The Ultimate Guide to Catering for Office Events: From Morning Meetings to Afternoon Teas

Organising an office event can be a rewarding but challenging task. Whether it’s a morning meeting, a networking lunch, or an afternoon tea to celebrate a milestone, ensuring that the food is on point can make or break the experience. Providing high-quality catering not only keeps your team energised and focused but also leaves a positive impression on clients and colleagues. This guide will walk you through the essentials of catering for office events, offering menu suggestions, tips for managing dietary requirements, and more.

1. Morning Meetings: Energise Your Team Early

Morning meetings are an excellent time to set the tone for the day, and having the right food on hand can help keep attendees focused. For early morning events, you want to offer a balance of energising and light options that won’t leave people feeling sluggish.

Menu Suggestions:

• Breakfast Platters: A mix of fresh fruits, yoghurt, and granola is perfect for a lighter start. For heartier appetites, add some croissants, muffins, and pastries.
• Sandwiches and Wraps: Small breakfast sandwiches with fillings like scrambled eggs, bacon, or avocado provide a good balance of protein and carbs.

Pro Tip: Be sure to include gluten-free and vegetarian options to cater to all preferences. Having clear labels on the food can help everyone find what they can eat easily.

2. Lunch Meetings: Keep It Tasty and Productive

Lunch meetings often serve a dual purpose—feeding your team while facilitating discussions. The key to a successful working lunch is offering food that’s satisfying yet easy to eat without causing too much distraction.

Menu Suggestions:

• Sandwich and Salad Platters: These are crowd-pleasers and can cater to a variety of dietary preferences. Offer a mix of protein-packed sandwiches and fresh, healthy salads.
• Individual Lunches: If you want to keep things even simpler, individual boxed lunches that include a sandwich, salad, and a piece of fruit make it easy for everyone to grab and go.
• Finger Foods: Items like mini quiches, savoury tarts, and sushi rolls are perfect for grazing during discussions.

Pro Tip: Ensure there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Ask your team or guests in advance about any allergies or dietary restrictions to avoid any issues on the day.

3. Afternoon Tea: A Light but Delicious Treat

Afternoon tea is a fantastic way to give your team a mid-day break or to celebrate a milestone. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, but the key is to offer a mix of sweet and savoury bites that everyone can enjoy.

Menu Suggestions:

• Pastries: Classic options like mini pastries are always a hit.
• Eye Catching Platters: Impress the team with antipasto platters.
• Platters of Cakes and Slices: Add a sweet touch with mini slices, cupcakes, or fruit tarts.

Pro Tip: Afternoon tea events often include people with a range of preferences, so be sure to include dairy-free and gluten-free alternatives to accommodate everyone.

4. Managing Dietary Requirements: Catering for Everyone

One of the most important aspects of planning office event catering is managing dietary requirements. Whether it’s allergies, preferences, or lifestyle choices like veganism, it’s important to make sure everyone feels included.

Tips for Managing Dietary Requirements:

• Ask in Advance: Before the event, send out a quick survey to ask about dietary preferences or restrictions. This helps avoid any last-minute scrambling.
• Label Everything: Clearly label all food items so that people with allergies or restrictions can easily identify what they can eat.
• Offer a Variety: Ensure your catering options include something for everyone—vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options should always be part of the menu.

For a stress-free experience, you can use our Let Us Decide service. Simply provide us with details about your office event, and we’ll send you a personalised quote with menu recommendations based on your needs and dietary requirements. It’s the easiest way to ensure your event catering is a success without the hassle!

5. Presentation Matters: How to Make Your Catering Stand Out

The way food is presented can have a big impact on how it’s received. Here are a few tips to make sure your office catering looks as good as it tastes:

• Use Platters and Tiers: Serve food on elegant platters or use tiered trays to add a touch of class to the presentation.
• Serve in Small Portions: Bite-sized portions are perfect for office events where people want to grab something quickly without committing to a large plate of food.
• Add Seasonal Touches: Incorporating seasonal ingredients and decorations, such as fresh flowers or herbs, can elevate the look and feel of the food.

Catering for office events doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right planning, you can provide a spread that keeps everyone happy, energised, and productive. Whether it’s a morning meeting, lunch, or afternoon tea, focusing on fresh, delicious food that caters to all dietary needs is key to a successful event. And if you’re unsure where to start, let us help you plan the perfect menu. Visit our Let Us Decide page to get a tailored quote and menu recommendations for your next office event!