The corporate pizza party has become a cultural notation of bad management within the past few years. There’s nothing inherently wrong with pizza, but many see it as a low-effort run-of-the-mill means to boost team morale when a company is going to do something unsavory. Mass-produced sandwiches are basically in the same boat, you generally get 2 different kinds with a specific set of toppings and that’s it.
Haphazardly ordering pizza and sandwiches makes you look stingy, bores your staff, and can even lead to a lot of unnecessary food waste. We’re going to teach you how to subvert those expectations and give your staff the delicious and fun catering they deserve.
Food for Thought: Company Culture and Catering
The more you nurture your staff, the happier your employees are. We’ve been slowly moving past the office culture of the 80s and 90s, and facilitating joy among your staff has become a big part of that. Many companies allow staff to wear more comfortable clothing, offer unlimited PTO, on-site gyms or gym memberships, and tons of other perks that keep employees satisfied.
Food is one of those things. Snacks and regular office catering give your staff something to look forward to, and many will find the free food you offer very attractive. In a study by USA Today, satisfaction ratings increased from 56% to 67% when free food was provided at the workplace. It’s important to get those perks right, though. You have a company culture you want to uphold, and it looks bad if every week your food offering consists of a sliver of pizza. Going the extra mile to provide good experiences with food leaves a lasting impression and has a positive impact on your company culture. You’re asserting that you care about your staff and want them to have an enjoyable experience while working for you.
What is Company Culture?
Company culture is the shared values, attitudes, and everyday norms for your business. It’s like a personality your company takes on and it dictates how your decisions should be made or how staff will be treated. Having a strong company culture can help make life working at your company great while simultaneously giving you a well-motivated, capable, and hard-working staff. Everything you do should be done in a way that says “What makes sense for my company culture?”, even when it comes to your catering choices.
46% of job seekers cite company culture as very important when choosing to apply to a company, so remember that thinking of your company culture sets you up for present and future success.
Fun Corporate Catering Ideas
“Fun” doesn’t have to mean hiring a bouncy house and a magician (although some might find that wildly fun and entertaining), but in this context, it should be stimulating in some fashion. You want people to feel well-fed and engaged while they’re enjoying your catering so it’s memorable and gives them something to look forward to. Let’s go over some fun and engaging catering ideas.
Dessert Bar
Incorporating a variety of desserts is key here. Have fresh fruit, tarts, and pastries or DIY ice cream sundaes. Get some vegan or keto options too to prevent people from being left out, luckily a lot of places that sell desserts offer those options now. Dessert can work well for corporate catering too, especially when it’s in the evening. Most people enjoy sweets so a dessert bar is sure to be a hit if executed correctly.
Barbecue Picnic
This is a great excuse to get your staff outdoors. You can hire some professionals to cater your event with delicious grilled, smoked, and braised foods. 60% of American households own a grill after all. It’s an incredibly versatile type of cuisine as well with the addition of vegan meats and all the sides people have at a barbecue. You can have great food while giving your staff an excuse to go outside for the day and enjoy a bean bag toss or just get some sunshine.
Health and Wellness Education
A lot of people want to eat healthier but aren’t sure how to start. Creating a delicious menu full of healthy and nutritious foods can help both you and your staff. You can even hire a professional to talk about health and wellness while they eat and give your employees the chance to ask questions.
Build-Your-Own Options
You might be surprised to hear us mention pizza and sandwiches here after reading the title of this article. Creating your own personalized meal can make those pizza and sandwich catering options much more fun. It takes away the negative elements of some thrown-together catering and makes them feel engaging and unique. You can hire a food truck with a pizza oven to make personalized pizzas for your staff or find an artisanal sandwich place to make custom sandwiches. You can do acai bowls, burritos/Mexican food, and even charcuterie boards. The possibilities are endless and the customization aspect can be really fun.
Foods From Around the World
People love to learn and try new things. You can facilitate this by having different “countries of the week” and getting catering from various restaurants. If you have staff members that belong to a certain culture you want to feature, you can invite people to submit their restaurant suggestions to maximize your experience. Who knows, you might introduce an employee to their new favorite cuisine!
Start Implementing Fun Into Your Corporate Catering
If you’re ready to get creative with your catering options, we’ve got you covered. Zerocater is an app specifically for business catering so you can worry less about the ordering process and focus on creating engaging catering experiences for your staff. We can do event catering, regular office lunches, and even have options for hybrid workers. No matter what business size or budget, we can work with you to find what catering option is perfect for your next event or office lunch. If you’re interested, click “Get Pricing” on our website and send us a message about your catering needs and budget. We look forward to hearing from you and we’ll get back as fast as possible!
