The Road to Miami: Prepping for Catersource: How to Make the Most Out of Attending

/
The Road to Miami: Prepping for Catersource: How to Make the Most Out of Attending

As we gear up for Catersource 2019 in beautiful, historic New Orleans, we can’t help but to reflect on the reason for the (conference) season – continuing education, putting in the coveted face time with your partners, and making industry connections. For the catering industry, this is the must-see event of the year, and the benefits are immeasurable.

With any conference, it’s crucial that you take the time to prepare, whether that’s packing the essentials or simply doing your research on the featured exhibits.

Read More

3 Things You Can Do to Boost Profits in 2021

/
3 Things You Can Do to Boost Profits in 2021

Many caterers are heading into 2021 wondering how they’ll make up for lost business due to the pandemic. There’s no denying that 2020 was a tough year for everyone. With live events canceled and many dining establishments shuttered (or severely limited), it will be critical for catering businesses to focus on increasing profits in the year ahead.

Here are four strategies that will help you to maximize your revenue and keep your finances in the black in 2021.

Read More

3 Key Ingredient Switches to Increase Your Bottom Line

/
3 Key Ingredient Switches to Increase Your Bottom Line

Many catering businesses are looking to cut costs to make up for lost business in 2020, so you’re not alone if you’re wondering how you can save money in the year ahead. Contrary to popular belief, though, you don’t need to overhaul your business structure to increase your bottom line. Instead, there are plenty of smaller changes you can make that will impact your profit margins in the long run.

One strategy that has helped caterers to trim the proverbial fat is to do a hard assessment of the ingredients that they source. In many cases, staple ingredients can be replaced with cost-effective alternatives that are softer on the budget without sacrificing any quality.

Here are three areas to consider for switching out ingredients while maintaining the top-notch quality that your clients expect.

Read More

How to Choose the Right GPO for Your Catering Business

/
How to Choose the Right GPO for Your Catering Business

Joining a group purchasing organization (GPO) is a smart move for any caterer looking to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of inventory.

If you’re not familiar with GPOs, here’s a brief rundown of what they are and the benefits of membership. As its name describes, a group purchasing organization is a group of industry professionals that come together to increase buying power when making purchases. This concept isn’t specific to the catering and events industry — in fact, GPOs started out in healthcare before making their way to foodservice and hospitality among other industries.

Read More

How a GPO Works to Save Caterers Money

/
How a GPO Works to Save Caterers Money

In a year where business owners everywhere are looking for ways to cut costs, it’s a good time for caterers to consider joining a GPO to reduce expenses and increase profit margins. A GPO, or group purchasing organization, is a professional association that allows its members to leverage their collective purchasing power to reap the benefits of lower pricing and better service.

Although this type of group isn’t specific to the catering industry, it has become an increasingly popular way for food service providers to save on costs. In fact, nearly 25 percent of food purchasing in the industry is done through a GPO.

Read More