Small Ways to Tweak Your Business to Suit Evolving Catering Client Needs

From design to experience, client preferences seem to be changing all the time and it can seem like quite a task to keep up with them. However, you do not always need to overhaul your company’s procedures to keep your clients happy. Sometimes, it can be as simple as making a few tweaks here and there to ensure that your business is up to snuff with the latest needs.

Photo by Aneta Pawlik

We spoke with our culinary experts about ways they have tweaked their businesses to better suit their clients’ needs. Here’s what they had to say.

Streamline your menu

“Dietary restrictions are becoming more and more impactful,” says Anthony Lambatos of Footers Catering. “Clients want to make sure they accommodate their guests’ needs and that ultimately falls on the caterer to make that happen. We’ve worked to create menu items that accommodate multiple dietary needs. Many of our entrée courses have been designed to be gluten-free. We can then have a secondary option that may be vegetarian, vegan, nut-free, and dairy-free. This streamlines the variety of menu items we have to prepare for each event.”

Be prepared to adapt

“Personalization is and has been the trend,” stresses Alan Berg of Wedding Business Solutions, LLC. “Learning to be flexible and to accommodate the need to personalize their weddings and events is key to success. While most couples prefer to start with packages, they still want to be able to have the flexibility to customize their experiences. Give them the options within the packages and be open to their ideas, even if they have to pay more for those changes.”

Adopt a client-first mentality

“We all like to feel important and your buyers are no different,” reminds Meryl Snow of Feastivities Events. “They need to be the center of attention, as though you feel the world revolves around them — which it does. Make them feel good about themselves, compliment their questions and knowledge. Ease the road and remove as many bumps as you can to ensure things remain as pleasant as possible. Helping them avoid risks shows how reliable your product is and how much your company cares.”

Go all-in

“Clients are looking for more of a one-stop shop,” shares Lon Lane of Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions. “They want someone that can coordinate everything and are more interested in the ‘Total Experience’ instead of just providing food. Do your research on the internet and window shopping in various boutique shopping areas. Look for color trends, ethnic trends, style trends — you can learn a lot by research.” 

Remember that we are in the hospitality industry, so client experience should always be your first and foremost priority. Keeping your current clients happy will bring new work in the way of referrals and return business. Don’t lose sight of what is most important and always be ready to pivot and adapt your business as client needs