Catering business. Management. Part No. 2

Catering

(English catering; from cater “to supply provisions”) - the public catering industry associated with the provision of services at remote points, including all enterprises and services that provide contract services for catering for company employees and individuals on premises and in off-site services, and also providing services for various events and retail sales of finished culinary products.

In practice, catering means not only food preparation and delivery, but also service, setting, table decoration, pouring and serving drinks to guests and similar services.

Catering - what is it?

The word catering is translated from English as “food supply” or “ catering organization ”. It has a similar definition in Russian.

Catering is the preparation and delivery of dishes to the customer’s address, a kind of off-site restaurant service, which is performed by a professional company.

The main tasks of catering are to relieve the customer of the hassle associated with preparing for the celebration, and to organize the holiday so that it is memorable for the guests.

Employees of catering companies take on events of any complexity, prepare and serve food, and arrange the banquet venue. You can order catering service to any place: to your home, office, loft, conference hall, outdoors or countryside.

A little history

Catering is a capacious concept that has no synonyms in the Russian language. The term itself appeared in the 20th century, but outdoor events began to be organized much earlier. The founder is considered to be Jean-François Vatel. The famous French chef was the first to organize lavish feasts on the road. During the reign of Louis XIV, no one did anything like this. Francois Vatel brilliantly organized feasts. Guests and observers spoke about the luxurious events on a grand scale, and their descendants remember them. In those days, no one knew what types of catering there were, but even then they took a responsible approach to preparing dishes, setting tables, and serving. The scope and level of events was no worse than today.

What is cheaper – a restaurant or catering?

Off-site catering in the capital will cost much less than the cost of holding a banquet in a restaurant. In addition, ordering catering can be quick and easy, but finding a suitable establishment can take a lot of time. With good service and a significantly lower cost of food compared to restaurant ones, their taste can satisfy even the most picky gourmets, and the level of service will surprise regulars of social receptions and business events.

Catering is ordered because it:

• Profitable – by entrusting the organization of any event to professionals, you can save a lot.
• Original and tasty - the menu in good service is varied, real professionals work in the kitchen, and original recipes are used to prepare dishes.
• Punctual and fast - all agreements are carried out within clearly defined deadlines, and placing an order does not take much time.

Many people still mistakenly think about catering and ordering it that it requires a lot of effort, time and money. In fact, this is a convenient, inexpensive and efficient way to hold a festive or business event at the highest level.

Main types of catering services

Most Russian companies offer the following catering services:

1. preparing and serving dishes at the location chosen by the customer;
2. accompaniment and serving food at closed parties, receptions of high-ranking people;
3. organization of outdoor wedding ceremonies and banquets;
4. preparing and serving drinks.

Cooking indoors

This type of catering is not far removed from the traditional restaurant business. The company prepares food and provides the client with premises for the event. The good thing about business is that there is no need to waste time on delivering food, unpacking it, installing equipment and subsequent cleaning.

The staff has everything you need at hand. In your own premises you can organize a food warehouse, storage space for dishes and equipment. To make the company’s offer more attractive, you can hire a designer who will decorate the premises at the request of the customer in accordance with the type of holiday.

Off-site restaurant service

This option is suitable for companies that do not have spacious halls that can accommodate a large number of guests. It is possible to combine outdoor restaurant service with indoor cooking service, but for a limited number of guests. Dishes are prepared in our own kitchen and then delivered to the venue.

Of course, catering companies don’t limit themselves to this. Already on site, the staff sets the table, serves guests during the event, and after its completion, cleaning, packing of dishes and equipment is carried out. Off-site restaurant services are classified into the following types:

• Outdoor banquet. No different from the traditional one, except for the venue.
• Buffet . The dishes are laid out on the tables, and the guests choose the ones they like and sit at separate tables.
• Buffet . At these events, only hot and cold snacks are served. Guests eat while standing.
• Barbecue . A popular type of outdoor mini-banquet. The menu consists of dishes that are baked over fire. Tables for guests are set only at the request of the customer.
• Cocktail . The event is similar to a buffet. Waiters serve alcoholic drinks and snacks to guests. They are not seated at separate tables.
• Coffee break. One of the types of buffet. Guests serve themselves. The menu consists of desserts, hot drinks and sandwiches.

Delivery to the office

This type of catering is suitable for serving companies that monitor the diet of their employees, but do not have their own cafe or buffet. There are three options:

• The food is prepared in the catering company's kitchen and delivered ready-made to the customer's office.
• Semi-finished products are being prepared in the kitchen. Lunches are heated and ready at the client's office.
• Lunches are prepared entirely in the office. The catering company brings food and equipment there.

Section No. 8. Improving the quality of work

The success of a business directly depends on its improvement. You must constantly move forward and improve the work of your company in organizing field catering for special events.

Never stop there. Active development will allow the company to remain in favor with customers and always be in demand. Follow the latest trends in service, kitchen equipment, and food presentation. Attend exhibitions and symposiums for restaurateurs.

This way you can constantly surprise your customers and remain at the top of your game.

Staff training.

Your catering agency must provide impeccable service in any location and under any conditions. To do this, it is necessary to improve the qualifications of service personnel.

The best way to broaden the horizons of employees in the service sector is to order training. Specialized seminars will help your team acquire new knowledge, improve their professional level and improve self-esteem.

Working with staff is not only about showing how to properly prepare and serve food. The main objective of the training is to teach employees to unobtrusively and efficiently take care of guests.

It is important that specific training is provided for each profession separately. Trainers take one approach to waiters, another to managers, and a third to cooks. Everyone should receive the information they need in their work.

Menu update.

The food prepared by your chefs should be not just a food product, but a culinary masterpiece.
Therefore, do not skimp on all kinds of courses for kitchen workers. By learning about new trends in the culinary world, they will be able to introduce your guests to all the trendy dishes. Don't be afraid to innovate. Even if your customers are delighted with the menu and don't say they want to try anything new, try to present new dishes.

You shouldn't change everything overnight. Experiment, prepare some original dish for each season, which will be an addition to the main menu. Over time, you will be able to understand what interested customers and what they did not like. This will make it easier to plan the next updates.

A big advantage of companies engaged in catering for special events is the ability to individually create a menu for each client.

Take advantage of this and create new culinary masterpieces based on the taste preferences of customers. Your manager should make every effort to predict what exactly will appeal to clients and their guests.

Carrying out promotions, issuing discount cards.

Catering companies can improve their work by holding promotions. You can offer bonuses for each anniversary customer. These can be pleasant, but inexpensive services.

For example, providing a one-time discount on an event or free transfer of guests to the banquet venue.

For regular customers, discount cards can be provided. A small but constant discount will emphasize how much your company values ​​​​the choice of customers.

What does catering include?

By ordering a catering service, the client actually receives a turnkey holiday. Catering includes:

1. purchasing products;
2. preparing dishes according to a menu previously agreed upon with the customer;
3. utensils, equipment and other materials necessary for the celebration;
4. delivery of food to the location agreed with the client;
5. serving, serving dishes, servicing the event;
6. cleaning

The variety of dishes depends on the financial capabilities of the customer and the theme of the event. To save money on a corporate event, anniversary or party, you can arrange a buffet with cold appetizers, canapés, desserts, and with the remaining money, order an outdoor bar and hookahs.

Types of catering and their features

The form of field service is determined taking into account:

• place of food preparation;
• way to satisfy the client's requirements and needs;
• place of service provision.

Various areas of catering are united by mobility, but specialists can provide assistance in organizing a stationary party.

Off-site service involves providing services to the customer outside the existing catering establishment. Much has been said above about this area of ​​catering. With stationary service, specialists deliver ready-made food in containers to the address specified by the customer. This could be an office, a dining room, etc.

Based on the method of providing services, catering is classified into:

• social;
• event-based;
• onboard;
• hotel

The most common type of catering is event catering. The provision of a service is connected with some reason. This could be not only a wedding or anniversary, but also a seminar, a meeting with partners, a company event, or mass public events.

Optimal conditions for food consumption are created by:

• in banquet and congress halls;
• in business centers and offices;
• in dining areas and natural areas;
• at suburban sites;
• in courtyard areas near residential buildings;
• at sports grounds, fairs, etc.

Benefits of catering

The main advantage of catering is that there is no need to spend time preparing dishes for the holiday yourself. Guests enjoy delicious food prepared by professional chefs, in their desired surroundings and without prying eyes.

Here are a number of other advantages of using a catering company:

1. mobility - a mobile restaurant comes to the location specified by the client;
2. no hassle - the catering company is responsible for preparing, serving food and serving guests;
3. catering for any event, from a birthday or corporate party to a wedding;
4. Having paid the money, the client receives a turnkey holiday, which is arranged by a team of professionals: cooks, waiters, hostesses, managers;
5. festive decoration of premises, floral services, the possibility of creating a zone with an animator;
6. Cleaning up after the event rests with the agency.

How to order quality catering

Go online

Where to start choosing catering? From search. Go online and look for a suitable company. In this case, it is better to avoid companies whose names appear at the very beginning of the search query results. These companies simply paid for advertising on the Internet. Search below - already on real search results.

Read reviews from friends

Ask your friends, maybe someone was delighted with the holiday organized by the catering company, or you yourself attended such an event and want to repeat the same thing at your place.

Check the cost and list of services

When you negotiate with a caterer to serve a banquet or birthday party, find out what specific services are included in the cost of the work. Perhaps some of them need to be paid separately. Be sure to take this into account to stay within your budget.

Ask for a tasting

It is better to evaluate the quality, taste and appearance of dishes in advance, so that there are no disappointments later. To achieve this, self-respecting catering companies arrange tastings for the client. On it you can adjust the menu if you don’t like something, and clarify serving options.

Features of the service

Catering services have several features:

1. Seasonality. The demand for off-site catering increases in the spring-summer period and with the onset of long holidays.
2. Linkage of the company's activities to global events. The relevance (how is that?) of catering is increasing on the eve of national song competitions, World Cup football championships, all-Russian fairs and festivals.

Advice. If you plan to use the services of a catering company between April and September, apply in advance.

Relevance of catering

Who among us does not dream of holding a celebration on the seashore or in a park area in the shade of lush trees?

For the holiday to be 100% successful, you need to take care of all the attributes for accommodating guests, create a menu and bring food. In addition, minor details play an important role in creating a festive atmosphere: tablecloths, napkins, balls, matching dishes, etc.

Just the thought of preparing a large-scale event makes your head spin, because it is necessary to do a colossal amount of work to ensure that every guest is satisfied. If you don’t have enough time or simply don’t want to take on organizational issues, a catering service will come to the rescue and create an enchanting holiday from scratch.

Imagine that you will only need to agree on key points, and all the “dirty” work will be easily done by others! Professionals can organize both a cozy party for 25 people and a large-scale event bringing together more than 500 guests. Specialists approach preparations from a professional point of view, taking into account the smallest details and drawing the overall picture of the holiday.

Catering came to Russia relatively recently, and the experience of foreign catering companies suggests that there are a huge number of people willing to take advantage of the help of specialists.

Increasingly, the services of catering organizations are used at weddings, anniversaries, and corporate meetings. Russians are increasingly relying on the competence of professionals, wanting to end up with a truly unforgettable celebration.

Event catering formats

Today, catering companies organize parties according to the following six schemes.

Important!

Each service format has requirements that can be found in GOST R 53995-2010.

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