Greetings! Restaurant revenues in the United States surpassed $600 billion between 2019 and 2020, yet overall growth has slowed in late 2020 and early 2021. In-store traffic is slow in many segments due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, off-premises growth continues and has become the brightest spot in the restaurant industry.

Catering stands out in the United States foodservice industry, considering its size and growth trajectory. It is a $60 billion market with a 6% annual market growth, outpacing the foodservice industry growth by 50%. Over 90% of restaurant operators say that catering is essential to their business. Here are a few reasons why you should offer catering services!

•      Catering is profitable and drives efficiencies in food and labor costs. You have fewer different food items to prepare and optimized delivery costs due to one large order to one location.
•      It is a powerful and effective marketing tool because one person orders the food, and hundreds of people enjoy it. Thus it increases brand exposure and awareness and the chances of acquiring new customers.

Besides, catering is a higher stake. Research shows that ordering for large groups is a complicated process and stressful for some people. These orders often come with higher expectations and food service requirements. Whether for a business meeting or a large social gathering, reliability, efficiency, and on-time delivery are essential.

Restaurants that offer catering services have increased sales and boosted revenues. That’s why they are actively investing in such services. About 91% of restaurant operators say that catering services can boost their productivity and increase ROIs.

Investing in catering services can help you overcome operational challenges and meet the growing demand of consumers. Restaurants with increasing catering sales deliver a large number of orders than restaurants with flat sales.

As you find ways to meet your customers’ demand for delivery, you can offer catering services to fill more orders and serve more customers. The catering opportunity is real for restaurants, and some establishments benefit from this opportunity to grow their business.

It is crucial to build and invest in efficient catering programs, allowing you to increase customer awareness, enhance and simplify order experience, and effectively execute catering orders. Remember, this leads to increased revenues and boosts profitability.

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