What Traits Does a Catering Business Need to Succeed?

Catering is a highly competitive industry. Customers demand only the very best and a negative reputation can spread in a matter of weeks to such an extent that it completely cripples the business. The fact is a catering business must be able to conform to the needs of its customers if it is going to succeed.

Through studying various successful catering business, it is clear they have many things in common, even though they target different niche sectors of this food sub-sector. Let us look at some of the top traits every catering business needs to succeed.

An Ability to Network

How do you think a catering business gets its kitchen equipment and staff?

They have to know the right people. It is how they not only get the highest quality equipment but also how they also increase their profit margins. The top catering businesses can cater to the specialist needs of their customers because they know all the right catering equipment suppliers. They can offer a greater range of services.

A Listening Company

Companies can only succeed if they are willing to adapt to the needs of customers. In the catering business, it is not uncommon to see customers voting with their feet and going elsewhere. Brand loyalty is not as prominent in this industry.

Smart catering companies will look for a review from a customer after every job. They will make it clear that they consider negative aspects of the service are just as important to them as the positive aspects.

More importantly, they will act upon the feedback they receive. It is how they can make sure they continue to meet the needs of their customers.

Reliability and Communication

Catering is a business that can break in a matter of seconds. It is the sort of thing that requires everything to be done at a specific time. If something goes wrong, it can affect everything else that comes after it.

The top catering companies know how to plan for each individual job. They are reliable and they have at least a 95% first-time strike rate. When something does go wrong, though, they react in the right way to solve the problem and limit any damage caused.

Another important aspect of this process is communication. The best catering kitchen suppliers will keep their clientele informed of the situation. They know that their customers are stressed and worried about whether everything is going to come off in the right way.

What about Price?

Believe it or not, most catering customers do not consider price a priority. They always want to get the lowest price possible, but they will nearly always place quality above how much they are being charged.

This is because catering is a results-based industry. If something goes wrong, it does not matter how much the customer is paying. An embarrassing meal where nothing is ready and the food is of an inferior quality will not be ignored simply because you did not have to pay as much for it.

Overall, any top catering company will realise quality always comes first. In an industry where quality is everything, it can really mean the difference between success and bankruptcy.

What Makes a Good Catering Manager?

The catering manager is your eyes and ears on the ground. The owner of a catering business has to rely on their managerial team to understand what is going on and what the business needs to do to push forward. A good catering manager will have a number of traits that makes them stand out from the rest of the team.

If you are looking for someone to manage your catering equipment in the UK, make sure he or she has some of the following traits.

Leadership

This is the only reason they are a manager in the first place. If they do not have the ability to lead their teams through motivating and encouraging them, they are not good enough for the job. A leader knows best what makes each member of his or her team tick.

Furthermore, they will have a cool head and be able to take control when the pressure is on. Another aspect of their character is someone who is able to take responsibility when things do go wrong. Managers do not blame their teams. They point out exactly what went wrong and focus on what they as a manager could have done better.

Flexibility and Creativity

Catering managers deal directly with their clientele. They will have both the flexibility and the creativity needed to adapt to a certain situation. It is not uncommon to see someone revealing that someone has an allergy on the day. It is too late to call out for different food, but recipes can be changed. It is down to the manager to make these decisions. They are there to make sure the customer gets exactly what they need.

Organisation

A catering manager will be responsible for multiple teams. Remember, you are not just dealing with commercial catering equipment; you have to manage the décor of a room, the food, and the seating arrangements. There will be a team dedicated to each aspect of the process, but there will always be a manager making sure everyone knows what they are doing.

Managers must be organised and have the ability to keep their fingers on the pulse. If they are unable to keep up with everything that is going on, they could easily lose track of what people are doing, and this can quickly lead to disaster.

More to It

Managers are rarely just managers in the catering trade. Many of them are trained to use catering supplies in the UK. They are able to step in should a worker fall ill or they need an extra pair of hands to temporarily intervene.

Any manager who also has experience in other sectors of the catering business will always be a highly prized asset in any company. It is like having a substitute worker who you do not have to pay extra for.

Always remember to spend the time looking for the right manager to manage your operations. Even if you have the best team in the world, a lack of a good manager is like having a person without a head. They are the brains of the operation and your main point of contact. This is one area where you absolutely cannot compromise.

What is the Typical Profit Margin for a Caterer?

A caterer, like any other business, has to make a healthy profit margin if it is going to cover its overheads and grow for years to come. The typical profit margin for a caterer is hard to predict simply because it depends entirely on what sort of events the caterer specialises in; assuming it specialises at all.

Without fixed premises, in most cases, caterers can expect their profit margins to be higher than other businesses in the food industry. In this article, we examine this complex subject.

Not as High as you Think

Most caterers will make a small amount of money on catering equipment in the UK. They will often hire it out at roughly the same price as they paid for it. Most of the money comes from food. They buy food on a wholesale basis and mark it up. This is where the vast majority of their profits come from.

Bigger caterers will also make a significant amount on labour costs. For example, hiring out waiters will involve paying a larger amount on the part of the customer to both cover the wages of the waiters and the services they provide. Take note, most people who work in the catering trade are on minimum wage and little more.

In total, you can expect a caterer to make about 10% in profit. This is not as significant as you think.

Variables

There are variables that affect profit margins. In many cases, specialist equipment will lower profit margins. Few catering companies will ask the customer to pay more for specialist catering supplies in the UK. The catch is that most catering equipment suppliers will charge huge amounts for specialist equipment.

Another variable is specialist dietary needs. Wholesale food businesses will provide huge discounts on common meats and vegetables. They will not do the same with gluten-free and soy-free foods. If you are catering for a wedding and you have to offer these special dishes, it is often bad for business to simply pass these increasing costs onto the customer.

Caterers realise it’s not as simple as passing higher costs onto the end user. They have to weigh up whether increasing their prices for certain packages are going to affect their ability to beat out their competitors for business.

Wastage and Inefficiencies

There are always hidden costs you cannot take into account immediately. These could include repair costs and any disasters that might occur during the running of a catering package. Again, it’s considered bad for business to pass these extra costs onto the customer, especially if it’s a problem on your end.

Wastage and inefficiency can cause big hits to the profit margin. This is why if not everything goes off correctly it can lead to a caterer seeing their profit margins wiped out completely. This is why caterers must plan so meticulously before beginning any new job.

In conclusion, caterers must tread a fine line when determining their prices. With this highly competitive industry relying completely on efficiency, its vital caterers have well-trained staff if they are going to maintain healthy profit margins.

What are the Top Traits of a Truly Great Catering Waiter?

Waiters make up a significant part of any catering team. They will often operate the bar equipment, as well as serving the food. Waiters are trained in how to manage practically everything that goes on in front of guests. They will take the orders, clear up the plates, and prepare any extra chairs and tables that are needed.

Second only to the chefs, this is perhaps the most challenging role of the whole catering team. In this article, we are going to look at some of the things people will expect from a good waiter.

Customer Service

People may not expect you to be a dab hand with the bakery equipment, but they will expect you to have good customer service. Yes, it is essential that waiters know how to treat customers right. This means being able to listen to their needs and act accordingly.

Good customer service is mainly about listening and acting as the communications link between the kitchen and the floor.

Attention to Detail

Presentation is everything in the catering business. A waiter must pay attention to detail when they are presenting food to the guests. They need to be able to put it down in a way that does not obstruct other guests or get in the way of a good conversation.

A waiter must always be on the lookout for empty classes and empty plates. Even though the atmosphere might be a relaxing one, there is always something going on. It is up to the waiter to make sure they can spot all these little nuances. They can make or break a dinner.

Food Safety

All catering companies must abide by certain health and food safety standards. This is not just so you can tick a few boxes. It is to make sure that customers get the best quality food they possibly can. Waiters should be trained in how to handle food and how to make sure that food remains fresh until it finds its way onto the guests’ plates.

Ideally, all catering staff will have taken an accredited food safety course. This is often a requirement for a worker to join a catering company in the first place.

Staying Invisible

Waiters are very much like referees. You know they have done a good job when they are not a talking point. A good waiter will stand to the side and make sure they do not intrude upon their guests. They will only speak when necessary or when spoken to. Waiters must remember they are part of the furniture not a guest at the party.

Experienced waiters are able to work around guests without interfering with the general ambience. It takes a highly trained individual to be able to do this because their skill comes from all the little things they do. Highly experienced catering equipment suppliers will always take care to employ the right waiters for this reason.

Overall, good waiters are defined by the little things they do. The best catering companies will always make sure they employ a team of waiters who know exactly what it takes to give customers the best service possible.

How to Hire a Catering Van for Your Next Event

Catering vans are mobile pieces of catering equipment. They allow you to cook food almost anywhere. These are also a relatively compact alternative to high-end catering. This is why so many companies opt for this type of commercial kitchen equipment, especially when they do not have the dedicated catering space within their facilities.

In this article, we are going to look at how you should go about hiring a catering van for your next event.

Planning for the Party

Start by thinking about how many guests you expect to come. To be on the safe side, always base your estimate on how many guests you invite, rather than whether you think someone will actually turn up or not. It is always better to have too much capacity than too little.

Determine how many meals the van will be used for. This will determine how well equipped the van will need to be. It is always wise to be aware of what sort of meals you will have on offer from the very beginning. Take into account any special dietary needs, such as vegetarianism from the beginning.

What about the Budget?

Always have a budget in place. It is easy to see a catering budget get out of control if it does not have solid limits on it. You have to make sure that you are aware of how many guests you can accommodate and what sort of food you can afford.

Furthermore, you have to remember that you will need the staff to make and serve the meals. Most catering vans are highly specialised and require a trained pair of hands to operate.

Recommendations for a Company

With an idea of the amount of people who will be attending and a budget in place, you need to find a company with commercial catering equipment who can meet your needs. It starts with being able to find someone reputable.

The best place to start is with people you trust. Ask any friends or colleagues whether they can recommend anyone. You never know, they may have dealt with a catering company before.

If you do not have any real recommendations, look for a trade directory. This is where most catering companies advertise. Compare the different advertisements and check to see what sort of reviews they have gained. Call them and get some quotes. Automatically remove any company that cannot stick to your budget.

What about Compromise?

Compromise is something you may have to do. Your initial demands were made based on what you wanted not what you can get. This is why it is wise to be as flexible as possible with the sort of facilities you want and the budget you can spare.

Every catering company has different policies on what it will do and what it will not do. If they cannot meet your needs, either look elsewhere or be willing to make changes to your requirements.

Proper planning is essential to successfully hiring a catering van. By being clear on what you need from the beginning, this process should be as efficient and problem free as possible.

Why Should You Purchase Commercial Kitchen Equipment Over Residential?

Commercial kitchen equipment is different from what you would find inside your kitchen at home. You will usually only find this equipment within a large-scale kitchen. If you were thinking about sticking with residential equipment in order to save money, think again. Commercial equipment is essential to the good running of a large working kitchen. There are a number of differences you have to take into account, though.

We will look at the key reasons why you should always purchase commercial kitchen supplies over their residential counterparts.

The Size Difference

First of all, it is important for us to state the obvious. Commercial equipment is much larger than residential equipment. It enables you to cook more at a faster rate. Think about it. How else could a team of chefs cook for 100 people at the same time?

The volume means you need specific premises in order to install this type of kitchen equipment. The vast majority of residential buildings would not have the capacity to have it installed.

Quality of the Piece

Catering equipment suppliers understand users of commercial equipment will be using it on a regular basis. Let us take a restaurant kitchen as an example.

Each night, you could see a dozen chickens on the grill and a few hundred quarts of soup. This is no easy feat. It is also going to take its toll on the equipment. This is why you will typically find commercial equipment being made from other types of metals, such as heavy-duty iron and stainless steel.

For a commercial grill to work, it has to be able to withstand a flurry of activity night after night. It is also why it tends to be much heavier and much more expensive.

Safety Code

You will notice that there are more safety features on a commercial cooker than on a residential cooker. You have to remember that commercial kitchens have to deal with more safety regulations than the average kitchen. If the business does not do this, they can find themselves paying out thousands in fines; and this is assuming nobody gets hurt and decides to sue.

Safety features on commercial equipment include heat guards and finger protections. Many people forget that commercial kitchens are more active and carry more dangers than a kitchen at home.

Is it Worth the Investment?

A lot of people balk at how much they have to pay to get commercial equipment into their venue. It is understandable. You could easily spend thousands on it. The problem is most commercial venues have no choice. Residential kitchen supplies could not cook for hundreds of people in a single night. They do not have the capacity to do so.

In most cases, the additional safety features have to be implemented by law, and you will only find them on specialist equipment.

Any commercial kitchen supplies that are taken care of will last for years without any problems. Although it will cost a significant amount of money now, it will pay off in the long-term. In conclusion, do not be afraid to invest now for better results later on.

Top Tips for Making Sure You Get the Right Estimate for Your Catered Event

Catering can run into the thousands, depending on your event. It is easy to get carried away. You can also save thousands if you choose the right caterer and there is so much variation in the sort of service you can order.

The right estimate is the estimate you get that fulfils all your needs, whilst keeping the price as low as possible. Let us go through some of the areas you will have to take into consideration when estimating how much you’ll have to pay for caterers and catering equipment.

The Numbers Game

In general, catering equipment suppliers consider the number of guests as the main determining factor for how much someone can expect to pay. It is important to have an idea of how many guests you will have at your event before you get in contact with a professional caterer.

It’s not just for the estimate. A caterer needs to know how many people will attend so they can come up with a plan for how to manage the event.

What about the Type of Service?

The type of service you want will drastically affect your estimate. You need to decide just how much control you want. It is possible to hand everything over to the caterer and make them responsible for the whole event. This will cost you the most money, but it’s also the least stressful option open to you.

Most customers prefer a mix of the two. They prefer to hand over something like food preparation, but handle the cleaning by themselves.

It is not always a case of the more services you opt for the more you pay. Many caterers have special deals on certain services to give you the most value for money possible. For example, they might cut the price of bar equipment in half if you decide to hire a staff member to operate the bar during the event. Always ask for any special promotions caterers have going at the moment.

Contact Multiple Caterers
Understand there are hundreds of catering companies in the UK. This means you are overwhelmed by the choices available to you. Spend the time researching each caterer. Determine which ones seem to offer the best in value for money. You should never go with a company that has an inferior reputation just because they are cheap.

After you have received multiple quotes, weigh up the pros and cons of each catering company to see what works best for you.

Always Read the Fine Print
Never sign an agreement without reading the fine print first. You need to be clear on exactly how far the catering company’s responsibilities extend. The last thing you want is to order a catering company only to discover they cannot do something because that is part of a separate service. Be clear from the beginning on what they are going to be doing for you.

Negotiate

If you do not get the price you want, remember you can heckle with the caterer. Most catering companies will be willing to budge, as long as they still make a reasonably fair profit when everything is said and done.

Super Methods to Increase Efficiency and Quality in Your Working Kitchen

Anyone who works in a commercial kitchen knows how important cooking efficiency and food quality are. Purchasing equipment from commercial kitchen suppliers is only half the battle. The way you cook and the way your kitchen functions can all have a significant effect on the results you get when it is time to serve the food.

In this article, we will outline some of the ways you can increase efficiency and quality in your working kitchen.

Cook Faster with Convection Ovens

One way to cook more efficiently is to use a commercial convection oven. They have the capacity of larger ovens, but they distribute heat in a faster way. Within the oven, a small fan sends heat all over the interior. It reduces the number of cold air bubbles in the food, which cooks the food more thoroughly and reduces the total cooking time.

Better Taste More Precise Settings

There is a reason why the majority of people cannot replicate the same taste they would find in a restaurant. Commercial catering equipment has far more precise settings, which gives chefs more control over their creations. This is why any professional chef must purchase commercial kitchen supplies.

The Small Things

Commercial kitchen equipment is not confined exclusively to large ovens and grills. There are smaller implements that enable chefs to increase the speed at which they can prepare meals.

In a restaurant, the majority of the time is spent preparing ingredients for the actual cooking process. This can involve chopping up carrots and peeling potatoes. In a professional kitchen, it is easier to purchase commercial tin openers and peelers to make the job go faster. This frees up the head chef to take care of the most important job, rather than being forced to stick with the mundane.

Cooking Specialist Foods Consistently

Many specialist foods, such as crepes, can be made in the home. The problem is getting the consistency a professional restaurant would expect. Chefs can use commercial crepe makers to get consistently thin pancakes quickly each time. It means they get consistently good results with every cooking session.

There are so many specialist devices that target certain foods. You can find brulee torches, hot plates, waffle makers, and Panini presses.

Freeing Up the Oven

The oven only has a limited amount of space. Head chefs have to control the flow of food to make sure there is always enough space within the ovens. One way of increasing efficiency and preventing traffic jams is to take jobs you would normally use a stove for and transfer them to specialist tools.

The most common example off this would be boiling a pot of oil. Rather than using the stovetop, the chef would use a commercial deep fat fryer instead. This leaves more stove space for important jobs that cannot be outsourced elsewhere.

Overall, increasing efficiency and quality in the kitchen is all about good management. It is about being able to outsource tasks to more specialist equipment. By leaving yourself with enough space in the oven, you can increase efficiency and prevent any unnecessary waiting around.

What are the Responsibilities of a Professional Caterer?

A professional caterer has to take control of more than just preparing and serving the food. They have to be able to coordinate and create a certain ambience. There is more to commercial catering than turning up with a few meals.

In this article, we are going to reveal the responsibilities a caterer will have whenever they pick up a job. As you will see, commercial caterers need to have the right skills in multiple areas.

Event Coordination

You have to conform to the event you are working at. This means you have to time everything perfectly. When the guests are ready to sit down for their meal, you have to have everything on the table. This will require liaising with the event’s manager to make sure you can get things ready.

You will also need to have the right equipment at the venue. It could include commercial coffee machines or hot plates to keep food warm.

Preparing Food

The food preparation is the responsibility of the catering company. They will need to take the menus from the customer and prepare everything to a tee. As a caterer, it is your job to make sure you do it as efficiently as possible. This means you will need to concentrate on reducing wastage and profit loss.

As part of your food preparation, you will need to come up with a way of storing the food until it arrives at the venue and is ready to serve. Customers want fresh, hot food that iswell presented.

Setting the Venue

Believe it or not, caterers have to do more than setup bakery equipment and deliver food. It is common practice for them to have to get the dining hall ready. They’re responsible for making sure there are enough chairs and tables, as well as making sure all the cutlery, napkins, and other forms of dining paraphernalia is there and ready to use.

Serving the Food

Assuming this is not a buffet dinner, catering companies will provide staff to help serve the food. This requires good coordination to ensure everyone knows what they are doing and what the guests expect. Most catering companies will be forced to have separate teams for each area, which makes good management essential to the event’s success.

Cleaning Everything Up

The majority of customers prefer to pay extra to take advantage of a catering company’s cleaning services. After all the guests have gone home, it’s the job of the caterer to clean up the dining area and leave it in the same condition as it was before.

It will require logistics management to ensure everything is put back in its proper place without any breakages. Any breakages on your part will come out of your own pocket.

Services on Demand

Take note, some customers may decide to take care of different areas by themselves. For example, some catering equipment suppliers will only ask for the equipment. They will choose to supply their staff and send the equipment back again. It is important for catering businesses to offer their clientele as much choice as they possibly can. It is what the general public expects.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Caterer for Your Next Big Event

Whenever someone holds a major event, they have to decide whether they want to do the catering themselves or bring in the professionals. The big discussion is over whether you are truly getting value for money. Nobody wants to employ kitchen suppliers only to discover they’re doing something you could quite easily do yourself for free and without the hassle.

It is always better to hire a professional for an event. As long as you hire the right company for the job, there is no reason why you should not bring in a pro. Here are some of the main benefits of hiring a professional caterer for your event.

Saving Time

Time is everything when preparing for a big event. If something goes wrong, there is usually not enough time to rectify it completely. This is why it is important to gain as much time as you possibly can. Catering is the most time-consuming aspect of the process.

By employing a professional caterer, they will bring their catering equipment and take care of everything for you. Now you can dedicate your time to something more important, instead.

It is Cheaper

Many people falsely believe not hiring a professional caterer is a way to save money. If they don’t do it, you have to. This means you will have to look around for catering supplies UK and search for the staff/volunteers to help you out with it all. You are still going to have to pay a significant amount of money to do the catering yourself, assuming you want to do it properly and without compromise.

In many cases, it is more cost-effective to hand the job over to the experts. The worst you can do is break even.

Getting it Right

As already mentioned earlier in this article, you usually do not have enough time to rectify a major error. Reduce your chances of something going wrong by handing the responsibility over to someone with experience. A professional caterer has done all this before and knows how everything works. You can practically guarantee everything will go smoothly, which means your event will go down a treat.

It is Easier Before and After

Caterers do more than bring your food to the table. They handle everything from the utensils to the chairs and tables. They make sure everyone has a place to sit and that everyone gets to sit where they want the most.

After all this, they will handle the cleaning for you. You get to spend your time enjoying your event, whilst someone else does all the dirty work. Just remember to read the small print to make sure they do take responsibility for the cleaning. In most cases, cleaning and other services are optional.

React Quickly

Perhaps the best trait you can find in a professional caterer is the ability to react to a situation quickly. Unexpected turns can and do happen. With the help of a professional, you will be able to react and adapt. The hand of someone who knows what they are doing can mean the difference between enjoying a night to remember and complete disaster.