Planning any occasion can feel overwhelming, especially corporate events like networking sessions, team meetings, or office parties. Your event’s success depends on a variety of factors, most notably the food, the service, and the attention to detail. One of the most important (and often game-changing) decisions you must make is whether to hire an event caterer, and, even more challenging, choosing the right one.
If you are a Manchester-based business thinking about planning your next corporate event, read on to find out what you should be looking for when hiring a caterer, and why Robert & Victor are your perfect partner.
What Are Your Event Needs?
One of the first things you should establish, before contacting any catering companies, is what your event needs. Ask yourself:
- Type of event: What type of event are you hosting? Firstly, is it a teamworking lunch, or a networking evening, for example? Then, how do you imagine the event being? A sit-down meal, buffet, or canapés and cocktails? Formal or informal? These are all important considerations for your caterer.
- Number of guests: Do you know exactly how many you’ll be catering for? This number will greatly impact your costs, staffing, and equipment.
- Location: Have you considered where your event will be? Again, this will impact the logistics of running your event. If the venue has kitchen facilities, this may allow for a smoother service from the back room to your guests. If not, your catering company may have to consider bringing equipment, which may up transport costs.
- Dietary requirements: The number one consideration, for any event at all, is your guests. You must be able to provide food that your guests can actually eat. Before contacting a catering company, understand if there are any dietary requirements, religious constraints, or allergies amongst your guests so that your menu is suitable for everyone.
- Event theme: This factor may not be relevant for all events, but it’s worth considering. Themes can elevate an event, showing elegance and sophistication that is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
- Budget: Finally, what is a realistic budget? Consider the various factors of your event that are a must, and communicate this to your caterer to get an overall idea.
Location and Logistics
As we have mentioned above, taking the time to consider the location of your event can be a great help in finding the right caterer. One of the most important factors in location and hiring a catering company is locality. A local catering company will firstly be more familiar with venues, access constraints and permits. They will also have shorter transport times, meaning food is fresher for longer, timing is more accurate, and there is a reduced risk of delays.
If you are a Manchester-based business, Robert & Victor is your ideal catering partner, serving fresh, delicious food across the city, with a team of professional, dedicated staff who are sure to provide the highest level of service to make your event memorable.
Food and Menu Planning
When planning a corporate event where food and drink are to be provided, the taste and quality of the food is ultimately a make-or-break in terms of success.
When deciding which catering company to partner with, make sure to find out as much as you can about their products. Be sure to ask:
- Do they use fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients? Are they transparent about their sourcing?
- Can they provide sample menus or tasting options to try before you commit?
- How varied are their offerings? Do they cater to various dietary requirements and allergies?
At Robert & Victor, we pride ourselves on our locally sourced, freshly made products, all using eco-friendly packaging. Find out more about Our Producers, or browse our Catering Menu for a full list of our products.
Staffing and Service Quality
To really take your event to the next level, service staff are the final piece to the puzzle in providing professional service to complement great food. If looking to hire service staff, make sure you check these points with your catering partner:
- Are their service staff fully trained and provide a professional service? Are they trained in formal/informal settings and hospitality?
- What ratio of staff to guests can they provide?
- Do they handle all aspects of the event: setup, cleanup, tableware, linens, or glassware, etc?
- Are their staff reliable, friendly, and well-presented?
As Robert & Victor is a full-service catering company, our service staff offers only the highest quality of service for your event. Find out more about our Service Staff in Manchester.
Reputation and Reviews
No matter what your first impression is of a business, from their website or their social media, real feedback from clients and customers is one of the biggest indicators of performance. Before partnering with a catering company, you should first evaluate their reputation.
- Read their testimonials and case studies of some of their recent clientele and events. What are people saying about their service, presentation, and reliability?
- Ask for some references. Find those who have hosted a similar event to yours. How successful was it?
- Browse online reviews and look for any recurring themes (positive and negative).
At Robert & Victor, we always aim to please, no matter how big or small the event is. Read some of our latest reviews for Robert & Victor – Piccadilly Place or Robert & Victor – Oxford Street.
Some other factors to consider when hiring a catering company include:
- Licensing, Insurance and Food Safety: Check the caterer is fully licensed (for alcohol, food safety), has appropriate hygiene regulations, or venue permits.
- Transparent Pricing and Contracts: Can they provide a breakdown of their costs, their cancellation policy, or any required deposits?
- Communication and Professionalism: Are they responsive to your enquiries? Do they ask helpful questions to understand your requirements? Do they offer suggestions and an expert opinion, and are they organised?
Finding the perfect event caterer is not just about choosing who has the most social media followers or who is the most aesthetically pleasing. There are lots of factors to consider to ensure you choose the right company that suits your needs, and that is going to add the most value to your event.
If you are a Manchester-based business looking to plan your next corporate event and need a local, experienced, flexible, and delicious catering company to partner with, get in touch with our friendly team today to kickstart the process of creating an unforgettable experience.
