Expanding Your Restaurant Business: Introducing Staffed Catering Events
Summary:
Introduction to staffed catering events for restaurants.
Creating a dedicated catering team.
Establishing separate kitchen systems for catering.
Essential catering equipment.
How Consulting to Market can assist in developing a comprehensive catering plan.
Introduction
Expanding your restaurant business to include staffed catering events can be a lucrative venture, providing an additional revenue stream and enhancing your brand's visibility. However, this transition requires careful planning and resource allocation to ensure success. This blog post will guide you through the critical steps of establishing a dedicated catering team, creating separate kitchen systems, acquiring essential catering equipment, and how Consulting to Market can help you develop a comprehensive plan to enter the catering market.
Creating a Dedicated Catering Team
A successful catering operation requires a specialized team separate from your restaurant staff. One of the biggest mistakes restaurants make in rolling out a catering service is trying to overlay catering operations on top of restaurant operations. You have to think of catering as a separate business model in order to scale catering services to a high level. You need a dedicated team. Here’s what you need:
Catering Sales Position
This role is crucial for driving business. The catering sales person will handle client inquiries, develop proposals, and close deals. They should have strong sales skills and a deep understanding of your catering offerings. This person is the key relationship builder for your catering business and is the most crucial role in a success catering business.
Event Supervisor
The event supervisor oversees the execution of catering events, ensuring everything runs smoothly. This person manages logistics, coordinates staff, and serves as the point of contact for clients on the event day. They need excellent organizational and leadership skills. The catering sales and event supervisor positions are often combined. In our view, this is a mistake. It creates conflicts of interest and is too big of a workload burden to scale well.
Dedicated Catering Staff
Hiring dedicated catering staff ensures that your restaurant operations remain unaffected. This team includes chefs, kitchen assistants, and servers trained specifically for catering events. They must be adept at working in different environments and handling the unique challenges of off-site catering. It is a mistake to rely on your restaurant service staff for catering events. Busy restaurant and catering days tend to correspond, and you will not have enough team members to execute.
Establishing Separate Kitchen Systems
To efficiently manage both restaurant and catering operations, you need to establish separate kitchen systems.
Designated Catering Prep Space
A designated catering prep space within your kitchen helps streamline operations and prevents disruption to your restaurant service. This area should be equipped with everything necessary for prepping large quantities of food for off-site events.
Banquet Event Order (BEO)
Implementing a Banquet Event Order system is essential for organizing and managing catering events. The BEO outlines all details of an event, including the menu, timeline, staffing requirements, and special instructions. This document ensures clear communication among your team and with the client. You must have a simple and clear system to organize BEO’s in the kitchen so the kitchen team can review and plan for large events.
Catering-Specific Kitchen Employees
Having staff dedicated to catering prep and cooking ensures consistency and quality. These employees focus solely on catering tasks, becoming experts in handling large volumes and adapting recipes for off-site conditions.
Essential Catering Equipment
Expanding into the catering market requires investment in specialized equipment. Here’s what you’ll need:
Catering Van
A reliable catering van is essential for transporting food, equipment, and staff to event locations. Ensure it is equipped with shelving and storage to keep items secure during transit.
Insulated Hot Boxes
These are crucial for maintaining the temperature of hot foods during transport and service. Insulated hot boxes keep food safe and delicious from kitchen to event site.
Chafing Dishes and Smallwares
Chafing dishes are necessary for serving hot food at events. Additionally, you’ll need smallwares such as serving utensils, platters, and trays to present food attractively and efficiently.
Linens and Dishware
High-quality linens for tables, serving stations, and displays enhance the overall presentation and professionalism of your catering service. Invest in a variety of colors and styles to suit different event themes. Dishware is an expensive investment and should be charged as a rental fee. Consider linens and dishware as upsell opportunities.
How Consulting to Market Can Help
Expanding into the catering market requires strategic planning and expertise. Consulting to Market can provide the guidance you need to develop a comprehensive catering plan.
Customized Strategy Development
We work with you to create a tailored strategy that fits your restaurant’s unique strengths and market opportunities. This includes market analysis, competitive positioning, and a detailed business plan.
Operational Setup
Our experts help you set up the operational aspects of your catering business, from establishing separate kitchen systems to creating effective BEO processes. We ensure you have the infrastructure needed for smooth and efficient operations.
Marketing and Sales Support
Consulting to Market provides comprehensive marketing and sales support, helping you attract and retain clients. We develop targeted marketing campaigns and sales strategies to drive your catering business growth.
Conclusion
Introducing staffed catering events to your restaurant operations can significantly boost your revenue and brand recognition. By creating a dedicated catering team, establishing separate kitchen systems, and investing in essential catering equipment, you set the foundation for a successful catering business. Consulting to Market is here to help you navigate this expansion, providing expert guidance and support every step of the way.
Call to Action
Ready to expand your restaurant business into the lucrative catering market? Contact Consulting to Market today to develop a comprehensive catering plan tailored to your needs. Let's take your business to new heights together.
