San Francisco is most well known for the Golden Gate bridge, its cable cars, and its status as a hub for technological innovation. But it’s also home to a renowned food scene, an active, wellness-oriented culture, and an exceedingly competitive corporate market, all of which can complicate corporate catering logistics.
To keep your events running smoothly without overwhelming your administrative team, look for a catering partner that can accommodate your needs without sacrificing quality. A corporate catering provider can make or break your company event, so it’s important to choose wisely. Keep reading to learn how to pick the right catering option for your organization.
Every city is different, and San Francisco is no exception. Despite its undeniable appeal, the city is home to a few obstacles that can make planning catering more difficult. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when selecting a catering partner.
San Francisco is home to a concentrated population of major players in a variety of industries, most notably in tech, and they’re all competing for the same pool of qualified candidates. To reliably attract and retain talent, you have to offer something beyond the standard salary and benefits packages. One of the simplest steps you can take is to bring local food into the workplace.
Leveraging local restaurants in your corporate catering not only gives employees something to look forward to at events and business meetings, but it also appeals to their sense of local pride. San Francisco’s food offerings are one of its biggest population draws, and this impressive culinary spread is powered by local restaurants. By connecting with these spots, you show a commitment to supporting the community you operate out of, which makes your company somewhere your employees can be proud to work. This increases employee satisfaction and engagement, which in turn reduces turnover and helps attract new talent.
From Chinatown dim sum to fresh Pacific seafood to Mission-style burritos, San Francisco is home to a well-known and expansive restaurant industry. As a result, the city is full of foodies with high standards. Bland and generic options won’t be enough to entice employees, and they won’t help you increase engagement or participation during meetings.
That’s why it’s important to be particular about the food you bring into your corporate events. The best way to see the benefits of corporate event catering is by bringing the food that employees enjoy in their personal lives into the office. This creates an enjoyable and memorable experience for them.
San Francisco was ranked the healthiest city in the country by WalletHub, and this trend is reflected in the city’s food scene. It’s full of menus featuring diet-conscious, organic, gluten-free, vegan, and protein-packed dishes.
That’s why it’s always necessary to consider dietary inclusivity in your corporate catering menu. If you don’t offer options that adhere to a variety of specialized diets, you’re likely to leave some (or, more likely, many) employees out. This can cause frustration and make employees feel unappreciated. Instead of catered lunch being a nice perk, it will become a point of contention. To avoid this, select a corporate catering partner that has enough variety and flexibility to accommodate everyone.
There are multiple types of corporate catering, and the best format depends on the event you’re hosting. What works for a stakeholder meeting won’t be sustainable for a casual office-wide celebration. Here’s a quick guide to different corporate catering options, and how to find the one that works best for you.
With so many different factors to consider, organizing corporate catering in San Francisco can quickly become an overwhelming task. After you’ve decided what kind of catering you want to provide, the next step is to find a provider that meets your needs.
According to Google Maps data, San Francisco is home to over 13,000 restaurants, meaning employees are used to variety. They would have to eat at a different restaurant every night for over 35 years just to get through them all. With so many options, they’ll quickly grow bored if you decide to go with the same handful of catering menus time and time again.
But finding, vetting, and communicating with a new caterer every time you host an event can be time consuming. The best way to keep your catering options fresh without burdening your administrative team is by partnering with a workplace food partner that can source and communicate with vendors for you.
Having a wide range of options available to you also makes it easier to accommodate dietary preferences, keeping everyone happy and engaged every time.
San Francisco’s foodie culture and booming restaurant industry have created a strong sense of community. Employees value the city’s culinary landscape and all of the restaurants that power it.
To upgrade your corporate catering options, focus on working with restaurants that feature unique flavors, regional staples, and culinary innovations. This approach also creates a valuable bonding opportunity. It opens up conversations about food preferences and favorite local spots that can be gateways to genuine connection. To facilitate this, work with a corporate catering partner that puts special emphasis on curating positive relationships with San Francisco restaurants.
Coordinating corporate catering on a regular basis can be taxing, especially if you’re organizing multiple events simultaneously. To take that stress off of your team, offload that administrative burden to a catering provider that can handle the logistics for you, from ordering to drop-off to clean-up.
Not only will this give your employees the opportunity to refocus on other projects, it will also ensure the event runs smoothly since these providers should have well-established routines and procedures.
This doesn’t mean that you should ever be left out of the loop, though. Instead, you should be able to keep tabs on budgets, communicate menu preferences, and match services to the kind of event you’re hosting. This will allow you to perfectly fit your catering offerings to your event without having to manage the operational side of things.
There are so many delicious local spots in San Francisco, and they’re all home to unique dishes and flavor profiles. This notable variety can make narrowing down options feel exceedingly difficult. To get started, check out these four fan-favorite spots. They’re all part of Fooda’s restaurant network, making it easy to get them into your office for any occasion.
Serving Asian fusion bowls with “a whole lotta love,” Umami Express is known for their delicious, nutrition-packed dishes. Their menu features chicken, pork, beef, protein combo, and organic tofu options, allowing everyone to pick their favorites. They also offer both buffet-style and individually-packaged catering options, making them a great customizable option.
Togo’s has a wide menu that any sandwich lover will enjoy. One of their most popular offerings is their BBQ beef, but their philly cheesesteak, pastrami, and french dip sandwiches are also crowd favorites. If sandwiches aren’t your speed, they also have a selection of salads, soups, and wraps to choose from.
Serving American cuisine with a “local twist,” Kitava’s menu is health-focused, with nutritious veggies, lean fats, and plenty of protein. They’re very selective about their ingredients, ensuring that all of their meat and egg products are sustainably and ethically sourced, their produce is free of pesticides, and their plant-based proteins are made without fillers. It’s this mindfulness that makes Kitava the perfect option for a health-conscious crowd.
Open for over 80 years, Max’s has served old family recipes built on the fusion of American flavors and Filipino traditions. Their popularity and longevity is a testament to their commitment to authenticity and ongoing quality. Although they’re known for their fried chicken, they also serve Filipino seafood and vegetable plates, soups, rice and noodle bowls, and more.
With Fooda, you can organize corporate catering with ease. Our dedicated account managers work with you to find a vendor that fits your budget and menu preferences, and our existing restaurant network gives you access to plenty of variety that allows you to keep things interesting over time.
Fooda’s consolidated billing system makes handling expenses simple. Everything is accessible and clearly visible in one place. No mysteries, no surprises. Our approach creates an experience that’s tailored to your needs and smooth from start to finish.
Ready to bring great local restaurants into your office for your next corporate event? Fooda makes it easy. Reach out to a sales representative today to get started.
What food is San Francisco known for?
Some of the most iconic dishes in San Francisco are the Mission-style burritos, sourdough bread bowls, clam chowder, and dim sum. The city is also home to a wide selection of health-oriented restaurants and international cuisines including Italian, Latin American, East Asian, and Southeast Asian.
How much does corporate catering cost?
The cost of corporate catering varies based on the kind of catering you’re providing and how many people you have to feed. On the lowest end of the spectrum is boxed lunches, which can run anywhere from $15-25 per person. The most expensive option is white-glove catering, which can cost upwards of $45 per person. Make sure to establish a budget early and look for caterers that can meet it rather than the other way around.
What is the difference between corporate catering and a workplace food program?
Corporate catering is typically used on a one-time or recurring basis for meetings and office events. It is a bulk-meal solution designed to feed many people at once. A workplace food program is designed to provide employees with food on a daily basis. Employees are typically in charge of sourcing their own meals, ordering independently rather than choosing from a pre-determined catering array.
How do I simplify corporate catering billing?
The best way to simplify corporate catering billing is to work with a workplace food partner with a consolidated billing platform. That way, you can track budgets, view expenses, and pay invoices all in one place, even if you’re regularly ordering from multiple different caterers.
What San Francisco neighborhoods have the best food?
Different San Francisco neighborhoods specialize in different cuisines. For example, the city’s Mission District is known for its Mission burritos, which are extra large flour tortillas stuffed with meat, beans, rice, and other toppings. Chinatown is known for its excellent selection of dim sum, North Beach is full of Italian classics, and Fisherman’s Wharf is home to excellent sourdough bread and fresh seafood dishes.
