occasion
Corporate and office catering
An office lunch costs £10 to £20 per head delivered, with a minimum order of about £50 to £150, while a one-off corporate event runs £20 to £45 per head for canapés and £65 to £120 for a seated dinner with staff. They are different jobs: one is a regular drop-off to a meeting room, the other is event catering with service.
What this covers
What it costs. A delivered office lunch of sandwiches, salads and fruit costs £10 to £20 per head, with a hot lunch at £15 to £25. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- Sandwich platters and fruit for a weekly team meeting
- Hot lunches delivered to a training day for 30
- A breakfast meeting of pastries, bacon rolls and coffee
- Canapés and bowl food with staff at a product launch
- A seated awards dinner for 150 at a hired venue
What is involved
One-off corporate events are event catering. A product launch, summer party, client evening, conference or awards dinner needs a caterer who brings staff, equipment and often drinks, and quotes per head for canapés, bowl food, a buffet or a seated meal. The caterer usually visits or knows the venue, works to a run sheet, and needs final numbers and dietary requirements about a week ahead. Venues with in-house catering may not allow an outside caterer.
Recurring office lunches are a delivery service. Sandwich platters, salads, hot lunches, breakfasts and fruit are ordered by a cut-off, often the afternoon before, and dropped at reception or a meeting room at a set time. What matters here is reliability, invoicing on account, a sensible minimum order and clear labelling. Lunches boxed and named for individual people should show what is in them; for any delivered food, the caterer must be able to say which of the 14 allergens each item contains.
The practical check for both is access. Tell the caterer about the loading bay, the security desk, lifts and parking, and who signs for the delivery. For events, ask whether staff, crockery and VAT are in the figure per head. caterers.trade lists only caterers rated 3 or above, or Pass in Scotland.
Choosing someone for the job
For office lunches, ask for the order cut-off, the minimum order, the delivery charge and the delivery window, and whether they invoice on account. Ask how individual lunches are labelled for allergens. For events, ask for a quote listing food, staff, equipment, drinks and VAT, whether they know the venue, and what they need on the day. For either, ask for their food business registration so you can check the hygiene rating.
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Common questions
How much does office catering cost per head?
£10 to £20 per head for a delivered lunch of sandwiches, salads and fruit, and £15 to £25 for hot food. A delivery charge and a minimum order usually apply.
What is the minimum order for office lunch delivery?
It varies by caterer, commonly from about £50 to £150, with a delivery charge of around £10 to £20. Some caterers waive delivery above a set order value.
How much notice do office caterers need?
Most set a cut-off the working day before, often the afternoon, for next-day delivery. Larger orders and hot food may need more notice, and events need weeks.
How much does corporate event catering cost?
£20 to £45 per head for canapés with staff, £25 to £50 for bowl food, and £65 to £120 for a seated dinner. London sits at the upper end.
What is bowl food?
Small portions of hot or cold dishes, such as risotto, curry or fish and chips, served in bowls and eaten standing with a fork. It is more filling than canapés and is often used with them to make a standing meal.