EMA Catering supplies catering services to a range of corporate events such as conferences, product launches, employee events, corporate parties, networking events, and large-scale events. We adapt the menu, style of service, the number of staff,, and time frame to your timetable, the number of guests, and dietary requirements.
When you search for “corporate catering near me,” you may be in a hurry. Perhaps it’s a function at an event venue with a ton of people, a raucous dance party in a secluded location, or perhaps a financial presentation, fretful about the economy, and all that while you’re thinking that nobody is talking about the food.
Why corporate catering is its own discipline
A business event is not a festival or a wedding, and the food has to arrive on time, fit into the meeting or speech schedule, cater for all your delegates’ diets and tastes, look professional and reflect well on the company providing it. Do this successfully and the entire day runs smoothly; everyone is fed, stimulated and impressed. Do this unsuccessfully and an otherwise good conference is spoiled by a bland, late-arriving and soon-depleted buffet lunch.
Be reliable and appropriate as well as flavourful. Great corporate event catering is judged as much by reliability and appropriateness as flavour. A trustworthy supplier who turns up on time, takes the catering diary in his stride, and clears everything up at the end is an asset to any business over a showier supplier who fails to meet timescales.
Select catering that matches the type of event
Great caterers will want to establish the type of event from the outset, as a business breakfast and a black-tie dinner require very different answers. Having established this, briefing is made simple.
Why “near me” genuinely matters for corporate events
Business catering is a real benefit. A local caterer is convenient, able to get hot food to you without a long trip, get to your office early, quickly replenish if numbers increase and flip around last-minute bookings when a meeting suddenly needs feeding. Knowledge of local parking, loading access, and building regulations smoothes the way on the day.
Of course, “local” shouldn’t mean that. Yes, the caterer who is close enough to be reliable AND good enough to be your reputation. Being close is closer, not better! You need to make sure they can be relied upon—this isn’t an excuse not to check the quality of the caterer and credentials.
The must-do checks before you book
Whether you are about to pick up the phone to a new caterer, or you are a long-term customer in their building. There are 5 minutes’ worth of basic checks you should do, so you know you are covered.
The legal and safety basics, briefly
It is fast, but it counts. Everyone in the UK who makes food or sells to the public has to register with their local authority, including the caterers you use to bring food to the office (registration is free). See the Food Standards Agency website to check you’re following the rules. Caterers should have an inspection and a Food Hygiene Rating from 0 to 5, and you can search for any caterer on the FSA search before you book. For a corporate event, a good rating is the quick reassurance you can give to anyone who asks.
Allergens are the other must-haves. Food prepacked for direct sale must have allergen labelling on or within it following the implementation of Natasha’s Law in October 2021, and the FSA guidance explains what caterers need to do. When you have staff from various backgrounds, it’s best practice to make allergen management part of the procedure, so consult your caterers.
Dietary range is now the baseline, not a bonus
In the present day, multicultural groups are very common, and catering for corporate events that cater to only one diet is bound to anger at least a few people in the group. In an ideal corporate event, a variety of menu options must be available, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, and halal options. Any corporate event catering that we undertake usually provides inclusive menus through which we acquire ingredients from halal suppliers that are approved and certified.
Case study: a 250-guest product launch with a moving head count
Here’s a recent one from our book that has been lightly anonymised (but always subtitled), because this is precisely what corporate catering means when the requirements keep coming and changing, as they usually do. A tech company engaged us to provide canapés and salads for an evening product launch in the middle of London.
Because we built headroom into the planning of our corporate events, it was a manageable rise rather than a crisis. We achieved our scaled figures and added one more service station so no-one had to queue; all dietary items were color-coded so guests could instantly see what was available, and our staff moved around the room rather than standing behind a table – it’s much better for the ambience and for timing.
Our tip: corporate numbers will change—so hire a caterer who plans for that and doesn’t panic at it. Ask them how they manage last-minute changes—a calm, clear response is worth more than the cheapest quote.
Why companies book EMA Catering for corporate events
Catering a business meeting? We have a reputation for catering everything from boardroom lunches and product launches to summer parties for hundreds of delegates. Whether a business caterer or not, our business meetings are all about making sure your catering runs on time and on spec—we plan with headroom for the heads that inevitably turn out to be so different and deliver at the right time and right temperature.
Because we’re a family business, your brand is as important to us as it is to you. We’re proud of our 5 food hygiene rating; we have full public liability insurance, and allergens are clearly marked. HMC-approved halal meat is available, and our flexible menus provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices by default, so no one on a diverse team has to go without. EMA Catering can take your event from good to great.
Questions to ask before you book
Take this to every caterer you shortlist. The answers tell you who can be trusted with your event.
- What is your current Food Hygiene Rating, and which authority registered you?
- Can I see your public liability insurance certificate and cover level?
- How do you handle allergens and label dietary items?
- What halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options do you offer as standard?
- How do you handle late changes to the head count?
- How do you guarantee food arrives on time and at the right temperature?
- Will you provide service staff, and who manages set-up and clear-down?
- Can you share references from similar corporate clients?
If you want to leave your next event to the team that does this all the time, that’s what we do. Take a look at our corporate and event catering, view our catering events, or share your date, location, and numbers, and we’ll get back to you within a day.
The bottom line
The importance of good corporate event catering service is on par with other services. With FSA ratings, insurance, and allergen procedures, a catering company can easily cater to a corporate event successfully. A local team that understands all these aspects and executes them will help you have a great corporate event.
Frequently asked questions
How much does corporate event catering cost?
Corporate catering is based on the number of guests, menu, number of staff, service style, and venue requirements. EMA Catering should be able to offer a custom quote upon knowing the date, location, number of guests, and style of service.
Is Corporate Conference Catering Available?
Yes. Corporate conference catering is available in the form of refreshments, breakfast, lunch, buffets, stations, or other types of service depending on the time frame of the conference and the venue. Time should be scheduled around conference breaks.
Do you cater for launches and corporate parties?
Yes. The type of event can be built using canapés, bowl food, buffets, stations, or other menu options appropriate to the event. The chosen style of service will be finalised with EMA.
Can you cater halal and vegan foods?
Yes. EMA Catering has halal and vegan menu options. Confirmed dietary needs can be discussed at the menu planning stage.
How early should I book corporate catering?
Major conferences, launches, and corporate parties should be booked well in advance—anything from several weeks up to a few months, depending on the time of year. Smaller meetings may be possible at shorter notice.
Are there waiter service staff and kitchen equipment?
This will depend on the catering style and venue. EMA should clarify precisely what is provided in the quote and subsequent invoice, including set-up, service, clear-down, and so on.