If you have been asked to organise lunch for colleagues in your office, it is sometimes difficult to know which options to go for. There may be lots of things to balance including dietary requirements, tight budgets and time. But bad office lunch catering options can also sour an event, as employees can sometimes interpret lack of effort or spending as a reflection of how much their firm values them.
A poll by Conference News showed that 93% of respondents thought that bad catering reflects badly on an event. Here are some things to think about when choosing a catering company:
Quality
Quality is the most important aspect of choosing a company for an event, second only to budget constraints. You should aim to hire a company that provides the highest quality catering to match your budget. It’s better to have a few trays of really delicious and well-made sandwiches, than salads that seem fancy but are tiny or not fresh and cost lots more.
Location
You also need to factor in location and if your chosen caterer can deliver to you or is within distance to pick up food. Some office lunch catering providers such as https://www.crumbsdelivered.co.uk/index.php/product-category/lunch can now do nationwide delivery, but if you want hot food then it might be better to go with a company close by.
Dietary requirements
There has been a rise in allergies in the UK over the last ten years especially, with peanut allergies in particular doubling. As well as this, many people are now choosing more sustainable plant-based diets and many do so anyway for religious reasons. Having a catering company that understands your needs and takes food and allergy hygiene seriously is non-negotiable for a work lunch.
You should make caterers aware of any requirements well in advance and ask for alternative options for your team. This way, everyone will be happy regardless of whether they require vegan, gluten-free, halal or allergen-free options. Catering for these folks is a small but important part in creating an environment of inclusivity.
