​Foodservice Updates is designed to help foodservice operators keep on top of all the industry news and provides tips for keeping business running smooth.  We endeavor to provide the latest tips and solutions to keep you in the know.

Set yourself up to seize catering opportunities

The pandemic demonstrated how having multiple income streams is vital to surviving and thriving in a volatile industry. Catering is one of those income streams — and it has been gaining momentum. As a recent webcast from Savor indicates, the catering industry generated $73 billion last year and forecasts indicate the industry could reach $124 billion in sales by 2032. The return to the office has fueled that growth, along with the “evolving role of food in the workplace.” Is your business ready to ride that wave? Catering business veteran Tracy Avolio said in the webcast that success in the business requires making seven touches before expecting to close a sale — a combination of phone calls, emails and in-person visits with samples. In your own catering efforts, how much are you reaching out to clients to secure potential sales as opposed to reacting to inquiries about your offerings? In your in-house and takeout orders, do you find opportunities to share your catering menu or invite people to have you stop by their office with samples? Can you create a menu with customizable options for a wide range of tastes or specific nutritional needs? At a time when many employers are looking for ways to entice employees back to the office, restaurant food can be an effective draw, enhancing the quality of a work environment. You can be their partner in that effort with a strategic approach to sales. As with so many aspects of the foodservice industry right now, there are tech tools and consultancies emerging to help businesses manage catering functions more smoothly or even outsource them altogether — support for you to raise your game if you see potential in it for your business.

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