Happy Hour at Office: Getting Your Corporate Catering Correct

According to a report by technavio.com, the Global Catering Service market is expected to grow by USD 103.28 billion between 2022 and 2027, at a CAGR of 5.46%. With the return-to-office trend becoming popular, more companies, including Starbucks, are requiring their employees to work from the office.

However, after the pandemic-induced work-from-home spell, companies need to put in some effort to entice workers back to the office. Hosting happy hour events at the office is a great way for employees to socialize and build better bonds, as highlighted by a recent survey of over 11,000 employees in an article published in GRIT in 2021.

The survey revealed that good corporate bonding reduces attrition rates and helps develop a positive company culture. Thus, corporate catering plays a crucial role and should be done right to promote employee engagement and company culture.

What is Corporate Catering?

Corporate catering refers to the process of serving meals to employees in an office setting. When planning a happy hour event, the HR or other authorized personnel typically decide on the menu and finalize the details with a catering service provider.

Once the order is confirmed, the catering company delivers the food and beverages to the office premises and services the event as scheduled. With corporate catering, companies can offer their employees a convenient and hassle-free dining experience, which can foster better relationships among employees and boost morale in the workplace.

Identify Your Audience

To plan an office happy hour gathering, you need to identify the audience for ensuring the success of the event.

First, you have to fix the group size and the place to decide on the logistics. You might need a bigger space for the same. Alternatively, you could break the team into small groups, based on the total headcount.

After that, go ahead and understand the dietary preferences or limitations for coming up with a mix of food and beverage options to ask the caterer to serve the same.

Finally, select the event’s nature and the best time for attracting attendees and making the event enjoyable. You have to consider the work schedule and the availability of the audience to decide whether you want the happy hour midweek or weekend.

Getting The Menu in Place

Choosing the right menu is crucial for a successful office happy hour, as food is an excellent bonding medium. Here are some menu options that are sure to work for your employees:

•  Taco Time

Tacos are always a crowd-pleaser and can cater to almost every dietary requirement, from seasoned meat to vegetables and cheese on flour tortillas.

• More Appetizers

Deep-fried finger foods like breaded mushrooms, mini tacos, and mozzarella sticks are always a hit and get consumed quickly.

• Hors d’oeuvres

For a more sophisticated option, add European-style aperitifs like canapes, devilled eggs, bacon-wrapped salmon, and bruschetta.

• Charcuterie Trays

For a simple yet elegant option, go for sliced meat, crackers, and cheese with charcuterie platters. Add a veggie tray with vegetarian or vegan sauces and dips for added flavorings.

To help you select the perfect menu, consider contacting a happy hour catering service provider. These companies take time to understand the food requirement in terms of the quality and quality and provide a menu that approximates the employee preference.

According to CaterCow, the leading companies in this segment should provide quality and reliable catering. It is necessary to connect with good caterers for curating options which will be a hit at the office happy hour or any other gathering. The menu list selected or customized, should cater to every dietary preference of the group.

The Beverage Selection

Now that the food selection is done, the beverage part needs planning! Here are a few options to explore:

• Greyhound: It’s a mix of gin or vodka blended with grapefruit juice. It can keep the cost low and is easy to make. Employees who prefer a fruity flavor in alcoholic beverages will love it.
• Amaretto Sour: It’s a milder cocktail you can opt-in for! It is made using Amaretto liqueur, orange slices, maraschino cherries, lemon juice, and syrup.
• Manhattan: It’s a classic drink that uses whiskey, bitters, and sweet vermouth.
• Gin and Tonic: It’s one of the most preferred and oldest cocktails. It contains two parts soda or tonic water and one part gin, that gets garnished with rosemary or lime. For after-happy hour meet-ups it is one of the best options, more so if it’s springtime.

Alternatively, you can even have white, red, and rose wine as the happy hour beverage as well.

Conclusion

Happy hours at the office call for the best corporate catering as it fosters a favorable company culture. Once you have recognized the audience correctly, and set the menu, and beverage by joining hands with a catering service provider, you are good to go. Other than a wholesome mix of food and drinks, there is attention to detail that makes the event a success.