An estimated 30% increase in Gauteng year-end functions went to outside catering services in the final quarter of 2016. Corporate entities who decided to have a variety of gatherings with catering – did so on their premises coupled with a fun team-build or similar light collective entertainment. Either external venues were found to be too expensive and hard work to plan or 30% of corporate organisations in particular cut budgets with their year-end gatherings.
The rise of outside caterers with several unknown names begs the question as to whether there should not be a list of โregisteredโ external caterers as to their abilities, standards and indeed hygiene adherence. It is a fact that dependent on the menu, a caterer who can adequately cater for a maximum of 50 would be hard-pushed if the function acceded anything over 100 individuals.
Similarly, a caterer of the 1000 plus proportions is unlikely to provide the seriously personal touch of a 50 capacity caterer.ย Itโs all a question of kitchen capabilities and qualified personnel on the one hand and attention to detail for the lower capacities on the other.
Perhaps the FEDHASAs of this world have a catererโs register โ if so it would be useful to know, together with the various criteria in each case. ย If not, an appropriate member association should consider investigating into this important, growing sector of the catering world as the economy and fresh ideas for a variety of gatherings is unlikely to alter in 2017 and beyond.
