Seasonal Fall Menu Hacks

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Seasonal Fall Menu Hacks

It’s hard to think about fall favorites when the summer is still going strong, but now is the time to start menu planning for upcoming autumn celebrations. And if you are planning on simply dusting off the old menu from last year, think again.

Navigating today’s market may feel more challenging than in most years, so this season calls for creativity and flexibility. Between supply chain blockages and ever-evolving culinary trends, your fall menu deserves a refresh — and we’re here to show you how.

As we head into the cooler months, let’s switch gears and start thinking seasonal with foods and flavors. We have touched on seasonality before, but in a year presenting caterers with countless challenges, it is more vital than ever to lean into seasonal fall ingredients as a way to save money, mitigate setbacks, and satisfy clients’ tastebuds.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you head to the menu drawing board.

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Incorporating Food Prices and Staffing into Your Quotes

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Incorporating Food Prices and Staffing into Your Quotes

Profitable businesses are built on an effective pricing strategy, which starts and ends with accurate customer quotes. Too high and you may price yourself out of contention; too low and you risk eating into your bottom line. Calculating the sweet spot in pricing requires proper valuation not just of the end product but the cost of goods and services that go into its execution.

As you build customer quotes, two of the most important (and often most confusing) areas to price are your food prices and staffing costs. With supply chain concerns, increased inflation, and a tough employment market, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure your quotes adequately reflect your expenses to keep your profit margins healthy.

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The Supplier Relationships You Need to Be Cultivating

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The Supplier Relationships You Need to Be Cultivating

Few things are more valuable than a great relationship with a food supplier. For caterers, the relationships you build influence more than just the quality of food and services — they also directly impact your profit margins.

And in a time when high demand meets inconsistent supply chains, your must protect your bottom line at all costs.

It’s easy to see why relationships matter in such precarious circumstances. After all, a great supplier can alert you to market trends, pricing expectations, supply updates, and more. They’re also mindful of your expenses, as a profitable client is a long-term client in their eyes.

Those out to nickel-and-dime caterers will inflate prices, obscure upcharges at the bottom of your invoice, and fail to meet quality standards for service and inventory.

You may have ongoing relationships with many suppliers who provide you with:

  • Bulk ingredients

  • Fresh produce

  • Meat and seafood

  • Non-alcoholic beverages

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Kitchen equipment

  • Restaurant and catering supplies

Or, you may work with a single distributor that offers everything you need. Regardless, you must nurture your established relationships if you want to see the benefits of having a supplier on your side.

If you want to cultivate your existing supplier relationships, these tips will help you build trust and develop a mutually beneficial partnership that lasts for years.

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Recipe Refresh: Making the Most Out of What You Have

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Recipe Refresh: Making the Most Out of What You Have

As we continue to see supply chain shortages and businesses needing to carefully budget their expenses, it can be a bit daunting to constantly keep up with the trends as a caterer. So, what if we told you that you can take your current recipes and refresh them to meet the desires of your clients, all without overspending?

Here are a few things that you can do to make your fan-favorites look brand new without breaking the bank.

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GPO Benefits That No One Tells You About

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GPO Benefits That No One Tells You About

The event industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing businesses across the board to look for ways to reduce costs. With an unstable economy, it’s vital to find additional strategies to bring in revenue and raise profit margins. However, even as events have made a comeback, caterers should still be mindful about spending.


One of the most effective ways to do so is by joining a group purchasing organization (GPO) for caterers. A GPO is similar to a mutual fund, but rather than stocks and bonds, caterers join together to buy food supplies. Forming a large group allows businesses to increase their buying power and get better prices due to the high volume of products they purchase.

Bulk orders tend to come at a lower cost than small orders, but you might not need to buy all of your ingredients in bulk if you're a smaller catering company. With a GPO, you can place orders at a discounted rate while only paying for what you need. Though you’re not getting any money back as you would with a rebate program, you will be saving money upfront with each order.

Joining a GPO is a great cost-saving strategy, and there are a variety of benefits when it comes to finding the right GPO for your business. Here’s what you need to know.

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