Do a quick Google search for “Toronto catering companies,” and you’ll quickly find you have plenty of options. Whether you’re looking for someone to cater a wedding, a corporate event, or another small get-together of friends and family, there’s no shortage of companies in the GTA that will bid for your business.
With so many options, however, it can be a bit intimidating to create a shortlist of caterers you want to work with for your next event. Be sure to look for these six things in any catering company you consider; it’ll help you narrow down the field.
1. The Company Is Licensed
When you’re planning your next event, you’ll probably want to consider a Toronto catering company that’s licensed to serve alcohol. Why? First and foremost, plans change—often quickly. You may think your event will be dry, but after hearing from some of the guests, you may reconsider your stance.A licensed caterer can also help you through the process of permits and buying, or they can take all the pressure off by handling it all.
2. Its List of Venues
Some event venues only work with certain Toronto catering companies. You should always check if your preferred venue has a preferred or exclusive caterer.
If you haven’t yet decided on your event space, check out which catering companies work with which spaces—or ask your preferred caterer about the spaces it serves and recommends. You may find out that your caterer of choice works with one venue or another, which can make selecting your venue a little bit easier.
3. One-Stop Shopping
Does the Toronto catering company you’re considering supply waitstaff? Will they set tables and decorate? Do they supply food stations, including set-up and tear-down? Do they offer rentals for chairs, tables, dinnerware, and silverware?
Any catering company you consider should be a “one-stop” shop for your entire event needs. It’ll save you time, money, and likely a few event-planning headaches as you need to coordinate fewer moving pieces.
4. Experience
When you consider Toronto catering companies, you should always ask how long the company has been in business. Did it just start up, or has it been in the game for decades now? What kinds of events does the company have experience serving? A new company may simply not have the expertise to deal with your corporate event. Similarly, your caterer’s staff should be knowledgeable and experienced, as it will help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible.
Having some historical information on the company can also give you a good idea of how satisfied other customers are with any given caterer. Great caterers have repeat customers who are happy to tell you about their experiences!
5. Fresh Ideas
You may have a good idea of what you want at your event—or maybe you don’t. A great caterer, however, will always have some fresh ideas for you. The caterer should have good knowledge of what’s trending and flair for presentation that will wow your guestsand delight their palates.
A quick glance at a caterer’s website should tell you how good the company is at keeping pace with the latest trends.
6. Event Planning Expertise
Most people rely on Toronto catering companies to supply food for their GTA events. But that shouldn’t be all your caterer does. In fact, you should be able to turn to your caterer for event planning expertise.
If you need a little extra help planning your event—or even a whole lot of help—you should trust that your caterer has likely seen just about everything and can help you navigate the more treacherous waters of event planning with grace and style.
