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The Caterer and The Client

Chapter 2

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Why Clients Choose Caterers• Reputation• Referrals• Word-of-mouth advertising

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Deciding Whether to Take an Event• “We cannot be all things to all people.”• Personality conflicts will exist.• Unanticipated inconveniences

– Bad politics– Hidden costs– Issues with gratuities

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Safeguards Against Bad Business• Explore your options.• Research the job.• Know the customer.

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Types of Catering• All catering functions are either:

– Off-premise– On premise

• They can be further identified as either:– Corporate catering– Social catering

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Corporate Catering• Corporate and business accounts• Advantages:

– Relationships built on mutual trust– Avoids a bidding war against other caterers– Profit is better and more guaranteed vs. social– The art of being creative

• Primary caterer handles 75% of client’s needs.• Secondary caterer handles other 25%.

© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Additional Options for Corporate Catering• Chamber of Commerce• Amusement park catering

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Cost and Profit Relationship• Make sure the job can be done at right price.• Make sure the organization is established before

pursuing this type of business.

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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Social Catering• Never promise anything that can’t be done.• Everything must be 100%, 100% of the time.• A caterer must educate a client in their home.

– Proper care in guest selection– Budget indicative of host’s style of living

• Individualized plans• Special care – white glove approach

© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Disadvantages of Social Catering• It may be impossible to satisfy a client.• A caterer must understand the human nature of the

client.– Clients with last-minute special requests– Clients extending the duration of the event

• Refrain from deviating from the contract.• “Never confuse being a nice person with being an

astute business person.”