“It’s been a breath of fresh air to work with [Fooda]. I feel that we’re working with professionals in the industry, so there’s no hand-holding.”

– Katie Seeman, Project Coordinator for the Office of the Chairman

In A Nutshell
The Participation (planning) Committee at Mesirow Financial was stuck; they needed outside-the-box ideas for a catered event for their office of 800 employees. The year prior they worked with a catering company and actually ran out of food, so they were nervous about getting it right this year. Who should they partner with to make this year’s event successful?

As they evaluated their options, there was a clear path to success with Fooda – fresh ideas, competitive pricing, and dedicated assistance from their staff on the day of the event. What’s more, the quality of the event exceeded everyone’s expectations. As a result, participation was high, employees were happy (and their stomachs were full) and Mesirow Financial’s Participation Committee was able to bring an innovative approach to bringing employees together.

The Challenge: Encourage Interaction While Filling Bellies
The main objective for the team was to get employees involved and encourage interaction between peers and colleagues inside and across the business groups. The event would be a great opportunity to see and meet other people in the firm, learn about what they were working on, and infuse a community feel to the organization.

Thinking through some of their options, the Participation Committee thought food trucks would be a great way to provide exciting food options and also wow the crowd. But they quickly found out that the building wouldn’t allow the trucks to park nearby.

The team needed ideas fast. They were also nervous about running out of food like they did last year. How could they stay within budget but throw a great party? How could they satisfy each and every employee?

The Solution: Wow the Crowd Within Budget
Mesirow Financial considered several different catering partners and chose Fooda based on their helpful account liaisons, fresh thinking and competitive pricing.

“We had no idea that our expectations would be blown out of the water. We got so much more [with Fooda] at a reasonable price. Their standards are just as high as ours,” says Katie.

Mesirow Financial was particularly impressed with the Fooda team’s ability to suggest hot, new restaurant spots that fit their festive theme, while also staying on budget. On the day of the event, two Fooda team members came early to direct the restaurants to the correct location. And there was plenty of food at the end of the event for participants to nibble on.

“There’s so much non-traditional and fun food in Chicago and here it was, all at our fingertips! From Honky Tonk BBQ to Tamale Spaceship, and the restaurants even decorated their stations and got really into it,” says Katie.

The committee is now in a position to expertly plan for future events knowing the services that Fooda has to offer.

The Result: Best. Party. Ever.
With Fooda as a partner, Mesirow Financial was able to think outside-the-box and feel confident that trying something new wouldn’t break the bank nor leave them empty-handed in the middle of the party. The event itself left a very positive impression on employees; they got to mingle with their colleagues while sampling a variety of unique menu items.

“It’s a win-win-win, for restaurants, for Fooda and for Mesirow Financial! We are so involved in the city, so it’s great that we can use local restaurants to help the city of Chicago. We feel good about getting their name out to the people at our company. In our line of business we have mom and pop clients too, and like to spread the wealth to different vendors instead of constantly using the big players in the space,” says Katie.

Are you looking to hold a memorable catering event for your company? Contact us ([email protected]) or visit our website (https://catering.fooda.com/)

About Mesirow Financial: Founded in 1937, Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm is an employee-owned, private company with approximately 1,200 employees globally. Mesirow Financial understands, anticipates and meets the financial needs of its clients – institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals – with a multitude of high-quality products and services.