The catering industry services millions of clients around the world through several channels designed to cater to different requirements. It isn’t limited only to event catering though this is perhaps the most well-known type of channel. Knowing and understanding the other establishments makes us appreciate just how valuable the industry is today.
Catering itself is basically preparing and serving food and drink to clients. These clients may be office workers, healthcare workers, prisoners, railway, flight passengers and industry workers. It’s a massive clientele which cannot be serviced by a single segment. This is why the industry consists of a list of ‘types’ that cater to different requirements. Take a look.
Event catering
A challenging yet potentially lucrative business, event caterers are tasked with servicing events be it a gala affair, a wedding or a business luncheon. Since the setting can be very varied, they must be able to accommodate different style requirements, food choices and be proficient in organizing such events if clients so request.
Event catering is also known as outdoor catering as client requirements demand service away from the supplier’s base.
Airline, railway and ship catering
Food and drink service provided to people onboard airlines, railways and ships are three other important segments of the catering industry. The work is undertaken by independent catering companies contracted to provide the same. On-board meal services are part of the package for long distance journeys.
Catering to passengers and crew requires massive logistics that aren’t easily handled. If successfully pulled off, however, profits can be extremely high.
Transport catering
Where other types of catering are usually planned, transport catering services passengers and the general public similar to a restaurant. Aside from food and drink, the establishments may have restroom facilities and counters selling snacks and other provisions.
Today, transport catering can also refer to airline, railway and ship catering so the lines can blur.
Restaurant
The most popular and most used catering service is restaurants which pepper villages, towns and cities across the world. They range from setups offering cheap food to 7-star establishments that focus not only on food but luxury facilities designed to impress and pamper clientele.
Diversity of cuisine is one of the main features boasted by restaurants where it’s possible to find world food in one establishment or establishments specializing in certain cuisines.
Industrial catering
Industrial catering services people at work in industries at subsidized rates. The service may be provided by a contracted caterer or undertaken by the management.
The low cost of food and beverage is what distinguishes the segment from others as the belief is that better fed workers are likely to be more productive and happier which satisfies them and the management.
Welfare catering
Social obligations to do with providing food to schools, colleges, old age homes and prisons etc fall under welfare catering. It’s a charity-based service meant to uplift society.
The catering types mentioned here are presented in the form of hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, pubs and cafes. Companies servicing industries may or may not have their own hotels although that’s usually the case.
The logistics, cost and workforce needed to provide food and beverages can be immense and for people with no experience, it can be hellish. Professional caterers have the experience and the equipment to take care of whatever requests the client has which is why it’s always wiser to hire a caterer where feeding large numbers of people is required.
