tastes of your target audience.
Personnel
The owner of a small catering business is sometimes the chef. However, it usually takes more than one person to run a successful catering business. Hiring staff and training them can minimise your workload and it will enable you to accommodate bigger parties and events. Some of the catering personnel needed in a catering business include:
- Chef
Responsible for cooking the dishes on the menu - Manager/Planner
They will communicate directly with the chef regarding any changes in the menu. The manager/planner is also in charge of organising the events’ requirements - Food Preparers
Assisting the chef, food preparers will help to prep the food in the kitchen and assist with minor cooking duties - Food Servers
Responsible for bringing the food out to the guests, the food servers will also top up the drinks and clear the tables
Catering Equipment
The catering equipment that you require will depend on the needs and activities required in the catering business. It can be used for cooking and preparation, for storing food and for handling buffet events. Here are some examples of equipment commonly used in a catering business:
For food storage:
- Refrigerators and Freezers
For cooking and preparation:
- Cooking Ranges
- Fryers/ Griddles
- Ovens
- Steamers
- Fabrication Tables
For buffet events:
- Food Warmers/ Bain Marie
- Table Setting Items
- Hot Cupboards
- Serving Equipment
Running a catering business is not as easy as you might think. It requires time, effort and resources.