Are you new to the catering industry? A passion for food can help you make a good start in catering, but good business & management skills can help your catering business succeed. Below are some useful catering tips for beginners to help you perfect your craft, avoid common mistakes, and impress clients and guests.

1. Prioritize food safety and hygiene

In the business of food, you can’t take hygiene lightly. When at work, ensure that everyone on your team wears kitchen gloves and hairnets in the correct size. Always provide and use hand sanitizers and soaps, plus industrial cleaning products for countertops. Wear kitchen prep gloves in the right size and put on a hairnet if you have long hair or a beard. Use a freshly sanitized tasting spoon each time you test out an item. Avoid wearing jewellery on your hands and wash your hands before and after handling meat or seafood to avoid contamination.

2. Work on the Presentation

When creating a menu, it is good to consider the colour palette. More variety in colours creates more interest for the guests. Have plenty of spices, fresh herb sprigs, flowers, chopped nuts, and sprinkles on hand to decorate plates with. Uplift plain dishes with unexpected pops of colour—layer items on a plate and drizzle sauces with a spouted bottle for a professional effect. Invest in pretty serve ware. Gorgeous serving spoons, forks, tongs, bowls, plates, and platters can elevate the look and feel of even the simplest dishes. Always pack extras; you never know when they’ll come in handy.

3. Mind the Competition

To rise above the competition in a highly competitive market like catering, the first step is to take a good look at the market. Research the market trends thoroughly, then develop a unique or better offering. If you provide an extraordinary experience to your first few clients, people will start noticing you. It’s good to be innovative with your ideas, but don’t be too overconfident to underestimate the competition.

4. Get creative with your marketing

Traditional marketing techniques surely help, but they aren’t enough in the internet age. Pick some brains and come up with creative ideas to engage with your clients and gain the attention of potential clients. Things like hosting tasting events, personalized giveaways etc., can help build a relationship with potential clients and give you a chance to showcase your expertise to them. Get creative with cold outreach to reach out to potential clients, like corporate prospects and engaged couples in your area.

5. Provide excellent customer service

Developing long-lasting relationships is critical to building a catering business. Provide personalized service to your clients, talk to them yourself and make sure everything is right. When at service, always listen to customers’ needs, check if they have everything, and follow through post the event.