A business meeting, particularly one with many attendees, presents a significant logistical challenge regarding food. If you want to hire professionals to attend to all your catering needs, then there are several factors to consider.
Budgeting
The first and most important thing is deciding your budget. Consider your venue and the number of people attending, as well as whether you need full meals or lighter snacks. This will, of course, need to fit with the money that you have available, with some allowances for unexpected extra expenses.
Planning and Preparation
Few things are more stressful than being unprepared on the day of the meeting. Begin planning as much as a fortnight in advance to ensure that every task, including prepping the room, collecting enough crockery, cutlery and napkins, establishing food and drink stations, clearing enough fridge space and accepting the food order, has a designated time and person.
Space
How you structure your meeting, and your mealtimes, will depend on the space available. Is there enough room to spread everything buffet style, or are you in a smaller venue where it will be easier to provide each person with their own individual lunchbox or platter?
Time of Day
A breakfast meeting may be a place for croissants, but at lunch or dinner, you will need something more substantial. An afternoon tea box delivery such as that available from www.afternoonteabox.com will not suit a meeting that starts late and finishes later. The time of day will influence your menu and other arrangements.
Menu
Menu planning requires dishes to suit every taste and dietary requirement. You should consider the quality and origin of the ingredients, the nutritional value and the ability to meet the needs of all attendees. This includes vegetarians, vegans, those who are gluten-free, those who have allergies and those who keep kosher or follow a halal diet.
If you want your meeting to be a success, you need to ensure that all attendees have a satisfying meal. That means careful planning on your part, particularly in your choice of caterer.