{"id":2442,"date":"2023-04-24T11:13:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T11:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/?p=2442"},"modified":"2025-07-22T11:02:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T11:02:23","slug":"how-to-make-your-catering-business-stand-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/04\/24\/how-to-make-your-catering-business-stand-out\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Your Catering Business Stand Out"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The hospitality sector is fiercely competitive, there\u2019s no doubt about that. In Manchester alone there are dozens of catering businesses, with more springing up almost daily. As an event planner and hospitality consultant, I have worked with many of the best catering businesses in the world. So, I have learnt that when it comes to the question of how to make your catering business stand out against your peers, there are several important factors to consider.<\/p>\n<p>Impressing the right people. Finding your uniqueness as a food and drink provider. And gaining that all important repeat business. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen many catering companies come and go, the ones that stay the distance are those that combine creativity and flair, with a fool proof business model. Here I attempt to give those starting a catering company, or looking to grow their venture, my view on how to make your catering business stand out from the crowd.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>FIND YOUR NICHE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you want to stand out in a crowded marketplace, catering is no different to any other type of business. Take a leaf from two Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge who, when he diversified into a larger scale catering model, found something nobody else nearby was offering at the time. Fine dining at scale. Lush by Tom Kerridge is a simple idea, perfectly executed. Often the best way to carve out your identity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"x-video player\" data-x-element-mejs><div class=\"x-video-inner\"><video class=\"x-mejs x-wp-video-shortcode advanced-controls\" id=\"video-2442-1\" width=\"742\" height=\"417\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/SDMG-Events-That-Made-Me-Liz-Taylor-Social-Media-Short-1_Trim.mp4?_=1\" \/><\/video><\/div><\/div>\n<p>As a consultant I worked with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/06\/30\/creative-catering-development-feast-with-your-eyes\/\">fabulous kosher catering compan<\/a>y \u2013 again finding a gap and filling it with exquisitely created, restaurant quality dishes, aimed squarely at the Jewish events market.<\/p>\n<p>Find your niche. It could be sustainability, trending ingredients or a new spin on vegan\/vegetarian. I recently saw a chef that created an entire menu from different parts of a tree:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/femail\/food\/article-11811725\/Michelin-trained-chef-offers-vegans-chance-tree-gan-tree-based-food.html\">https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/femail\/food\/article-11811725\/Michelin-trained-chef-offers-vegans-chance-tree-gan-tree-based-food.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t find something original about your company, then it\u2019s worth employing a branding expert or luxury hospitality consultant such as myself to help guide you. Often this task is easier from the outside looking in. I can look at where your strengths lie in the market and give direction on how to define your culinary brand.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>GO ABOVE AND BEYOND<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Offer exceptional service. Be a customer pleaser. Have a can-do attitude. Cornerstones of making your catering firm stand out from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>The caterers that I tend to work with repeatedly are those I can call upon with an outlandish request with a few days\u2019 notice. Rather than point out flaws in my plan, I know that they will not only deliver, but exceed my expectations. I actively seek out those who believe they can create the impossible. Who will go above and beyond to do this. Plus, luxury driven clients are happy to pay for this level of exquisite service.<\/p>\n<p>To really go above and beyond, you need to know your customer inside out. Anticipate their demands before they even make them. Repeat business and word of mouth are invaluable when trying to take your catering business to the next level. Make sure when somebody uses your services, they want to come back for more.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>BE CREATIVE WITH YOUR MARKETING<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re reading this as the founder of a fledgling or established catering company, you\u2019re undoubtedly a creative person. And if not, you absolutely must have ideas people around you, otherwise you\u2019re in the wrong business. Channel that creativity into your marketing plan.<\/p>\n<p>Skip the standard leaflets and run-of-the-mill ads in favour of something that demonstrates your USPs as a catering firm. Send your targets their favourite dinner served in a unique and imaginative way. Use flair and theatre to make it memorable. Scale it down? Create a selection of biscuits or sweet treats iced with your company logo. Start up a supper clubs, tasting menus, or supply luncheons at networking events. Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2446\" src=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-862x575.jpg 862w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/fishandchips-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hook your business marketing onto something topical in the industry or a national event. Identify your target market and find something that\u2019s going to capture their imagination. And of course, think awards.\u00a0 As a sponsor of this year\u2019s Cheshire Life Food and Drink Awards, I will be looking closely at the caterers and restauranteurs that are looking to secure a coveted gong.\u00a0 More than a trophy, this prestigious magazine has a long reputation for honouring the best of the best, which goes a long way to driving diners to the winner\u2019s business.\u00a0 In one word its: prestige.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2445\" src=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-731x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-1463x2048.jpg 1463w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-100x140.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-862x1207.jpg 862w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-1200x1680.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Hetty_Rohil_Indian_Wedding_Holly_ClarkPhotography_H-699-scaled.jpg 1829w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>IMPRESS THE RIGHT PEOPLE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How to make your catering business stand out?\u00a0 It\u2019s a people thing! Engage with end customers that are going to give you ongoing business. One-off events are fine to build your name, but they\u2019re not going to project you to the next level. \u00a0Think of all those restaurants launch parties that fade when the business closes within a year.<\/p>\n<p>Create partnerships with the right type of client. I\u2019m always impressed with caterers that seek me out as an event planner. A canny route to a lucrative market. Catering for one wedding is fabulous, but I organise hundreds of weddings, so impress me and you\u2019re likely to stand out against others that haven\u2019t actively targeted me. I\u2019m always gravitate to those firms with astute business sense \u2013 and stellar creativity!<\/p>\n<p>List out local venues that don\u2019t have in-house catering options, find event management firms and other professionals such as PAs with event planning responsibilities. Then woo them with some FOC tasting events to showcase the very best you have to offer.\u00a0 Another tip? I always prefer these to be private rather than alongside my competitors. It\u2019s good to make your customers feel special.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"872\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef-100x73.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/chef-862x627.jpg 862w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>REMEMBER THAT PASSION SHINES THROUGH<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>They say food cooked with love tastes better. That you can taste the care and attention that has gone into creating it. I happen to believe this is true. If you\u2019re truly passionate about your catering business and what you\u2019re building, then it will certainly result in a superior product. If you\u2019re not passionate then it\u2019s unlikely your catering business will ever stand out. And it does beg the question of why you\u2019re in the catering business.<\/p>\n<p>Work on your sourcing strategy, find the best ingredients that you\u2019re excited about sharing with your clients. Treat every menu as though it were your first. Improvise, experiment, learn new techniques. Find a way to rediscover the passion for what you do.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-862x575.jpg 862w, https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/JCP-TLC-IWD-Med-Res-1052-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>FURTHER READING<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to how to make your catering business stand out from the crowd, it is also about knowing your industry and what you are up against. Have you read the latest round of Michelin star and Bib Gourmand announcements announced in March?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/guide.michelin.com\/gb\/en\">https:\/\/guide.michelin.com\/gb\/en<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Could the key to finding your niche lie in this five-step formula from Forbes?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/johnrampton\/2017\/11\/07\/a-5-step-formula-to-find-your-niche\/?sh=5295f5b748fc\">https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/johnrampton\/2017\/11\/07\/a-5-step-formula-to-find-your-niche\/?sh=5295f5b748fc<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>CHESHIRE LIFE FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Cheshire Life is serving up its Food &amp; Drink Awards again and it&#8217;s time for the hospitality industry to book a place in one of the categories. The awards, which have not been held since 2019, will celebrate the county\u2019s finest at a dinner hosted by Carden Park Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort on Monday, July 24.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s how to enter: https:\/\/www.greatbritishlife.co.uk\/food-and-drink\/23226115.enter-cheshire-life-food-drink-awards-2023\/<\/p>\n<h4>Thanks for sharing my advice with colleagues and friends in the hospitality industry!<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hospitality sector is fiercely competitive, there\u2019s no doubt about that. In Manchester alone there are dozens of catering businesses, with more springing up almost daily. As an event planner and hospitality consultant, I have worked with many of the best catering businesses in the world. So, I have learnt that when it comes to the question of how to &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/04\/24\/how-to-make-your-catering-business-stand-out\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2448,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[492,490,499,493,489,491,91,220,494,498,336,337,497,495,496],"class_list":["post-2442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-post","tag-caterer-marketing-consultant","tag-catering-business-marketing","tag-cheshire-life-food-and-drink-awards","tag-hospitality-marketing-consultant-manchester","tag-how-to-make-your-catering-business-stand-out","tag-ideas-to-make-a-restaurant-a-success","tag-liz-taylor-event-planner","tag-liz-taylor-hospitality-consultant","tag-luxury-hospitality-marketing-company","tag-restaurant-consultant-manchester","tag-restaurant-marketing-advice","tag-restaurant-marketing-tips","tag-tom-kerridge-lush-company","tag-top-hospitality-marketing-consuiltant","tag-ways-to-market-your-restaurant"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3711,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions\/3711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}