Corporate catering: how to throw an awesome office party your employees will love!
If there is one thing employees have a hate-love relationship with, it is going to an office party. On one side, why would you miss a chance to have free drinks/food with friends while you gossip about the latest affairs? But on the other side, there is low motivation and who wouldn’t want to relax at home without the added stress of mingling with the bosses.
Office parties don’t really have to be so complicated! As experienced corporate caterers in London, we can sure add a little sparkle to your dull office party with some amazing tips:
Save the Date
As Italian corporate caterers, we have seen quite a few disasters in terms of guests’ attendance due to unfortunate dates. Mondays might be brilliant for your office meetings but no cheery-faced colleagues can be expected to show up for office parties then. Thursdays and Fridays of the week that are not busy for the employees in terms of their work or family commitments are perfect for office parties! Now, the next step is to tell your Italian caterer about the dates and book them in advance so that you can be sure of their availability.
Finalize the Budget
Adopt a strategic approach and plan the budget beforehand so that you won’t face any cash shortfalls later on. We advise our clients to not splurge more than they have the capacity for. Discuss your budget with your Italian caterer in advance along with the per head costs for all employees. Once the budget for catering has been decided upon, the rest can be spent on the venue, décor, menu, etc.
Choose a Theme
If you really want to rope in all your employees and make this a fun event with high attendance, always be careful about selecting a classic theme. You can spice things up by selecting a fun theme for your corporate party like an escape room adventure, office olympics, Oktoberfest, etc. You could also opt for an optional dress code and large props to make the event more joyful and memorable for your staff. Lastly, once you have decided upon a final theme, let your Italian corporate caterer know about it. This way they can come up with a scrumptious Italian menu that embodies the theme idea.
Select a Venue
Your venue will pretty much set the tone for a successful office party. You can either go for a simple but genuinely approachable location for everyone like the very site of your own office (after revamping it) in case you have a limited budget or if you have a massive budget, there are quite a few options available in terms of some extravagant venues. Imagine what it would be like to go for a rooftop bar overlooking the beautiful natural landscapes or a vacant underground warehouse that you can use to organize a musical affair? After you have chosen the venue, do let the corporate caterer in London you have appointed for your office party know about it. Also, make sure that the venue has a kitchen and cooking facilities so the Italian corporate caterer won’t face any problems when preparing finger-licking meals for your guests!
Plan Things in Advance
Are you dreading the typical dull office environment at the party you are currently planning to hold? We know nothing can be worse than an awkward corporate party that resembles your gloomy office environment and therefore it is only expected to prepare in advance. There are two ways to go about this - either arrange for fun and engaging activities for your employees such as building their own mini cake/canapé station or ask your Italian corporate caterers to arrange for fun, creative and delicious canapés to be served before the main course. This can help you in getting rid of any dull or awkward moments while your guests are kept entertained throughout the party.
Create an Awesome, Finger-Licking Menu!
Beware! Don’t get so caught up in arranging the whole party that you forget about setting up a delicious menu for everyone. Food is the main element that ties everything together and if it is not good enough, nothing can compensate for it. The menu should be discussed with the corporate caterer after you are satisfied with the initial taste-testing. Not only should the menu tie well with the theme, but it should also keep the employees’ dietary restrictions in mind. Always opt for some vegan Italian dishes or other alternatives along with ample beer and wine to keep the venue a happy place for everyone. If you need inspo, check-out our menu.
Don’t Forget to Incorporate a Surprise Element!
Still not feeling thrilled with our list? Well, we sure do have a surprise for you! If you want your employees to leave feeling happy and delighted, we insist you to keep an element of surprise for them. This “wow” moment can be anything as simple as a huge company update or something exciting for everyone’s taste buds like a scrumptious midnight snack from your Italian corporate caterers. This makes sure your event ends on a high note, and the employees leave the party feeling elated and remember the event as an extraordinary one!
Once you have ticked all the items off this list, we can assure you that you will be hosting an awesome office party that will be remembered by everyone for years to come!