What Are the Best Value Catering Services for Small Office Events? Here Are 6 Options

Employees work hard every day, so team gatherings are crucial. They boost morale and let everyone recharge, especially if the meal happens during the workday.

Industry leaders can compare the best value catering services for small office events to find reputable culinary experts who are ready to meet a variety of needs.

1. Apple Spice

Apple Spice is a popular option for corporate meetings and events. The highly trained team members at every location are ready to handle detailed menu requests, even when they are last-minute. With industry experience since 1988, business and manufacturing teams can rely on Apple Spice to arrange delicious hot or cold catering for any occasion.

Key Features:

• Delivers meals on time, every time
• Accepts orders for last-minute meetings
• Provides a variety of hot and cold menu items

2. Baker’s Best

Teams contact Baker’s Best to get delicious food for gatherings of all sizes. The Massachusetts-based company delivers food for off-site parties and meetings in professional spaces. Baker’s Best team members prioritize high food safety standards and use only top-quality ingredients to make creations that dazzle everyone’s taste buds.

Key Features:

• Accommodates numerous food allergies and preferences
• Allows a four-person minimum to cater to smaller groups
• Cooks with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible

3. Goodrich Gourmet

Goodrich Gourmet is a go-to source of catering in Virginia. Team members cook food and deliver it off-site, up to 60 miles from the company’s location. Industry professionals who want an outdoor party can also request grilling as part of their catering services for small office events. The Goodrich Gourmet team brings large party grills to fill any venue with the smoky aroma of expertly seasoned pork upon request.

Key Features:

• Grills food on-site when clients request applicable menu items
• Caters events of all sizes
• Provides quotes within 48 hours

4. Spoon Lickers Catering

North Carolina is home to Spoon Lickers Catering, which serves customers at a range of professional events. The two owners have a combined 50 years of culinary experience, so they can easily make custom menus based on their party platter options. Hot items are also available for events, even when teams only want finger foods for meetings.

Key Features:

• Customizes meals for preferred diets, like W30 and paleo
• Accepts requests for lighter orders of appetizers or snacks
• Deliver ready-made platters that require minimal setup

5. Pacific Northwest Catering

Pacific Northwest Catering has some of the best value catering services for small office events. The company can arrange breakfast, lunch or dinner foods that satisfy guests with a range of allergies or preferences. The in-house team also uses locally sourced ingredients, so every order supports farmers in the region.

Key Features:

• Prioritizes ingredients from local farms for each diverse menu
• Serves vegetarian, gluten-free and special-diet selections
• Arranges lunches for corporate events, including buffet and boxed options

6. Cater Cow

Workplaces contact Cater Cow for simplified ordering and delicious meals. The company accepts numerous payment methods, so even small business owners who primarily pay by check can get high-quality food when they need it. Cater Cow representatives also vet every restaurant they partner with. Customers hosting small meetings or large parties will receive food from nearby reliable restaurants.

Key Features:

• Establishes meal plans for recurring office meetings when needed
• Provides on-site attendants for large events
• Emails links to all meeting attendees so each person can choose their own meal

Criteria to Find Great Catering Services

Professionals who are ready to plan an event can find excellent catering companies by looking for leading criteria. The best businesses in the industry will include factors such as:

• A wide selection of possible menu items
• The ability to work with last-minute requests or schedule orders
• An extensive history in the catering industry

Team leaders can also contact company representatives to discuss their primary concerns. If they have an excellent customer service experience over the phone or in person, company leadership will know they are in good hands when ordering catering services for office events.

Factors That Make Team Events Successful

Locating a trustworthy catering team is an essential step in hosting any small office gathering. Industry leaders should also ensure they know what to request so their events are successful.

1. An Expansive Menu

Management teams rarely go wrong by ordering too many options. If a catering team can handle highly detailed requests, they will give all attendees the comforting option to choose their own meals. Whether people prefer to keep their dietary preferences private or not, they can add food to their plates based on what they most enjoy from the provided meals.

2. Allergen-Free Options

Experts with Food Allergy Research & Education found that one in 10 American adults has a food allergy. Team leaders should request that all potential attendees submit their allergens in a private form before placing a catering order. Employees will feel appreciated and seen, which could provide a much-needed morale boost during challenging times.

3. Essential Dining Supplies

The best catering teams in the world could deliver food to a work event, but it would mean little if no one could eat what they brought. Party planners should remember to ask about the catering companies’ included dining supplies, such as paper plates, silverware and cups. If they do not include those in their quote, the event planner will need to get the supplies elsewhere and have them ready for the gathering.

4. Timely Delivery

Late food deliveries present numerous challenges. The longer food stays in the back of an unrefrigerated truck, the more bacteria may grow and increase the chance of people getting sick from the catered meals.

Team members will also get upset if they are hungry for an extended period. They may even have to return to their desks before eating if the office event occurs during the workday. A late lunch won’t mean anything if they cannot sit down to eat it together.

Catering Companies Comparison Table

See which companies offer key features that best align with any upcoming event plans to save time while getting quotes.

Discover the Best Value Catering Services for Small Office Events

Arranging delicious catering is easy when workplace leaders partner with excellent providers. Industry teams can think about which foods they want at their upcoming events to locate the best catering services for their locations and menu preferences.