Breaking Into Corporate Catering: Proven Strategies to Boost Bookings

Corporate catering is a lucrative market, but getting those bookings often requires more than just great food. Winning corporate clients means understanding their unique needs, building trust, and presenting yourself as a reliable supplier. Whether you’re a small catering business looking to get your first clients or an established name looking to expand with us, these strategies will help you establish a foothold in the corporate world.

1. Understand Your Audience

To succeed in corporate catering, you must understand who you’re dealing with. Typically, your point of contact will be office managers, executive assistants (EAs), personal assistants (PAs), or account managers from event agencies. These individuals are often not the final decision-makers, but their recommendations heavily influence their superiors.

To make their jobs easier:

• - Provide clear, concise proposals that are easy for them to pass along to decision-makers

• - Anticipate their questions and address them in advance

• - Position yourself as a partner who simplifies the process and delivers solutions confidently

Remember, they’re juggling multiple responsibilities and stakeholders. Your ability to make their task straightforward increases the likelihood of securing their business.

2. Build a Corporate-Friendly Menu

Corporate events often cater to diverse groups, making flexibility crucial. Design a standard menu that can be easily adapted to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences. We have a Quote Template library, where you can save these menus. Keep these points in mind:

• - Focus on simplicity, corporate clients value efficiency over complexity

• - Offer a range of service styles, from plated meals to buffets or grab-and-go options

• - Save different Quote Templates on the Togather platform to save you time by getting quotes out fast

• - Be prepared to work within common office limitations, such as no open flames, minimal prep space, or restricted use of certain equipment

Having a versatile menu not only showcases your adaptability but also positions you as a reliable choice that makes their lives easy.

3. Highlight Your Experience and Expertise

Corporate clients want assurance that you can deliver. Use your past successes to build trust:

• - Showcase your experience with other SMEs or enterprise clients - we recommend shouting about this in your profile description as well as adding previous positive reviews

• - Highlight recognisable brands you’ve worked with

• - Include visuals of your food presentation, service setup, and branding on your profile, to give potential clients a clear sense of what you bring to the table

Positioning yourself as an expert with experience in corporate catering helps set you apart from competitors. If you don’t have that yet, don’t forget to go back and add these things in once you have had a couple of bookings. 

4. Master Communication

Clear and consistent communication is critical when dealing with corporate clients. They’re often under pressure to make their events successful, and any uncertainty can create stress. To ease their concerns:

• - Respond quickly on the platform to inquiries and provide detailed answers. We recommend within the first 3 hours, to increase your conversion rate

• - Maintain regular updates throughout the planning process

• - Schedule a pre-event call to confirm details and ensure alignment. Once the customer has booked you, we share your contact info to make this easier

Being proactive in communication not only reassures clients but also builds their confidence in your ability to deliver.

5. Do Your Homework on the Venue

Corporate venues often come with unique restrictions, from limited prep space to strict health and safety regulations. Before committing to an event:

• - Understand the venue’s rules regarding equipment, food preparation, and service

• - Plan a setup that works seamlessly within those constraints

• - Communicate your ability to adapt to these challenges, reinforcing your professionalism

Proactively addressing venue-specific requirements showcases your attention to detail and prevents last-minute surprises. Remember, on Togather the event request should have all of this information on there, especially whether the venue is indoors or outdoors.

6. Deliver Value Beyond the Event

Corporate clients appreciate added value that enhances their overall experience. Consider offering:

• - Customisation options, such as branded food items

• - Insights into event trends or creative ideas to make their event memorable

• - Post-event follow-ups to gather feedback and strengthen relationships with both the customer, and our Account Management team

Going the extra mile demonstrates your commitment to excellence and increases the likelihood of repeat bookings and that our Account Managers will refer to other clients.

7. Understand the Client’s Goals

Corporate events often celebrate milestones, team achievements, or client relationships. Understanding the purpose of the event allows you to align your services with their objectives, for example:

• - Suggest thematic menu items or branded elements for milestone celebrations

• - Focus on interactive or team-building dining experiences for internal events

When you show that you understand their goals, you position yourself as a partner invested in their success.

8. Follow Up and Refine Your Approach

After an event, be sure to follow up with your client to thank them and gather feedback. Use this information to:

• - Identify areas for improvement

• - Encourage them to leave a glowing review if appropriate

• - Strengthen relationships with existing clients

• - Adapt your strategies to better meet the needs of future corporate clients

Continual improvement ensures your services remain relevant and competitive in the corporate catering market. You can alternatively go to our Account Managers for this feedback.

Breaking into corporate catering takes more than just great food—it’s about understanding the clients, being flexible, and presenting yourself as a reliable, professional choice. By refining your menu, mastering communication, and positioning yourself as a trusted partner, you’ll stand out in a competitive market. If you want more advice, reach out to our team any time!