With its iconic hot chicken, meat-and-three platters, and flaky cornbread biscuits, Nashville is home to a restaurant culture built on Southern comfort. With so many great options, organizing corporate catering in Nashville should be simple. Yet budget management, vendor communication, and unreliable delivery times can quickly derail the process.
Nashville’s recent population boom has created a competitive talent market that’s made it important for companies to encourage employee retention. Providing stellar catering at corporate events is a great way to foster a positive company culture and keep employees dedicated to the company’s mission. However, for your catering to meaningfully contribute to company culture and employee retention, it has to be done well.
Fortunately, the right partner can make it easy to bring great food to any corporate event. Keep reading to discover some of the most popular corporate catering options available in Nashville, and learn how you can find the right partner for your office.
If your corporate catering isn’t executed well, you risk having it work against your event rather than for it. Here are a few things to consider when looking for a corporate catering partner in Nashville:
Nashville is home to a growing, broad job market, with major players across the healthcare, tech, and corporate sectors. Although this is a great indicator of the city’s economic health, it can complicate catering logistics.
Each company is going to have different needs when it comes to event catering, and this diverse market makes that even more prominent. There is no one-size-fits-all corporate catering solution. A tech startup catering for an all-hands meeting will have very different requirements than a hospital organizing a charity gala.
To find the perfect fit, work with a corporate catering partner that prioritizes flexibility and customization. They should listen to your needs and mold their offerings to fit them, not the other way around.
In addition to a thriving corporate landscape, Nashville has experienced rapid growth following the pandemic. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, according to the US Census Bureau, with its population exploding from just under 690,000 in 2020 to over 720,000 in 2025.
This growth has created an incredibly competitive talent market. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting only a 3% unemployment rate, employees have plenty of career opportunities available to them. Because of this, many companies are struggling to attract and retain top talent.
One of the best ways to keep employees from looking elsewhere is by keeping them engaged in their work and the company’s culture. Meetings and events present a valuable opportunity to foster relationships between coworkers and help them feel more connected to the company’s mission.
Integrating corporate catering into your office events can turn them into a valuable part of your employees’ days, where they get to get together and communicate in a more positive, relaxed environment. In fact, a recent Fooda Survey found that 83% of workplace and people leaders believe food has a moderate to significant impact on workplace culture. By not providing food at these events, you miss out on a valuable retention opportunity.
Although Nashville’s recent population boom has helped build a thriving economy, it has also created significant problems with the city’s infrastructure. Nashville’s public transit system is sparse and unreliable. As a result, over 80% of the city’s employees rely on cars to get to work. This causes heavy traffic, as the roads weren’t designed to accommodate that kind of volume.
These unpredictable traffic patterns disrupt catering delivery logistics. Heavy street congestion makes it difficult to accurately predict ETAs. Odds are, your food will either come early, forcing you to serve cold food, or late, creating impatience and disrupting your agenda.
To mitigate this risk, look for a corporate catering partner that has delivery down to a science. The best options will have impressive and consistent on-time delivery rates, well-established procedures, and a long history navigating the city’s chaotic circulation patterns.
Nashville has a long history with Southern comfort staples, from hot chicken to collard greens to barbeque. But underneath these familiar favorites is a rich tapestry of international flavors and innovative dishes. A healthy mix of Middle Eastern, Mexican, Asian, and African cuisines make up a diverse, delicious food scene that has made Nashville a national culinary destination.
But this robust local restaurant industry sets a high bar for corporate catering in Nashville. Employees are used to an enticing blend of variety and classic flavors. They’re unlikely to be interested in standard sandwich platters and potato chip assortments.
That’s why it’s important to go with a corporate caterer that puts quality and variety first. Bringing in real local restaurants will keep employees engaged and satisfied. When organizing recurring catering, using the same caterer over and over will quickly lead to boredom, no matter how good the food is. Mix things up each time, rotating through different cuisines and flavor profiles. Although working with a new restaurant each time can seem like a lot of extra work, the right corporate catering partner can handle this for you, allowing you to continually offer great food without taking up too much of your admin team’s time.
Not every event will call for the same kind of service. There are a variety of corporate catering formats that accommodate different group sizes, preferences, and levels of formality. Here’s a brief look at some of the most common catering models, and how to choose the best one for your event.
With so many stellar restaurants available in Nashville, it’s hard to pick just a few, but we’ve narrowed it down to some fan favorites. They’re all part of Fooda’s network of 4,500+ restaurant partners, making it easy to bring them into your workplace.
Ofelia brings authentic Mexican street food to Nashville with bold flavors and high-quality ingredients. Their catering spread includes a build-your-own taco bar, complete with various selections of meats, vegetarian options, and a variety of delicious toppings. They also offer a private chef experience perfect for interactive events.
Steam Boys specializes in traditional Chinese comfort food, including bao, dumplings, and noodles. You can get most of their dishes with either beef, chicken, pork, or veggies, adding variety without overcomplicating the menu. Their goal is to take Nashville’s Asian food scene to the next level with authentic, delicious, and healthy dishes.
With generous portions, fresh ingredients, and a unique blend of American and Mediterranean flavors, Xtra Diner’s menu is full of rich flavors perfect for any occasion. Their most popular dishes include their loaded fries, protein plates, and falafel pita, but they also offer burgers (including veggie burgers), sandwiches, salads, sides, and desserts. To top it off, they also have breakfast options.
From their straightforward cheeseburger and chicken tenders to their fried zucchini and bacon super dog, Mr. J’s menu is made up of well-known classics and new innovations alike. Their food has an all-American, classic diner feel that’ll make your employees feel right at home. All of their dishes are timeless, making Mr. J’s a perfect, indulgent treat.
Offering an upscale take on classic Southern comfort food, Bungalow10 has both brunch and all-day menus packed with Nashville favorites. Their chicken, fried catfish, grilled shrimp, and burgers make for a wide selection, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, so everyone can find something they’ll enjoy. Be sure to sample their sides, too.
With scratch-made dishes and locally sourced ingredients, The Urban Juicer houses a sustainable, fresh menu. Their acai bowls, breakfast offerings, wraps, salads, and paninis create a memorable dining experience full of delicious dishes. It’s the perfect choice, whether you’re looking to appeal to a health-conscious culture or just want to provide a protein-packed pick-me-up.
Creative Seasonings Catering is built on personalization. They offer everything from formal large-group meals to smaller, intimate gatherings. Their fresh take on traditional Southern BBQ creates a unique dining experience that leans on common favorites without feeling repetitive or stale.
Fooda makes it easy to bring Nashville’s best restaurants into your office with dedicated account managers, real local restaurants, and streamlined delivery processes. Our unique approach allows you to take the stress out of corporate catering. Here’s how Fooda Catering works:
Ready to take your corporate catering to the next level? Chat with a Fooda sales representative today to get started.
What food is Nashville known for?
Nashville is primarily known for its Southern comfort foods, including hot fried chicken, meat and three platters (meals featuring one meat and three sides), smoked barbeque, and flaky biscuits. In recent years, the city has seen a rise in international cuisine offerings, including Asian, Mediterranean, and African restaurants.
How much does corporate catering cost?
Corporate catering costs depend on how many people you’re feeding and what kind of catering you’re offering. For example, boxed lunch catering will be significantly less per-person than full white-glove service. Look at local restaurants and their rates to see what you can expect to pay.
How do I manage food waste in corporate catering?
The best way to manage food waste in corporate catering is to obtain accurate headcounts. From there, you can estimate how much each person will eat and try to match that volume. If you are especially interested in limiting waste, opt for boxed lunch catering, as individual meals allow you to order for exact headcounts rather than estimates. Employees can even put in their orders ahead of time to ensure total accuracy.
How do I compare corporate catering options?
To compare corporate catering platforms, look at the features and services of each and consider the pros and cons. Opting for food service providers over individual restaurants will likely make organization easier, as you can have someone communicate with restaurants and handle delivery logistics on your behalf. This will also make it easier for you to offer consistent variety, as switching up the menu won’t require you to coordinate with a new caterer every time.
How does Nashville traffic affect catering delivery times?
Nashville’s traffic infrastructure wasn’t designed to accommodate its current population, leading to frequent issues with congestion. This makes it more difficult to ensure food is delivered right on time, as corporate catering partners are forced to either leave much earlier than needed or risk running late.
